Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1861-08-28

this morning, wet and cold, to be greeted
only by drcary waste out side. We roll
ed up the front of our tent and or dered a
fire built near the entrance, and we are
now felicitating in heat and smoke-the
latter predominating. The ''great State
of Ohio has grown beautifully less in
our eyes since We were "sCjer boys" Our
tents are nothing but seams-would make
good fish nets. The clothing of the men
was little better than none. The authorl-
ties will discover when too late, that they
have drawn too largely upon the patriot
ism of the people. If the country was
DOOR. it would then be well enough to ap-
peal to the patriotism of the people, but
when there is plenty in the land, | say by
all means give the soldier sufficient of ev
cry thing that he requires. 1 am tired of
seeing our Federal soldiers starved, while
we are fatteRing traitors. | am sick of
handling traitors with gloves on, while they
are plundering the country, by taking ad-
vantage of our clemency. They run no
risk in prOwling about our lines, for they
know well enough that if they are caught
they have but to take the oath and at once
obtain an honorable discharge, while our
boys, if they steal no more than an onion,
to make a piece of hard bread palatable,
are sent home ia diSgr Gee L know the
value of good example set before this de-
luded people, but traitors never will give
US credit for it, and we never can conquer
them in this way.
Last evening we received the informa-
ton that Capt Sprague of Co. E., 9TH
Ohio Regiment had been taken prisOner,a-
bout 10 miles from here, while on his way
home. The facts as we have them are
these. The Capt. left here on furlOugh for
home, accompanied by the mail carrier and
three dragons as body-guard He was
going by the way of Clarksburg as bear
er Of dispatches to Gen. ROsecrans, wheth-
er these dispatches were in writing or not
[ cannot say. When near the Big Birch
the party were fired upon by company of
a hundred or two, and the mail carrier kill /
ed. One dragon esca ped, the other two
with Capt. Sprague fell int the hands of
the rebels. 1t was known to Col. Tyler
when we encamped there, that there were
two hundred or thereabouts, with in l3 .
miles of US. They ought to have been
routed. The result is, that we have lost
one Capt, one or two hundred letters fell
into their hands Of course those letters
contain some very pleasant information to
them.
Immediately on receiving the news of
Capt. Sprague's capture, Col. Tyler sent a
Company of Cavalry-the Snake Hunters
under Capt. Boggs, also Co E. of the 9TH
Ohio, in pursuit Of the rebels-and to res
cue Capt Sprague. We have but little
hope of their success, as the rebels have
some q hours the start of them. Thisis
1 sad ending to the Captains anticipated
rip home. But this must continue to be
the result as long as we permit these ras-
,als to dog our lines. They are ever rea-
ly to pick off an officer, if one gets miles
from Camp.
We are anxiOusly looking for news from
the east We have received but one paper
for month-and that was Leader. 1
still write letters for the Chronicle, but
never see one. When you and your read
FRS wish me to stop writing, you will be
Kind enough to send messenger. We are
under marching orders, and shall join Gen.
Cox in a few days. Our letters should be
sent to Gauley Bridge, hereafter, as they
will come by the Kanawha river.
Yours truly, GEO. L. WOOD.