Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-06-28

The TwenrT-Ninth Regiment and What
II has Done.
The following private letter from q
member Of the Twenty-Ninth, although
lengthy, win be Of interest to the friends
Of all in that regiment, as showing what
they have been doing for the past month;
COMPANY K, 29TH REo'T, OWL
CAMP AT FRONT RoTAL, Va.
TTt June 10Th, 1862.
DEAR FRIEED Your welcome favor Of
the 9th inst just at hand. believe /
wrote you last from near Tenth Legion,
Va, on the eve Of long and dreaded
march. We started on the march which /
meatiOned on Monday morning, and had
a most szhaustiHg time, the first day being
very hot and the road very dusty. 1t
took three days to reach Front Royal.
The last two days we marchedi in dreaoh-
ing rain, and in mud shOe-deep. Leaving
Front Royal, our fourth days march took
Us through Chester Gap in the Blue
Ridge Mountains, rain still pouring down,
sometimes in torrents on this day some
rebel cavalry were lowering around on
either side, trying to get chance to ham
die our long supply and baggage train,
which consisted of two hundred to three
hundred wagons, each drawn BY four
shorses or mules. On the fifth days march
the scamps were still hanging around, and
a company Of our Cavalry went out to
make their acquaintance, and had like to
have been captured, but the One Hundred
, and Tenth Regiment Pennsylvania Yolhn-
teers sent their company K opportunely to
their relief who made a gallant charge and
drove the dis of. After that we we're
troubled BY them no more Our sixth
days march brought US to Warrenton,
where we laid over Sunday. On the first
night there our Company * 1jwas sent
out on picket, and we posted ourselves in
. pine thieket at fork in the road. Those
who were permitted 70 lie down were
troubled to get good resting-plaoe, find
ing the ground rather u1oYapf The Can I
tain and myself spread our blankets slde
By side; he finding a nice hollow for his
bed tried to pullover stone at his head
for pillow, bat It resisted his efforts, SO
he had to rest without one. Our Company
Comnodore" was growing az night
about the grave-stones. In the morning
We found that we had really occupied an
old burying-place, where were hundreds
. Of graves oYergrown with small pine
trees I saw no gravestones but rough
ones, and no inscriptions except at one
grave, which was surrounded by a brick
Wall Ike a vault, surmounted by hewn
stone tablet, inscribed ''Charles Lee" The
wall was falling into decay. l also say
another grave, surrounded by wall, but
no tablet, a tree ten or twelve inches in
diameter growing in the middle. The;
raves covered a number Of acres, and we
made up our mind that the place was the
buryine-ground Of some large plantation.
Our seventh days march took US 20 Cat
letfs Station, some twelve or fifteen miles
aouth Of Manassas Junction. We found iaI
3 lgade Of new troops here, just come into
the field. We lay over one day here. Two
davs march more took US to Fredericks-
burg, making nine days marching in ~
and such O lot Of lame and sore-sooted
men, nearly worn out, you never saw.
Eastern Virginia is not very well water
ed, st ieast,this part Of it.F One might we
had to march to near mianightt 70 get TO
4
days. when operations in the Valley called
the Division back again. We found Nc
Dowelps Division at Fredericksburg.
don't know how many men be has got, but
the whole country seemed alive with them,
and the white tents could be seen in every
direction. could see that our Division
seemed to considerably augment the before
large numbers. On the way back to the
Il u-,-tr
ia had an opportunity to see more than ever
before the desolation that poor old Vir-
qfnia has broughto on herself, by her act Of
folly. For miles the whole country looks
like wilderness, roads running in almost
every direction across what were once
hourishing farms, no appearances Of fences,
buildings in ruins, houses deserted,
mills unemployed, and the few human
beings still left, seemingly doing nothing,
neither plowing OF sowing. Obi the desc
istions of this war against law and right
how Justly falling on the traitors them
selves. Vengeance IS mine 2 saith the
Lord, ~ VII repay, end how promptly
he payment is being made. On our 4tl
dav's march back We met large squads oi
the colored population with every imagin.
able sort Of large bundles, hurriedly tray,
cling sontephere. When asked what was
M. or where they were going, the answer
was, " jackson is coming-we are going Il
the North" The 9th day took US hrougl
Phofoughfare Gap and brought Us by til
spot occupied only few days before b.
some Of Geary's forces. Prom fear o
something, probably imaginary rebels, the
had burned their tents standing, officer
trunks with contents, baggage two Guar
termasters' goods, and extra ammunition
and left,where for cannot tell. The 9Th do.
we eamped about noon and made prepara
lions for q short stay, but just at night OF
-ders were given to n fan In :" 30 with lon
faces we were obliged to publ upand star
again. We had hoped that we should B
allowed few days rest, but disappoint
ments viii come We marched all nigh
over the worst road we were ever befor
compelled to travel Just at sunrise GU
e advance had brush with force Of febe
cavalry, driving them back, and we wer
permitted to stop and get breakfast an
rest a couple Of hours. Then on again
reaching Front Royal through Manassa
Gan inst st night. -r-.-s 81 sarTr7
The advance came unannouneed on u
rebels stationed there and had sonethiRe {
fght, throwing some shells into the toWI
The depot and some cars loaded With gun
gnd other army matters were barnt, b.
whether By our shells setting them -op hr'
Of bsine-se on IRE BY the rebels ibid *
..sasesftain. When our 3D. brigade came u
-, a-,t,s che 4a9,r1a ahedaddlfne ovar III