Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-06-26
Our Army correspondence A Letter
from Lieut.. Col. N Clsinnis

Our Army Correspondence A Letter
from Lieut.. Col. N cGinnis.
We are privileged to copy the following letter
from Lieutenant Colonel McGinnis, of the 18th
Indiana Regiment:
CAMP McGSNIs, NEAR CUMBERLAND, MARYLAxD,l
June 18th, 1861.
| wrote you a few lines last Sunday morning
from Belle Air, Ohio; in few minutes after wri-
ting that letter We were the sacred" soil of
Virginia, and on our way to this point, where we
arrived on Monday morning, after very tedious
journey, being obliged to go very slow and feel
our way on account of the fear of burnt bridges,
we being the first regiment to pass over the road
from Grafton TO this place.
At Grafton met Gen. Morris, Maj. Love, Mr..
Hines and other Indanians On Monday night
We went out on the road about 20 miles for the
purpose of surprising 800 rebels that we had been
informed had collected in little town about 10
miles off the road, but when We got to the end of
our trip. on the road, we heard that they had left,
so we had to return, being all night making the
trip. On Tuesday We went into camp. We were
informed on Tuesday that u large number of
rebels had collected at the town OF Romney, in
Virginia, and we concluded that would go
after them. We started on Tuesday night about
9 o'clock, travelled about 90 miles by rail and
marched about % miles and got to the neighbor-
hood of Romney about a O'Clock. The first
attack was made by our picket guard, they firing
on some mounted men, who returned the fire and
| fed. We then advanced toward the bridge. hav-
ing several shots fired at us from distance, but
without doing any hurt. Not knowing the dis
position of the rebels. We halted and sent forward
our pckets for the purpose of examining the
| bridge to find out whether they had possession of
it and intended to defend it. Finding that they
had made no stand there our pickets passed
through the bridge where they were met by q
| lively fire from brick house, which they re-
turned and kept up until Captain Fosters and
| Captain Hammls passed the bridge and began
to surround the house, when they ceased firing,
and escaped. While at the bridge, ball fired
! from the house struck the ground between Capt
| Fosters feet. bounced and struck sergeant
| Grooms, of Fosters company, on the buckle of
his right suspender, turning him around, and
making him drop his gun. His breast WAS con-
siderably bruised, but no blood drawn The
brick house was entered and thoroughly searched
without finding any person.
We had lively time for about hall. an hour in
skirmishing and getting into the town, having a
few shots fired at us, when we found the rebels,
about four hundred in number, according to their
own story and having two pieces of artillery,
which were in full flight, going pel NELL, some
on horse back and some on foot, and their cannon
with them. Our men we're so much fatigued that
| i was impossible to give chase with any hope of
success especially as they had got such start of
us. 1t was reported by the citizens of Romney
that the rebels had four men killed, and know
that one WAS wounded, our surgeon being
called upon to dress his wounds.
/ 1t appears that a rebel who lived on the road
to Romney, mounted his horse and took across
the mountains and informed them Of our coming;
had il not been for that, We would have taken
them by surprise, and probably have killed a
large number of them and taken the balance
prisoners; as it was. we got their camp equip
page, hospital stores, clothing, n few rifles, &c,
-. II
we brought into camp, with three secession flags,
arriving about daylight, some of US having had no
more than one nights rest since leaving Evans
vile. We were all completely worn out from
loss of sleep and hard work A great many stag
gered along the road like drunken men, and
when we stopped to rest they would fall asleep as
soon as they touched the ground; how stood it
myselfis more than / can tell.
few miles this side of Romney, we took a
rebel Major prisoner, and have him yet. He
was on his way to assist in defending the town.
The citizens of the town were dreadfully fright
ened, all of them believing that our object was
to cut the throats of men, women and children,
Unfortunately. great many called on for
protection, and others who had taken their fam
lies out of town came to us and asked If they
would be allowed to bring them back, and were
much astonshed that they were kindly treated
1t is now IL o'clock Two companies have
protect a bridge which. it is reported to us by
telegraph, five hundred Virginiuns are marching
on for the purpose of burning. 1t has been
guarded by about so men for some time We are
likely to have all that we can do as there are no
Union troops within 100 miles Of US, and we ex
pect to attend to all the rebels in this neighbor-
hood. We think that pe can DO IT,
Our entrance into and through Virginia was a
perfect ovation. In every town, crowds of men
and women collected to welcome us. 1t being
Sunday, all were dressed in their best, and there
were large numbers at almost every farm house,
who cheered and waved the stars and Stripes.
their hats, handkerchiefs, papers, aprons, ETC.,
and some even took table cloths. Some Of the
ladies had aprons representing the stars and
stripes. We saw but few who did not appear glad
to see US; at one town n number of young wo-
men were on the platform, singing the red, white
and blue, and we have had ladies in our camp
here, doing the same. The people here are very
kind and appear glad to see us; they are nearly
all Union people.
| am too tired and sleepy to write any more
having had but one nights rest since leaving
Evansville. / will write again soon.
G. F. McGNSIs.