The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-08-07

ing required to do guard duty, and the
other infantry companies being on the
opposite side of the river.) My compa>
ny, to the number Of se7enty-three inclu-
ding the officer of the day aud officer of
the guard, are serving to day. The prin-
cipal duty of the officer of the day is to
write passes, no person great or small
heing permitted to pass in or out of the
guards without written permission from
the officer of the day, or some other Off
Ger authorized to give it. In two hours
have filed more than hundred, as Off
Ger of the day. This must certainly be
irksome to the citizens of the village and
neighborhood. Think of strangers pos
sessing Woods6eld, and guarding all the
roads, so that there would be no one al
lowed to pass in or out without written
permission! Those granting passes are
total strangers to those desiring them,
and must often bring certificates from
we'll known Union men that they are
proper persons to be entrusted with pass
es. The railroad cars, too, are entered
by officers at many places, and the pas
sepgers required to show certificates of
loyalty. These annoyances are borne
with patriotic fortitude. l have heard
not one word of complaint on the subject.
A picket guard is stationed on all the
roads leading from here, at distance of
from one to three miles from the camp.
whose business it is to intercept all per-
sons not provided with passes. 1t is quite
certain that they are not in the least pos
sible danger from an enemy. The boys
seem rather fond Of it.
Col. Wiley, who burned the railroad
bridges, is imprisoned at this place.
There are dozen or so of other secession
prisoners I saw one brought in yester-
day from near Oakland. He seemed per.
fectly indifferent in regard to his impris-
onment.
I omitted to mention before, that our
regiment is armed with muskets, except
| ing the two flank companies, A and B,
which have Enfield rifles. The arms are
all very passable, though of course, we
would have preferred rifles, or riaed mus
The health of our company is excellent.
There are but two sick, Peter Yoho and
August Fisher. l have no doubt that
this is much more healthy place than
Camp Chase. Our camp is in the woods.
and our boys are not exposed to the
scorching sun and clouds of dust which
annoyed US in our former quarters. This
doubtless contributes much to good health.
There is report current among the
boys that Captain HOLSTERS company is
within few miles of us, but I cannot
learn whether the story is true or not.
will probably know within day or two.
| Some time since gave you list ol
the names of those who had left my com.
pany, at Camp Chase. do not remem.
Der whether / afterwards informed you
that two of them had returned, and are
now in the company. They are Albert
Cavanaugh aud Sylvanus Williams.
received note from the father of one
young man who left us, ir which am
instructed to correct the statement that
his son had deserted, or I would hear
thunder. I am rather partial to thunder
as an institution and hope to hear it fol
many years yet, but will state the facts
in the case. The young mans nams is
James Phillips. He run off from oul
can without permission and remained
away several days. In the meantime the
company had been sworn in, and 1 had
written the letter announcing that Phillips
with others, had left. Afterward he re.
turued, and I told him he might join the
company if be wished, but he preferred
not to do SO, after taking some time tt
consider the matter. I then filed up the
company, and gave Phillips discharge
This is the long ard the short of it, thun
der or no thunder.
At our first roll call in this region, We
found every man present; none having beer
left in the hospital, and none having beer
left on the way. l do not know that any
other company in the Regiment can say
as much.
| l just this moment learned that Capt
Hollister is in the vicinity of Rich Noun
tain, about 60 miles from here. learr
that he and his company are enjoying good
health.
Brigadier General Schleich is here to-
day. His command is at Cheat River
Gap. He moves from there soon; proba
bly, to go toward Manassas by way O
Washington City.
We have DO means of knowing when w
will leave this place, out good guesser
think we will remain some months. Tht
drties ere pretty heavy, as every thirC
day nearly every man aEd officer is OF
duty for "a hours, and no prospect Of i
being better soen. Oh course we have
little lime for drill
want my particular friends to regard
my letters to the Esprit" as answers tt
their kind letters TO me. If | had tht
time and should write 20 each of then
individually l could say little that | de
not write for publication. / shall b'
happy to receive any number of letters
from the various portions of Monroe.