Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1861-11-08
1sOun the 4th Ohio Regiment.
Mr. Editor:
R@aNEY, Va, Oct. 2slh, 1861.

/ kzoza the 4th Ohio Regiment.
Correspondence Delaware Gazette.
RoMNEY, Va, Oct. 26Ih, 1861.
Mr. Editor:
Comfortably seated in a nicely furnished
parlor of an elegant private residence belong
1 ing to a secesh citizen OF Romney, named
White, now a Captain Ia the rebel army, sit
down to give you brief account of our march
to. and capture OF, this hot bed of. secession.
The 4th regiment left Camp Pendleton on
the goth. The weather just cool enough to make
it pleasant to march in overcoats, was all that
could be desired of that most beautiful of all
months, October. The spirit of the BOYS. as
if in harmony with the spendor of he day,
were exuberant. The band played jubilant
march as We fled out of the old Fort and
formed in the road below, for a long, tiresome
march. Our force consisted of companies
Of the 4Ih regiment, a section Of Daum's bat
terry, cmmanded by Lieut. jerks, and brass
II pounder manned by squad of men from
Go. F., Capt. Wallace. As we wound slowly
down the road and over the bridge, every head
was occasionally turned to catch one more
glimpse Of the Fort and its familiar surround
ings We all seemed to feel that this might
be the last time we should see the famous
{" Round Hill Fort" for. many a long day
Built as it was principally by the labor OF our
own hands, and engineered by the skill of our
own officers, we seemed TO regard it as the pc
culiar property of the 4th Ohio regiment
j sharp curve in the mountain road soon hid
the long lines Of fOrti6cation from our sight
Not single tear however, was shed, or a SEN
tiueat Of regret exPEessell as the last relic of
the Fort and Camp, the tattered aud faxed
streamer on the tall flagstaff; disappeared from
view, for we were heartily tired of being coop
ed up like sheep or poultry, wrthin the walls of.
a fort built upon the summit of hill that en-
joys the unenviable notoriety of being the cold
esi spot in Maryland. We trampcd merrily
onward with an occasional short halt, all the
long, weary day. and fur into the shades of
night, before We arrived at our camping place.
seven miles from the village of New Greek, a
distance Of tyenty~six miles. one of the hard
est and most fatiSuing marches that even the
:" tramping 4th," ever accomplished What
made il I4ore futiga;ng was tbe fact that near.
ly all the-boys in the regiment wore for the
first time the new boots with which their
kind friends at home had supplied them.
am afraid it would pain the patriotic ma
kers and donors of the aforesaid boots. if they
knew how many times their handiwork was
anathema tIzed during that dsys MARCH. TEs
sad truth is, that like the English "army in
Flanders" our army in Virginia has learned
to swear most terribly, and it would seem as if
tie ' boys" had reserved all their choisest NAL
edctions for this special occasion. However,
the march gave us al! ferocious appetites for
supper and as we sat around our bivouae fires
that night drinking hot coffee and munching
army bread, the Z" cusscd boots" haEiEg been
removed and laid in the background aud our
stockinged feet luxurating in the glow Of the
cheerful blaze, even the most wayworn, foot
sore and weary OF our comrades, had his pet
joke TO crack or his tunny story to tell.
The next morning we were joined by the 8th
Ohio, and 7th Virginia regiments, the Ringold
Cavalry, Capt. Keys, and one piece of artile-
ry from New Creek, making in all detach-
ment of about 1860 mep, under the COMMAND
of Gen. Kelly. We marched On gaily over a
splendid turnpike road closely followed by our
entire train Of baggage wagons. Only Is
miles 10 Romney," was tie cheering word that
passed up and down the column as we pushed
on refreshed by our last nights rest, and eager
to meet the foe.
Nothing of interest occurred until We reach.
and one mile from the entrance of the famous
Mechaiicsburg Gap, narrow pass two miles
in length that affords the only entrance into
the town rrow this direction. Here we saw
i party of rebel artilltrists who were posted
with two pieces Of cannon on an eminence in
grave yard on the left of our column, as if
to dispute our adYanee. They fred few
rounds of rifed cannon shot and canister al
US, with 20 other eject tEan TO waste their
ammunition. Col. Mason, Cur new Col late of
| the regular army, and as braTe anI gallant
soldier as eyer rode at the head of a regiment
/ immediatediatcly ordered the fanking compa-
gies. O, & T. to deploy as skirmishers, while
the 2 pounler under the management of S err
geant Lester, quickly unlmb, red and gave
them few rounds of shot and shell which
soon mace the coward!y scamps Timber up their
pieces, and gaIlop back to Romney in double
qnick time. Unfortunately one of our own
guuners, young man named Meredith, of Co.
F., was accidentally wounded by the prema-
ture discharge of the II FOUNDER whose charge
lie was ramming home. His right hand and
part Of his arm were blown to pieces. This
sad affair delayed us short time The wound
ed man was placed in an ambulance and res
moved to the rear. The boys of the 9TH in
advance, as usual, growing more and more ex-
cited by the reports Of the skirmishcrs rifles
shouted, and chcerct, and begged to be led
forwarl Immediately. Soon the order came
for the entire column TO push on toward the
Gap, double quick. The weary and footsore
Immediately sprang from tie wagons, and the
whole body of tro1ps moved forward After
marching about qua rter of a mile, the un~
welcome commands, Halt! Rest at will we're
/ again heard. The ranks wre opened TO The
right and left and we sat down on the rocks at
the roadside, chaing with impatieuce. After
waiting nearly half an hour one of Gen. Kel-
leys aids was seen coming down the narrow
road at the full speed of his horse He pulled
up among US, and shouted where is Captain
Powells Company ?" Here! Here replied
the boys Of Company l, as they sprang into
their places. " Y our men are wanted forward.
Sir" said the young aid touching his cap
=" Forward, boys, WAS the captains command,
" forward, double quick march y. and away
they went almost at a run, the other compa--
MES of the 8th Ohio and 7th Va, opening
ranks for them 20 pass and cheering loudly
In few minutes asother messenger came
rushing back calling out, q Company II. want
cd forward" Co. II. fell in with alacrity.-
They had hardly been gone 10 minutes, when
Lit. Col. Oantwelt came riding back and order
ed the whole 4th regiment forward. On we