Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-01-15
MILITARY CHRfEsF .NDRNCE.
EAON 1HH 7TH RHeINEHE.
oANP KzHIs, RoxEET. Va u
- nnnn

MILITARY CnRis Est 'NDRNCE.
EaoN 1HE 7FH RHaINEHE.
oANP KzHEs, RoNEET, Va \
Jan. sth, 1852.
EDs. LnADRR Matters on the south
brsnch Of the Potomac, until LAST Sunday
evening, have been very quiet. We are Of
this time experiencing the sffectS Of severe
winter weather in Northern Virginia. Now
Years. day was as mild hs Indian Summer,
except very windy. The road, between
here and Green Spring Run, was then dry
and dusty. Streams almost entirely free
from ice. But Thursday night and Friday
It tbeeAme cold, and Friday night, snow began
to fall, continuing slowly all night. II evine-
cd TO the picksts out on their post, four or
Eve miles from Camp, that old Winter had
set in with frm grasp. When weather
permits the regiment keeps up its company
and battalion drill under Msj. Easement.
Tattoo and Company roll call come at 8
P. NJ. On the evening of the 5th, q few
minutes before time for tattoo, call was
made by the AdjutGnt for the Drum Msjor
and the First sergeant'a call was beat. -Four
days ratlons were ordered to be drawn and
prepared in our haversacks. Till the small
hours of morning the cooks might have been
seen along theline standing over their seeth-
ing pots Of beef and pork; the snow falling,
the wind bowling, and tents tapping their
midnight sails. All the men retired to their
bunku, wondering and eonjecturing whittier
We we're to be sent. Morning came, and
with il, the usual routine Of ofmorning duties.
''This and nothing more" But we have
since learned that we were to be sent TO
Hancock, about twenty. FIVE miles below
Cumberland on the Ohio and Baltimore R.
r. We were relieved Of that march, how
ever, by the timely appearance of the llth
under Col. De Villiers, and the 18th Indiana
regiments. But on Monday evening, call
wss made for 800 men from our regiment
with one days rations in their haversackS,
to hold themselves in readiness to march at
AN. All the companies Of the regiment
were represented, but only few from some
companies were detailed to equhlize the
smaller companies. But where were they
to 60? that was the question. About II
past 10 P. M, the men were awakened, and
the battalion formed go that the forces from
the 4th, 5th, 7th, and Sth Ohio, lst and 9TH
Virginia, and l4th Indiana, amounting TO
1000 Infantry, 200 Cavalry, and 9 pieces Of
Artillery, were ready 70 march before A.
n. When the piekets came in Tuesday
morning, those left behind us asceriained
that the expedition went out on the Win
chester Road to Blues Gap, sixteen miles
distant. Early in the morning the advance
came upon the outpost pickets Of the enemy,
sound asleep. Giving them friendly shake,
our men saluted them as prisoners. Our
rsen pushed on, and planted one or two
pieces Of cannon, overlooking the enemy's
Notifications. About two miles from camp,
the enemy had vidette stationed with their
pickets, and he spprized the camp Of our
approach. But we were too close upon them
for them to accomplish any thing. The
cauuous, two in number, of the enemy, were
Dlsnted at the farther side Of the Gap, a
narrow pass between the rocks. It was
most complete surprise. But few Of the
enemy reached the rife pits before our men,
bur, onlv a few shots were fred by them,
and then they few to the woods. The Cav
airy made g DrullAnb cuhfg 70 through bne ue-
fle upon the battery, and drove the cannon
aars from their pieces before making shot.
Tpev were at their breakfast. The rebel
lous was is killed. wounded not known, and
20 prisoners. None Of ours were seriously
wounded. They left nearly everything, in
cludinp their arms and clothing, took both
their cannons, several horsess and burned
their barracks, also grist mill and saw mill.
Besides this, the boys wrought great ruin
with other property, burning private dwell
inRs belonging to Rebels, shooting beeves on
the hills TO see them roll down, and pigs to
try target shooting: The forces Immediate
" returned, reaching Camp about o'clock
P. NJ. of the same day, having performed
hard days march, and making complete
success. Appearances indicate anether
movement. Whittier unknown. Col. Dunn
ing has lust issued an order 70 the effect hat
all the baggage belonging to the officers
above the prescribed amount, be sent away,
and the extra clothing in the hands Of any
of the QuartermRsters must also be sent
away. More anon.
! Respectfully,
@. R. BoELER.
FROM TIE sEoOFD oAvALRY.