The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-07-12
Military CORES Jondenc
CAMP DEFIANCE, Weston Lewis Co.. I
virginia, July lst. 1861.

NHBH'u, oui1 tbts ioOl'
EDIroR DEMocRAT :--Sinco leaving my
friends at Chardon, l bavo had some expe
rionce Of dctipe military life We have por.
formed q march Of over $50 miles since last
Wednesday ovening-23 Of il on foot We
had but ono nights sloop, from Tuesday
night till Sunday night, that wus at ClarkS.
burg, Virginia. We left Camp Dennison
Wednesday, o'clock T.. NJ. and arrived a,
Columbus at about midnight. At 2 o'clock
A NJ, wo left for Bellnir, arriving at that
point about II o'clock A, M. We immcdi.
ately crossed the riyor 10 BenwOod, and
took up our quarters in tho depot of the
Baltimore g. Ohio X. r., which is now in
the hands Of tho Government. We we're
busy till @ L. NJ, getting over our horses
and baggage; after which We formed in
columns right in front, and distributed 20
rounds Of cartridges, as NO had boon or
dered TO proceed Immediately to Grafton ;
but soon after received an ordcr TO wait ill
3 O'Clock A. NJ, Of next dav, as Con. Nc.
Clellan expected we would be attacked on
tho road from n masked battery. AT l A.
NJ, tho train "a in numbor) run 0u, 8 miles,
where We waited till daylight; then pro-
ccedcd to Grafton. This entire road is in
the hands Of tho Government, and is guard
ed by the goth Ohio Regiment. They have
had scme skirmishos, aud killed q number
of the robels. We saw ono Secession flag,
which wo would nevor have permitted to
flaunt In our faces, II tho cars had not been
in motion; but, as /. was. wo looked at IL as
philosophers, coDsoling ourselves with the
reflection that We were not responsible for
a thing we could not hclp.
The mountains nro very high between
Bellair and Grafton. We wore constantly
running through deep cuts and over bridges
Ono tunnel beyond Gragton, which VIC
passed through, is 270o foot long.
We arrived at Clurksburgh 20 miles be.
yond Grafton, at about 2 o'clock p. M
Friday, aud pitched our tents on beautiful
hill. We remained there ovor night. Al
: 2 o'clock p. NJ, Saturday, wc wero ordered
to DO ready for march in ono hour. We
Immediately wont to work gotting our tents
down and packed. as also our other baggage
AT Q o'clock +. NJ, wo formed in hollow
squnre for tho purpose Of listening to a
spccch from Col Tylor, and also to recciv,
Gag to be presented 20 US by tho Turnor
of Cleveland. II is O. most beautiful flag
We will stand BY IL to tho last. Wo wer
Informed that We were expected to perform
q march of 27 miles by O'Clock NJ. o
Sunday, for the purpose Of surprising thi
town, The Regiment was then dismisse'
p till 4 o'clock, whom wo took up our limo o
march in q southorly direction, followed b.
: our train of baggage wagons, consisting O
. I. 40 teams. We made fine appearance, ex
tending for over o milo Wo ad ecouts al
along tho rout. We approached tho tow
at 4 o'clock A. NJ, Sunday, whom we halted
ard cent out our skirmishere. As soon a
We we're st halt. tho firing commenced
which was right sharp for q few minutes
Tho right company were sent out on skin
!, mish. which left us :he right Of tho rog
mcnt. We wcro Immediately ordered fol
ward OH double quick time. and took on
! post on tho south ride of tho town. l
four minutes from tho timo we entered ih
town, il was entirely surrounded. Fac
company depioyod out 30 as to extend Oh
lines. Soon aftor that, 10 commenced rail-
10 ing in torrents. Our men wero wet TO th
skin. Wa took 80 prisoners, o bank col
tanning 9GG, 900, (sixty thousand) besid,
other yaluables. When we arrived hero o,
feet were blistcrcd. and some of the &C
diors wero so tired they oorld hardly wal
I. Thirty or forty fell by tho waysido. part
whom wore probably murdered by the robo
tu ss wo have hoard nothing of them. Arr
and knnpsacks lay by tho roadside.
- We arc now oucamprd OF tho foot OF
and tho most advanced one of tho Westo
army al this time We are going 10 fort
the hills, and design to keep the place at
hazards. lhink We will have TO fight for
- The people bore felt as II wo were tn,
deliverers. They have been threaten
'ye with denth, their property confiscated, a
evory other outrage inflicted upon tho
. Women shed tears for joy at our apprOa'
and every soldier they met would take b
TO their homes and care for him in the b,
style. The people fed our entire regime
: OF although the town is only about the size
ChardOn. They are constantly bringing
provisions TO us and feed for our homes
They cannot talk on tho subject withC
shedding tears. There arc 100 mon no
,,. ready 20 take up arms for tho Govornme
'o ~ On our way to this town, while we w
the at halt lay down on a brush pile q
son slept for fifteen minutes; tho men lay do
fin. in tho road. Before this will roach you,
! shall have had battle. We must fight
keep this place. and zoe WiH do it.
,. l have no idea when this lettcr '
reach you. We have no mail and arc 80
fifty miIos from Grafton. / shall have
|, If send it by q private conveyance.
- friends need not expect private letters. q
must not feel neglected If l should
write them. We are not playing soldie
We have to work. Our scouts arc out in
ary directions. We are to attack an encar
;us 'us' ment about miles away, to-day or TO IN
's1 row. Tho rebels are not well armod. II
If have flint-lock muskets. There are ab
. twolve hundred in this part Of the ST
You will pardon me for writing with per
ac' l have no other way Of writing. You
hear from me as often as circumstances
r. allow. Yours truly, GEO. l.. WOOL