The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-11-27
From Cheat Mountain,

From Cheat Mountain.
Winter Quarters at Cheat Mountain Sum.
nit Pastime Of Soldiers tn Quarters
= Climate Prospect Of Leaving. Etc
CHEAT MOUNTAIN SUMMIT, !
November l5, 1851.
EDITOR ONO STATESMAN: As the
family interests" of Ohio are pretty
argely represented in this region, few
Items in regard to thei. progress, pros
pects, etc., may not be uniureresting
The Gath. 25th and 32d Ohio are here;
the Oath and 25th being the oldest regi-
ments on the Summit. We have, in the
brigade, constructed aud under way, over
one hundred substantial log cabius de-
signed for quartering troops, commissary
stores, etc. When one takes into con.
sideration the disadvantages under which
the men have to labor, q truly gigantic
work has been performed. The ..utire
brigade have been mise. aoly supplied with
lteoie cot even an anger being furnished
10y the Government. The only tools, with
the exception of axes. employed 10 the
building Of this mountain city, were one
l"Secesh' anger, one do. adz, one do
draw knife; aud with this msager supply
four thousand men have to work. The
greater part of our lumber had to be
oronght from distance of half mile,
aud that upon the backs of the men. /.
is novel as we'll as pitiable sight to see
from twenty to twenty-five men stagger-
ing along beneath hugo pine. aud fairly
dropping, When they arrive, from pure ex-
naus,ion. Great, indeed, must oe the
patriotism which induces men to undergo
such hardships as are here imposed, and
uucomplainingIy with the exception of a
ew isolated cases. Tue chimneys s.e all
Substantial stone structures, while the
buildings are neatly rooted and 'chuukeo
and daa0ed" thoroughly When the work
was commenced we were promised '.saw
.n,ii." but the thing has never made it,
appearance, and in all probability never
| sili; iE fact, il is not now needed The
continued and severe labor which the mel
nave been compelled to perform, is telling
on The health of every regiment, and ma.
ny have beer sent to the hospital from 10
|juries received from lifting and exposure
No matter whether the sun shines or th.
rain pours; whether cold heavy fogs sur
round, or binding snow drifts about them
The everlasting "fatigue cali" greets the
ear, aad busy hands work on.
| One company. A. Capt. Charlesworth
of the 25th, have finished their 'shanties,
land moved into them. A jollier, whole.
souled and let care alone set of fellows
never congrega:ed together; and for lacl
of something more interesting, will give
sou an idea of the manner in which w
for happen to be one of them;1 pas.
our winter evenings. 80 81
| immediately after fatigue roll calp' in
the evening, the boys assemble 10 theiI
shantles. around huge birch and pine log
6res, aud commence their various amuse.
ments. In our cabin to.uight, there are
some twenty Eve or thirty ''gay aud fes
tive cusses' assembled. aud among then
the .6 idier." who, after drawing bis be v
across a pinr-knot for want-of rosin, load.
off with Dixie Land" and ten or fifteei
| t.p,tcb in" with vim worthy of q bette,
Icause La one corner party of four are
deeply immersed 10 that history, the au.
Thor of which is Samuel Hart; in an op,
posite corner, two mathematical mer
are studying the intricacies of the chess
board; while q third party are shufliue
dominoes. manufactured from pine shin
gle; still another party forms, and an OLD
newspaper this time is the center of at
Itraction. Some one is reading the news
aud one by one the merry dancers gathe,
around, the card players look up frou
their game and listen; the dominoes cease
to rattle; chass-men lose their interest,
and the reader and his Sunpreteuding little
sheet becomes, Cor the time, the sole On.
crossing object. Even your humble serv.
ant, who has all this time been perched
like an owl, high over head in his bunk
arouses from bis reyerie. and lends an at
tentive ear After listening till all are
assured that eWashiugton is safs.' and
Lncoln still lives. the dancing commences
the games go on. What matter. though
the wiud does blow. and the snow fall. We
are warm in our shanties. and will bt
merry.
To day the boys were electrified a
hearing Of a prospect" for leaving thi,
point, and though our probable des,ina
.ioa was not mentioned, the neUs was re
|ceived with three cheers. We're orders fol
Kentucky to be received. there would in
deed be rejoicing on Caest Mountain.
The clothing for the Twenty 6f,h ha.
arrived, aud such as it il. is very plenti'