The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1861-08-01
BuCKHANNoN, VA, July H.
HEAD QUARTERS l7th RE, O. v M

HEAD QUARTERS l7th REG, o. V M
Rev. j. G. FELTON,: Dear Sir and
Brother-Your favor reached me on yes.
tcrday upon my arrival at this place. as
also three from my wife. You cannot
imagine with what satisfaction a person
can sit down and peruse few lines from
either home or friends, whilst in the army
running the Virginia hills. 1t makes him
think Of "home and home associations" "
As this is the first time [ have had an
opportunity to give ary one history of
cur tour, and as expect tomorrow to be
Engaged again, I'll give you brief histo-
ry.
The day our Regiment arrived at Park
ersburgh, Va, news was telegraphed from
above that a strong escort must be sent
with the baggage train that night, as the
sentinels along the line had reported Sc
cession force Of 800 ready 10 attack it,
Gen. Rosencrans called on Col. Connel
for the escort, and Colonel, about {
O'Clock at night, notified me to have my
company ready IN Is minutes 10 guarC
the train. We started in few minute'
with strict orders not to let a man 60 tt
sleep Oh the roule-86 miles with two
trains running in sight of each other
Our company was divided into two de
tachments, | took the front train with 81
men, 1t. Wiseman took the second trail
with the residue Of the Company. Not
man closed his eye that night to sleep
We got through safe and sound withou
sight or smell Of the enemy mex
morning about 10 o'clock, and by tn
time we got things unloaded and Sc
lected the camp ground for the Regimen
that was to have followed next morning
it was dinner time. Dinner over we la,
down on abe ground to take nap, AM
just as the boys were getting into soun'
, sleep, the telegraph operator handed m
" a dispatch to report myself at Psrkers
: burgh with my Company on next train
Railroad Agent told me the train wou
be ready at 6 O'clock P. NJ. AT 6 wear
rived at the depot ready armed and equip
ped as tie law directs, and there we la
u until 2 o'clock the next morning befor
we got cars to get into, and then not a
h engineer would venture through the rosC
as the report came up that We might ez
} pect an attack 1t now commenced rair
ST ing very hard and continued 10 rain III
til 9 O'Clock this morning, about whic
time train got ready with the same Ell
gineer'that came up with us the night b.
lore, In few minutes off we started fl
Parkersbugh, the iron horse snOr,in
putting and blowing and the boys tryir
to steal some sleep the first 25 miles, b
fore we should get into the dangerous +
= gion. The sigual agreed upon betwet
the engineer and the officers of dang
WAS lour short tootS Of the whistle, al
& when about halfway through, there is
very long tunhel, l should judge abo
three-iourths Of a mile long, and as
OF hearedthe centre oft at a very cautio
gate, the four whistles were given, but
= the last one was not long, the office
knew it to bs only something wrong wi
, the track, but the boys not having hat
1, full explanation, thought sure enough
'seshefs' are here and fight is ccfta
= AS the train stopped, on the side WI
: burning about SO alcohol lamps 10 furni
der The Irish boys light who were repairi
% Of the road and were now stuck back in
''hoes in the wall,' and If you have e,
witnessed the ghostly appearance of all
n, hol lamps, you can imagine the dismal I
u pearauce Of things to the astonished bo,
| ! to run from the bright MONDAY light il
ner a place ofmidnight darkness, and then
ere oTs 10 the red Pickering dreamy light o
a." and hundred burning jack io.lanterns scatter
IT, along at regular distances, and just at Il
moment to give the signal ofattaek. Y
ought TO have seen the boys grasp tn
), pieces and cast their eyes around 10
officers in breathless silence. anxiou
Z, yet neivously awaiting the order "readl
cS. ,cu. Little "Kub'sD eyes stuck out worse tn
ag aDd pop-eyed Fishers, whilst Simon Th6n
~ admits he never knew what scare v
before; yet the boys were all at their p
= and from indications, each would hG
wed with the other to have got the f
II, fire at the enemy. We soon undeeei,
the boys by telling them that all was riI
ia except the track which was little out
repair. This furnished the boys
Iannunh for frun ar IN roo daus ,a.a -.st"