Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1862-11-21

uoi 'itG 80" Va d PiopheC, put "hatcNti L
see with the two eyes nature gave me,
that | will try to tell and make no pre-
tensions to second sight" or any lite
rary legerdemain.
| had just mailed my last letter to you
fIom Clarksburg, when the order came,
tstrike tents and start for Buckhannon. :"
At four o'clock p. NJ. We left Clarks-
burg, and taking the Stanton pike, com
menced our march for Buck hannon.-
We only went about six miles that even
ing and encamped in a field near the
road. Dark rough hills frowned on US
from each side, and these were covered
with dense forest of scrub oaks, dog
wood and beech, forming a most impen-
etrable thicket, making US feel quite Sc
cure from any attack in the night
There was secesh house close by, and
it was fun to see the hungry boys, after
tents were up, prowling around it for
something to eat. Apples, chickens,
molasses, pies, etc, were picked up with
out money and without price" Next
morning, tents again struck, We start off
through "a cold, heavy rain, over muddy
roads and swollen streams That was t.
weary Sabbath-day's journey, indeed,
and d short one too, for when some eight
mile stones were passed, our Lieut.. Col,
then commanding, called halt, and we
pitched tents in large meadow, again
between two Virginia hills. Here was
our first taste of real hardship. Clothes
wet and heavy, shivering in the cold
rain and storm of an autumn evening;
there we had to pitch our tents, and
carry rails to build our fires, and hay to
sleep upon. But once the fires were
fairly burning, supper over, and our
clothes drying, every heart was dancing
with gladness and song rolled from ev-
cry lip throughout the camp. Such is
the power Of contrast. For youat ONE,
to have left your warm houses that cold,
wet evening, and gone into the best tent
we had, would have been trial. and |
am mistaken if your "harps would not
have been left hanging Oh the willows
all the weary night. But to US it was
quite other wise. Our fortune had
changed for the better, and we were
overjoyed, just as you have seen poor
child happy at the sight af a better pair
Of old shoes.
will not weary your patience with
any account of the next days travel.
which brought US to Buckhannon. The
day was bright and pleasant, and the
snow which had fallen the previous
night soon melted off, and all went
cheerfully tramping through the mud.
At Buck hannon we had a pleasant
camp; very, indeed; large meadow,
level, but elevated high above the river
The scene of little fight that took
place between jenkins cavalry and the
Union citizens At the time that raid
was. made there were scarcely any troops
There, except some raw militia. These
and the citizens fought bravely, but were
not able to prevent the rebels from car
rying off several prisoners, burning some
property, killing and wounding Il good
many, and doing considerable other IN
jury. In spite of all they have suffered,
many of the peope there are rabid Sc
cesh. Of course the men there. as we'll
as everywhere in Western Virginia, are
dumb, but the W0naen falk. The town
is insig gniicant.
The 67th Pa, Sd Va, 18th Va. and
other regiments were there, but now al
most all have lett, except enough to
guard the town. The Sd Va, l believe,
was divided, 1Iilroy sending some to
Bulltown, some to Weston, and leaving
the rest there. His orders were to scour
the woods and fields, and kill every
bushwhacker they can find, taking no
prisoners. In spite of all the Colonel's
vigilance the boys went out and cap
tured scores of chickens, a good many
sheep, pigs and calves, and not little
milk and honey. Such things will hap
pen! SIGH Is LIFE! I didn't see any
body looking sorry except the poor
loosers themselves-and they had Ga
look of sadness and down cast eve"
that would have drawn pity and peni-
tence from any except a hungry soldiers
breast. We have always enough of the
necessaries of life, but sometimes the
boys want comforts and luxuries-and
why not? On the 9th inst we marched
out of Buckhannon, and reached Bev-
erly after two days hard marching The
weather was fine, the spirits and health
Of the men excellent, and all came
through safe. Such hilly country
Miles up and miles down the hills
Long stretches Of wood on either hand,
extending four, five or six miles, with
out opening to show you house or a
feld-and when you do look up and
see house, it is rough, log hut, and
the fields around it fenceless, and
dreary Not a school house, not a
q, Il, tU