Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1862-01-13


The people have been waiting rather i'm.
patiently for the particulars Of the late fight
near Romney, Va, in which the Fifth Ohio
took so prominent a part. We have re-
ceived the following letter from member of
Company K, who was in the fight. The
writer volunteered in this city, as most of
the regiment did. His relation Of the fight
will be read with interest:
RoMNEY, Va, January 8, 1862
We returned last night from Blue Gap.
where we had little fight, and completely
routed the enemy. On Sunday night we
received orders to pack up and be ready for
marching at moments notice, but we did
not leave until Monday night at twelve
o'clock About six o'clock we were ordered
to get three days ratiens in our haversacks,
and be ready to move at nine o'clock At
that hour we fell in for roll call, and stacked
our guns. At half past eleven we were
aroused by the cry, "Fall in Company K"
which we did, and soon the regiment was in
line. Colonel Dunning made a neat little
speech, TO the effect that the hardest part of
the expedition would be the marching. He
said he had no doubt but that we would
fight; he wanted us to show what we could
do in the way of marching, aud urged US to
remember Cincinnati The Fifth was placed
at the head of the culumn, which consisted
of the Fourth, Fifth, Seventh and Eighth
Ohio, Fourteenth Indiana and First Virginia
Regiments of infantry, Captain Dennis and
Clarks Batteries of Artillery, and Captain
Keys Cavalry and one other cavalry com
pany, Well, about twelve o'clock we
started and marched toward Blue Gap, which
is sixteen miles from Romney. was one Of
party sent forward to scout through the
woods in advance of the column for the en-
emy's pickets; which job found very diff :
cult, on account of the depth of the snow on
the ground. slipped and fell several times.
Well, about day break we came across one
of the enemys pickets and captured him.
we then pushed forward to the rebel camp,
which we reached about eight o'clock, and
completely surprised the enemy. Their
camp lies in gap in the noun tains, and the
road was commanded by two peices of can
non, which we captured. The Fifth went
up a steep hill on the left of the Gap, and the
Fourth on the right; by the time We reached
this place We were all pretty well used up
and tired out with hard marching; but still.
We went up the hill as fast as we could,
crawling up on our hands and knees part OF
the way, and drove the enemy from their in
trenchments and put them to flight. We
captured two pieces of cannon, several
horses and tents, and burned the camp and
all the surrounding houses. We came upoa
them so suddenly, and with such terrific
yells that they left all their breakfast hot
for us to eat which I can assure you the
boys did with hearty goodwill, aud from
the appearance of things l should judge that
they lived high.
can assure you found it very difficult
TO get back to Romney, as my legs ached
terribly but finally we succeeded in reach
ing Romney about seven P. n. last night,
completely used up, and "played out"
Great credit is due TO Colonel Dunuing,
and indeed to all the officers concerned, for
the manner in which the expedition was
conducted. Colonel Dunning cheered the
Fifth by crying, "Go in, my 6ulhes-remem-
ter CincinnatF' and they went in.