Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1861-07-11
Friend Toylor.


June 9th, le6l.}
Friend Taylor.
DEAR SlR:-Your letter came here yesterday,
and it was truly welcome visitor. Anything in
this God-iorsakcn country. particularly from old
friends is cheering. ! was much pleased to learn
that my mother was well and the rest of the folks
ali right that is more than can say for myself
at this time. have been put through little too
sharp the last three or four days Ny company
was at Webster when we got orders to march -
The orders came to them at | O'Clock at night.
] was out three miles from camp with six Others
of the boys on picket guard, and of course we w re
left. We did not get into camp till five O'Clock the
next day, and then found all gone.
then received orders that all the troops at
Philipp had orders to march for the pass, cape,
in the Blue Mountains. SO | concluded to keep
my boys quiet till after midnight and then start
after them, carrying our grub with us, but being
prevented by storm | could not start till 10
O'Clock the next day. The roads we're slippery
and about as hilly as they are around Blackcreck.
Well, we came up with the troops that evening at
Philippi heir orders had been countermauded,
which was good for US otherwise we would not
have come up with them this side of the Noun
gains.
We have now 1000 troops Mt this place with 10
pieces of Rife Cannon 5000 at Clarksburgh with
some cannon and 400 cavalry 1000 at Grafton
and several thousand at our other points all of
which are to move at one time Tor the gape in the
Mountain The report is that we Can get at them
only in two ways, in front and rear, but We will e
after them They number $500, and have can.
non and Is Founders. They think they can give
us fits. Perhaps they WILL some of US, but drive
us they never They are much b tier at run
ming than they are at fighting, you can see by
all the papers, We are not made of that kind of
material that runs. found part of the 9th Ohio
Regiment he e, and among the rest the company
from Millershurg You can bet we han good
D, IhA,t
invitation to take tea which, of course, was
accepted. | read your letter to them, at the last
word they gave three cheers for old Holmes, and
then three for the writer. They say they don't
get half enough to cat That is not the case
with me. have had plenty, such as it is, for the
last four days have had nothing to eat but three
crackers and a small piece of raw side meat per
day. The crackers are about three inches square,
"a of an inch thick and apout ms piable as piece
of Spanish sole leather. | will now stop and rest
till after dinner.
One O'Clock P NJ. Spies have just return.
ed from the rebel camp. They were fired on
but none hurt. One had three bullet holes
through his clothes. 1t was close call
They report that we can get within three miles
of them and have fair view Of their whole
camp. If that is so you had better believe
we will give them fits.
Friehd Alf, | wish could give you an idea
of things here but cannot. | can't write
what wish for my time is so taken up with
affairs here that when commence to write |
think ofeverything but what want to write,
and what do write must be done with a
pencil, and that in double quick time. One
thing that keeps us from writing often is the
scarcity of postage stamps. We cannot get
them, neither can we send letters without
them. got letter day from ono OF my
neghbor boys with few stamps enclosed,
one of which send you. In regard TO the
three years, will not go. Tell my mother
that am we'll and on my way South, and il
can | will come and see her on my way home
That is if am not shot, and l have no fears
on that score unless they fight better than
they have been doing. Excuse poor writing
and believe me ever.
Yours in Friendship
j. BARTLETT.