Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-11-18
Report OF Rev. Gordon Battelle. !.

Report OF Kew Gordon Battelles
The following interesting report made
to Gov. PeitpoInt by Rev. Gordon Bat
telle, tells its own story:
TO GoDeynor Petrpont:
In compliance with your request, left
this place on Friday morning, Oct. 18th,
for Beverly, Elkwater and Cheat Mountain
Camps, for the purpose Of receiving and
returning to their families any funds that
our Virginia volunteer troops might wish
to send home. Gen. Kelley and ColOnels
Moss aud HeWes, of the Second and Third
Virginia Regiments, to whom was fur
nished with letters from your Excellency,
were pleased to express their decided APP
probation of the object of my mission, and
70 render me every needed facility in its
accomplishment
I;fou1d Col Hekes, at the tilhs OF ms
passing through, in command of the post
at Beverly, and Col. Moss occupying the
advance position in the camp at Elk WA
ter. Ny stay in that regiment was neces-
sarily brief, and my time much occupied;
bat so far as could Judge, the discipline,
health and comfort OF the troops, We're we'll
cared for by the officers In command. The
Surgeons-Dr. Hazclett, of the Second,
and Or. Dorsey of the Tnird-were very
actively and successfully engaged in behalf
of the comparatively few that were sick =
In one ofthe regiments was told that, as
yet, no deaths had occurred from sickness.
AS a general rule, the troops from our own
and other States were well clothed, we'll
fed, and apparently il good spirits; and
they seemed to be animated with entire re-
spect for the ability and skill of the re-
spectiVe Generals under whose commands
they were serving.
In addition to the sums brought to the
families of the troops, after the late visit
of the Paymaster, by the Chaplain of the
Third Regiment and myself, amounting to
more than eight thousand dollars, consid-
cradle amounts were forwarded through
other parties. In my interview with Gen.
Kelley, he spoke 10 terms of very decided
approval of the late order from the War
Department, by which the soldier is en-
abled to allot any portion of his pay to his
family, SO that they may regularly draw
such portion at home. His view, If cor
reCtly understood him, was that so ample
is the provision which the Government
makes for all the ordinary wants of the
volunteer, that his possession of money
IN camp, beyond a small amount, is not
only needless, but apt 20 be Injurious to
himself to his family and to the service;
WHO lSS UT EhluGI
retention, at home, would be promotIye OF
all these interests.
From the stories of ineficiency and de-
lay in our army operations, formerly so
confidently asserted in some quarters,
was expectantly on the look out for the
idlers along the line of my journey. Twill
not assert that saw NO delinquent; but
truth compels me to say that from the
Brigadier down to the teamster-along the
whole line from Grafton to Cheat Noun
tain, entire activity seemed to be the order
of the day. The camp at the latter place
is a busy hive. The sound of axes, by the
thousand, is heard from morning till night;
and the rapid erection of winter quarters
II met portable steam saw mill on its
way up to help in the work promises not
only comfort for the troops, but to make
the pass absolutely impregnable.
Having completed the distribution of the
packages entrustedto me-with the excep-
ton of two lodged for delivery with the
Secretary Of the Commonwealth beg
leave herewith to place in the hands of
your Excelleucy, the record OF my receipts
and disbursements.
am, very respectfully, your obedient
servant, q. BATTELLE.