Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-03-05
From the Seventh Regiment.
CAMP EXPOSURE, Feb. IL, 1862.

DEAR FRIENDS AT HONE; Have yol
heard from the Tth lately? presume yol
have not, since we left Patterson's Creek
! You perceive that we have a name 10
our camp, and it iswell named. On Wed
+ nesday, the 5th inst, we received order
to move with three days rations, and on
blanket, and at 9:35, A. NJ, we started IL
soldiers cars" toward the east. Pass
ing Green Spring Run, we went to sta
ton known as Frenchs Store House
where we disembarked and took dinner
| Toward night we moved to the summit o
a very steep hill, where we bivouaced
as we supposed, for the night. From thl'
hill we have a splendid view of the valley
of the Potomac. saw one or two arts
busily engaged sketching the scenery
About half past eight, we received order'
to fall in, and proceed southwark. 1t was
quite cold and there was about four inch
es OF snow, consequently it was difficult
marching. Going about four miles, mos
OF the distance up hill, we came to the
bivouac of the 9TH Indiana, and lst .Nlr
ginia Regiments, passing that of the 18TH
Ohio, about Il mile back, Here we halt
ed, not knowing which road to take, un
til about half past twelve, when receiving
the necessary orders, we moved on, foE
lowed by the 29th and Goth Ohio, the
the 9TH Indiana and lst Virginia halting
a short time at the Little Cacapon River
which we crossed some five miles from the
halt. At 4:3O, we again moved forward,
until daylight, when we arrived at tan
merry, which had evidently seen better
days, but it seeded and is like its great
example, rotted. We remained here un-
til about four o'clock, P. NJ. From here
were sent out two companies of cavalry, to
Cross Roads, returning about three, z. NJ,
having captured five of the militia. who
said they were on furlough - their ZONES.
They belonged to the lI4th Va Militia:
One ~ intelligent looking man, claimed
to have deserted. Upon examination he
was released. Much information was
gained from these men, of valuable ma
ture. Col. Monroe is in command OF the
ll4th, which the prisoners say IS very
much disaffected, having taken oath new
er to leave Hampshire county, again, uTl-
der the rebel command. They say that
gold and silver is very scarce, among them,
the troops being paid regularly IN JEFF.
Davis shinplaster currency, and IT they
can get hold of Ohio notes, or U. ). Trea-
sury notes, they are as good as gold, and
heavy premium. Being ask
ed as to the force at Winchester, they re-
piled that they did not know the exact
force, but that it was variously reported,
some saying that there were but 10000 /;
others, $4,000 or 10000 inquired how
large force went to Romney after our
One replied that Gen. Jack
or thn hnaH Of oho.,f 10 0ln ~,
a.1try, two or three companies of cavalry,
and Eve or six pieces of artillery, and that
ne came in from three directions; from
Springfield Moorfeld, and Winchester,
;upposing us to be still there. There was
no small aston nishment on their part,
when they found We had eluded them
They further stated that jackson return
I'd in two or three days to Winchester,
taking back one brigade, leaving about
ten thousand infantry, Cavairy, and artll-
ery, under command of Bng. Gen, Lor-
ing. Loring committed severa-' daring
tepredations, among which was Il. e des-
troying OF the tinesuspenSion bridge ac-~oss
the south branch of the Potomac ab0L =
SIX miles from Romney. By some means.
they obtained information of our plan to
them, on Sunday, last, 1.-THE 2d)
and Monday evening Loring retired hast
ly to Bloomery's Gap, where the prison
ers said stand would be made. They
,eport telegraph in process of construe-
ion between Winchester and Romney,
md that it is completed to Little Cacapon
Bridge, near Bloomery soap. One of the
prisoners, a young man Of about twenty,
says he was in the skirmish at Blues Gap,
and says that but four were killed, and
none wounded He did not know how
many were missing None but the llIth
Va, company oil independent cavalry,
md two pieces of artillery, were in the
fight. The cavalry is the same that was
so annoying 10 our pickets, while at Rom
ney. capturing several guards, and one or
two lieutenants. He owns that they were
surprised, but soon rallied and
stood, about three miles from the Cap
Some one inquired about Floyd, and the
liflir at Cross Lanes, they replied that
they had never heard of the fight having
aiken place, nor the battle at CarnifaX
Ferry. They had never heard of a single
Yankee victory, but any quantity of re-
-erses. The troops are not allowed to see
paper, much less to read one; but they
ne for the constitutional rights, and lib
rites of loyal citizens; that the army of
he North is nothing but rabble, poorly
quipped, clothed, and fed, and that all
manner of atrocities are committed by
hem. The intelligent portion of them,
Iowever, knowing the falsity of such SEN
lments, and gradually, as the truth is dis
losed, the people are returning to reason.
n consequence of such teaching, the pris-
ners were very much surprised on seeing
he comfortable and almost luxurious con-
ition of our men. They acknowledged
hat prisoners were much better cared
Or, than those taken by them; and that
ur troops were in a much more healthy
than theirs. The army in Win
hester is quite unhealthy; mumps and
measles, being the prevailing diseases, with
few cases of small pox.
These prisoners will be sent to Column
us.
At about 4,30 we started toward the R.
s., after marching six miles, to the little
'acapoe, we bivouaced for the night.
friday morning, after breakfast, 1--WE re-
eived some hard bread and coffee here, we
gain marched toward the r. K. some five
niles, to the cross roads. and went into
amp. In very brief space of time, ev-
.ry man was busily engaged collecting
ails and brush. Rails for fire, and brush
or tents. Long before night, the fine
ields were commons, and picturesque huts
# pine brush were tastily ranged irrespec-
i've of order, or regulation exactness.-l
Every ''ranch" had its huge pile of dry
ails, and happy careless faces were every
yhere to be seen.
We have little to do now, having to
'urnish but two guards from a company
or picket duty. The out post is FIVE miles
.oward the Winchester and Springfield
pike.
Col. Sprague, formerly a Captain of the
'th, and lately released from Seccssia,
made us visit on Sunday last. We were
heartily glad TO welcome him from his re-
yretted confinement. He was looking
veil and hearty.
On Monday, the Sd Brigade was out on
lrill. The drill was none of the most in
eresting which have witnessed, and the /
major part of the officers were quite in
llonant at having to drill If heinz varv