Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1862-11-06

From Capt. Robinson's Cavalry.
CoLEsYILLE, Nh.
Oct. Dist 1862.

Washington City, at the small village
bearing the above name, consisting of a
grocery, hotel, three dwellings and a sta
BILE, you will find the headquarters Of
the first Squadron Ohio cavalry.
We are here under Col. Tracy. Of the
109th New York regiment, infantry,
whose headquarters is at Beltsville, six
miles East of us, on the Washington
City Branch Of the Baltimore q Ohio
R. R.
Our duty is securing the country in
small squads, to catch deserters and Sc
cessionists, who are trying to escape the.
draft. Twenty-seven Of our company,
are with the army at Sharpsburg, six
miles above Harper's Ferry, as Orderlies
and Messengers to Gems. Morell and
Humphrey, and these were in the battle
Of South Mountain and Antietiam. \,
Many incidents and travelings through
the Old Dominions, and back through Ma
ryland, have fallen to the lot Of Co. a,
since my last letter; for it is now nearly
two months since | last wrsto to YOU
and you know the rebels have given us
but little rest during that time. l
My excuse for not writing, is the con.
stant duty we have had operfosm in the
field with our baggage far behind u.s.
This, with sickness, has made writing
out ofthe question.
AT the request of our boys, since we
are now in snug little place, with not
mnch duty to perform, will undertake
to tell yoa few of the incidents through
which we have passed, but first let me
give you the casualties which have be-
fallen us.
On the night of August 22d, while our
army under Gen. Pope, reinforced by
Burnside, was holding back the massive
rebel army from Richmond, behind the
deep, narrow channel Of the Rappahan-
mock, the notorious rebel Stuart, with
his brigade Of cavalry, crossed the river
above our army, unmolested, and by our
army, unheard Of, made their way di-
rectly to Catlet's Station, some fifteen
miles in the rear of our army, where the
head-qnarter trains of Gen. Pope and
Gen. Mcdowell had been ordered to
park. Through the INFLUENCE Of what
distinguished officer of our army, | will
not say now, since he is far from us,,ahd
it can do no good,
About ten o'clock in theevening, when
most Of our boyswho were with the wag-
ons, consisting Of those who were unfit
for duty, the sick wagoners, cooks DC, had
retired, an unearthly whooping, halloo-
ing and shooting, aroused them, and be-
fore they could get out of their tents,
the rebel cavalry were all around them,
as our train, being little removed from
the Gen., was the first attacked.
1t was dark, cloudy night; the occa-
sional flashes of Lightning, and the fading
light of the camp-fres alone gave light
sufficient to distinguish a man at only a
few PAGES distant, otherwise, none ol
those with the wagons would have es'
capped. The suddenness Of the attack
and its being SO unexpected, our boys
made but little resistance, but each man
shifted in the darkness, for his personal
safety Those who escaYed, give inter
esting variations Of lying in bitches
while the horses of the enemy passed
over them, of sitting behind stump OIL
pine bush while they rabben past in
toucbiag nearness, unobserved, of climb
. ing trees, and Of outrunnng their horses
and escaping through the woods.
But as our boys came out of their tent
and before they could make their escape
a the rebels caught dozen Of them anC
carried them off to Richmond, with TWEEN
q ty nine Of our horses, including the Cap
= tains Pony, and his big horse was shot
The rebels fred into our tents, woundinl
r John Foly,in the leg near the ancle joint
: he is still in the Emory hospital a
9 Washington City but is now able to us
) his leg little in walking. They ais
r. stuck their sabers into our tents, callint
on the "cursed Yankees" to- surrender
II is fact that they did not molest Gen
!, McDowell's train. But why repea
= what our boys who were in the scrap
and got free ride to Richmond, hav
had an opportunity Of telling you pei
4 sonally, since they have all been parole
,n and are with us again.
II In the Register Of last week, Sc
4 our missing, and much respected CON
IS rade, Mr.. A. J. McGinnis, mentioned q
!. being in this mess; this statement is il
i correct since Mr.. McGinnis was wit
l. the company until the evening Of AuguI
X 26th when the army had fallen back I
o. . Wsrrenton, and we were campsd ne'
che scene Of the above midnight rsi'