Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1862-08-29

about 10 miles the first day and en-
camped. The weather was very warm,
the roads dusty, and water scarce, But
the men didn't seem to mind 1t; and our
camp fires rendered the country around
brilliant for some distance. After the
necessary cooking and eating, song
singing and story telling, the boys re-
tired to rest, just tired and contented
enough to enjoy good nights sleep.
In the early morn all was astir again,
and we were soon under way, Gen. Nc
DowelPs Brigade taking the lead. We
passed through Colierville and German
tovnsVo small villages, whose occupa-
ton seemed to be gone; no stores, no
post office, no school house; nothing
that meant business. The negroes, as
usual, were at the roadside, and perched ID
on the fences to see the Yankees go by,
and some of them; have no doubt, were
so ungrateful as to leave their dear mas
ters and go along with US. This day we
made another fifteen miles, and encamped
by the road side, as usual Here we re-
mained over Sunday, while Gen. Sher-
man and staff proceeded to Memphis to
look US out suitable camping ground.
Monday morning found US moving,
bright and early, and before noon we
entered the city of our hopes, ragged
and dirty, to be sure; but with bands
playing, and the old flag waving in tri-
umph, in this hot-bed Of secession.
One sad accident occurred to- day to
mar the pleasure ef the occasion. A
soldier Of the I'D Ohio, who was back
with the train, undertook to knock of
some apples with the butt of his gun
By some means the gun was discharged
the ball passing through his hand and
breast. lie died after much suffer ng
about two hours after the accident oc
cured just before he died I went to
see him. He was almost past talking,
but made out to murnur, ''tell my mother
and sisters how it happened.'
Poor fellow; he is another victim to
carelessness. IT'S no use to say warn
ing, for warnings go unheeded till too
late. have said we started for Mem
phis with pleasure; but there was one
feeling of sadness mixed with the pros
pect, caused by the very fact, that it
became necessary to leave that line Of
defense. After the evacuation Of Cor
inth we took possession of that line OF
railroad with good deal of eclat, and
gave the people room to believe that
they would hereafter enjoy the privilege
Of living under the protection Of the
Stars and Stripes. But here has been
another illustration Of the saying, that
it is safer to be a secessionist than a
loyal citizen. Many people came for
ward promptly aud took the oath Of al
legiance, and showed by their conduct
that loyalty still existed in portion of
the Southern people. What, then, was
their grief and sorrow, when they learned
that we were to leave them to the tender
mercies of rebellion. There were their
farms ana families, which must either
be abandoned, or they must remain and
men. In less than an hour after our
forces left Grand Junction and Moscow,
the rebel Cavalry made their appear
ance, burning and destroying the prop
erty of Unionists, and in some cases
shooting them down wherever they could
be found. IF our rulers had fully real
lied the magnitude Of the rebellion, and
kept on raising new regiments, and fill
ing up the old ones in the field, all this
might be avoided. But now we have to
delay our movements, and in some in
stances act on the defensive. IT'S to be
hoped that, at last, our Government un-
derstands the necessities of the occasion,
and will make preparations accordingly.
The soldiers in the field look with anx-
iety to their friends at home TO second
the efforts of the Government Each
one of us feel deep interest in the
honor of our State, and pray that Ohio
may not be behind in her patriotism,
and efforts to maintain the Union.
Now [ have written long, tedious
letter; but will not make it longer by
apologies. We are here in Memphis,
awaiting the new supply of troops. IT'S
useless to overrun a country and con-
quer it, and then have to abandon it,
and leave it to the fate of guerrilla war
fare, and then have to re-ccnquer it
Let US hope that the present will be the
last one needed; that it's magnitude will
be sufficient to crush out the bogu Con-
federacy, and their more despicable but
ternut sympathizers in the North.
CALEB.
For the Pomeroy Weekly Telegraph.
CLARKsBURG, West Va,