Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1862-01-17
= Letter from the Camp.

+-' LeICeF from Cne camp.
/ 3 CAMP PAXTON, Jan. 18th, 1862.
I Ed, Telegraph:-Feeling little desi
rous to have our Regimeut-the I'd Va
Cavalry -bonorably represented in this
glorious war, I have concluded to fur
fnish your paper an account, though i'm
perfect, of some of its actions during
| the past week. ..T--- -.--
At 3 o'clock Saturday morning we
were aroused from our peaceful slum-
bers, to prepare hastily for an expedi-
ton. All being IN readiness by day
dawn, we moved off in column beyond the
Guyandctte river. The roads were very
bad and slippery, so that we made but
slow progress; we arrived at the mouth
ijof Big Sandy river, opposite Catletts-
burg, about 10 o'clock, and there being
but one small ferry boat, we were de-
tained there very long in a snow storm
before we were safely landed on the Old
Kentueky shore. We pushed forward
immediately after crossing the river, un-
tilslong after dark that nj ght; the roads,
at places, were almost impossible, the
mire nearly belly deep to our horses;
during that entire day our horses had
but little or nothing to eat. Thus we
journeyed on, for four successive days,
lily provided with subsistence, and the
common necessaries of life; our bag
gage wagons were unable to follow US,
so we were only provided for as the
diligence of our superior orlfieers war
ranted. We climbed mountains, steep,
rugged and craggY, forced ourselves
through dark, deep, dense woods, where
haman hands had never cleared bye
path, and. forded creek and swamp,
which fsats proved we'll nigh fatal to
man and horse. About 2 o clock P. NJ
on the fourth day, we arrived at Paints
wills the long looked-for destination,
tired hungry, and exhausted. We dis
mounted, fed our horses and hastily
prepared something for ourselves
Here We were, in the face of an enemy
from $500 to 4 1000 strong, under the
noted Humphrey MARSHALL who had, but
the day before vacated the village on
the approach Of the Federal forces. We
were joined by the 10th aud 42G Ohio
Regiments, and the 18th and 22d Ky,
Regiments They marched into town
with music and flying colors--the Stars
and Stripes. ....-..-...;..- -.
Scarcely had the first morsel Of food
entered our. hungry mouths, when, ''to
horse was sounded; in short order, we
were mounted and prepared to move for
yard; every man was commanded to see
that his, arms were in order, and to
carry his earbine or gun i'll hand, so as
to be ready for any emergency. Our
Regiment proceeded alone under our
dauntless Col Bowles, who determined
to give his brave lads chance to test
their metal. The Regiment divided,
some going around in order to get upon
the enemy rear, while Captains Powell, |
Neal, Behan and Dove, accompanied by
the Field Officers, marched boldly up
in the face of the enemy We marched |
some distance, then halted to observe |
the movements of their sentinels, who |
were in plain view on distant hill; |
about 80 minutes then passed W hen we
again took up5our march on the double /
quick, we dashed through a creek, and
eagerly pressed on, soon coming to their.
camp, oAiEIOpAO hioS HciS Jul IL Iii dnN /
everything gave indications Of Il precipis
tate flight. Then all along the road
were to be seen abandoned stores; but
when they were seen fleeing in eonster-s
nation, the boys put spurs to their
horses and pressed forward with re-
doubled vigor, yelling like so many de-
mons just escaped from the Internal re-
5ionse Our Gallant Capt. Behan was
FAR ahead of his men, reckoning them
On to yictoryor defeat; We pursued them
up deep, narrow, gloomy ravfne, where
We were compelled to march by file, and,
ere we we're aware of it, dashed into
heir trap, when they poured in upon
Is deadly fire; for an instant there was
slight recoil, but for an instant only;.
our boys recovered and returned the
ire with the zeal and GOODNESS becoming
A few moments told the tale.
Seeing we were unable to cope with SO
iormidable- foe. there, we we're ordered
% retreat; and of all the Companysi
which left the battle ground that day.,
Iapt, Behan' S retreated in the best or
ler. Thirteen of the feemen bit the
lust, and four, were taken prisoners,
while ave lost but two killed aud one
yoauded. The following day we pqr-
ued but could not oycrtake them; the
lext two days swe occupied en- our
march to-, winter quarters, whence we
tarted, seven days before. -s~-'