Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-06-25
ARMY CORREsPONDENCE.

OANP UPTOS, Va, June 81, 1851.
EDrToRs LEADER Having a few leisure
moments I thought that I could not improve
them to any better sdvantag g than by Civ
ing you e description of our present quar-
tiers.
l presume you know as much of our move
msnts almost as we do. We left Washington
one week ago, and were quRrtered at Camp
lincoln a few days, when our regiment
were ordered up the railroad 10 guard the
track. On the afternoon of the 18th, all of
the available force were ordered to pack
their knapsacks as quietly as possible, and
at 6 o'clock get on board of the cars.
At the appointed time, all that were not
on duty, were on board, ready for a start
They left amid the cheers of their few re-
naming comrades and cheers Of the second.
In about three hours from the time they
left, the cars returned, bringing with them
the remains Of one of our comrades, and the
report that four companies were all cut to
pieces the 6rsys, the report said, had been
slaughtered like sheep, and they were re-
treating in wild confusion. Very soon all,
both lame halt and lazy ones, were under
arms, expecting to be attacked. Some want
ed to go down on the train to help take care
of their wounded comrades, but the officer
would not allow a single man to go out of
camp. Even the cooks, the most of whom
are negroes, were armed.
Some of those, two certainly, were seen
to crawl out of the brush, the next morn
ing. When they were accused of being
afraid, they said that they were not going
to be shot ile they were asleep. On the
18th, abOu8 10 A. NJ, another train came
bringing another of our dead comrades, and
the news that the Grays were all safe, or at
least that but two or three were wounded
Then those of our company that were left
behind began to feel a little easier, and that
they had fallen back about eight miles. the
wounded, two in number, were sent to the
hospital in Washington. Again, at 2P. NJ,
we were preparing to bury those that were
there, when six more were brought up To
camp also one that hsd been taken to
Washington as a wounded man, was brought
back for burial. Then we had to perform
one Of the ssddest duties that soldiers are
called upon to perform. To lay beneath the
cold ground, and in a strange land. far from
home and friends, our irstdead.
1t was one of tho most solemn ceremonies
I ever witnessed. We laid eight in one
grave, and one in another, with nothing but
their camp blankets around them. Six Of
1 fhOra Aaud ha1on1 - No.,-,r- n D,-t,
mouth, Ohio. Also three wounded from
the same company, and three from Com
psny II, from ZsnesYille. Lieut. Hampson
Of our Company was slightly wounded by
piece OF ashell, but not so as to lay him W
at all, but simply 10 make him a little sore.
The rest are all right.
On the evening Of the 18th the rest of the
regiment left Camp Lincoln, bag and bag,
gage, and half-past ten found US once morC
with our comrades who have won for them
selves a name second 10 none at least, 81
thinks Col. McCook, who says that he is no
afraid TO 90 aRy1ohere, for he now knows thu
Grays will follow him. They were the only
company that rallied under the CALLING fir,
from the secession batteries. They rallied
three times, but when the officer found they
could do nothing, he gave the order to re
treat, which was obeyed.
But the best Joke of all was when the Col
gave the order to orally on the reserve p
an order which we think was all that save
US from g greater loss of life, and perhaps tn.
total destruction of those four companies
5 The boys all say that they will follow Col
McCook wherever he will lead, for the
consider him a cool headed, brave man.
We yesterday visited the Connection
, troops head quarters, which is about q mil
and a half south Of ours. They are yer,
strongly posted their batteries comman,
the roads two ways for a mile and q half 6
least The secessionists will have hot wof
ere they drive US into Washington, whic,
q they say they are going to do. We are ex
pecting 10 be attacked every night.
: AS ever A GRAY.