Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-07-31
From the 10th Regiment.

lAMP ' lRGlNlA, CUMBERLAND GAP, NA.,|
July l3, 1862.
MEssns. E.TlLL- On the morning of the 4th
when the first sunbeams fell upon the summit of
majestic Cumberland, a national salute was fired
by the artillery from the Gap, rousing the weary,
sleeping soldier from his hard bed to salute the
great anniversary of the American Repablic.
A great day indeed, for each American. But,
where is the enthusiasm with which this national
holiday was greeted in times gone by7 We are
told thatit passed by almost unnotced. The usual
festivities were disposed Of and but few elfors
were made for its celebration. We are not sur.
priscd at this, when nation which used to be
united. and especially on such occasions, showed
the world tfat combined in harmony and union
its strength would be invincible, is now separated
and thrown into the greatest of all evils-a civil
war Two armies. which in happier days were
fighting under one Banner, are now standing in
the field face to face, ready to deal the death
blow upon each other, to decide the future exist
cnce of a Government which never saw its com
parativc in the annals of the world history
Brother against BROTHER father against son and
son against father, are waiting the opportunity to
send the deadly messengers to each others hearts
This is the phase of our once happy nation
! Yet thousands have left their families at tho
grace Of a merciless foe, to rally under the ban.
ncr which had protected tn m SO long. Permit
me to nairate one instance which | observed somt
days ago: One day being in a Photographic inst
tuition, | saw gray-haircd father surrounded b,
four sons as objects before the apparatus, whC
like thousands of their fellow citizens, had been
driven from their homes by ruthless traitors, bu
devoted to their country's banner, they crossed
the mountains to join the Federal army, and are
now members Of the lst Tennessee Regiment.
The fourth passed quietly in camp, the roaring
sound of the cannon only, firing the nationa
salute at sunrise, noon and night interrupted the
usual quictncss of camp. At eight O'Clock il
the morning 4 dispatah was received stating tha
Gen. Mcclellan had been defeated at Richmon,
f and fell back 35 miles &c. You cannot imagin
what sensation this report created in camp
Each one seemed to feel the blow us if it ha
been dealt upon our own division, and YOU coul
read in every face that no one was prepared T.
D receive such information. Soon YOU could lear
| who approved ofhs way of doing and who wer
opposcrs. Some would condemn this noble Ger
eral entirely, charging him with disability of cor
ducting the command of so great an army, an
, they never had expected anything but defeo
@ while he commanded on the Potomac. awe ar
n whipped-badly whip red-disastcr has bcallc
; U.S." was the general exclamation of the Ant
Mcclellan party. am certain there has nevt
II been goomier day in camp, since we organize
@ than the fourth Of July, 1862. However, I'll
next day brought dispatch which contradctc
J the previous report, and showed that it had bee
O exaggerated in the extreme. This was sulciel
to suppress the sensation entirely, and new hope
o were cherished for the success of General NJ,
d Clellan's army.
The general opinion is, that our division wi
n hold this point, and that Cumberland Gap will |
c formed II regular military post. More artillel
C has arrived and fortifcatons are being strcngtl
1t cncd and new ones erected
}. A rumor is circulated to day that the probabi
h ty is, that our division will have to move to Il
is Potomac, and suppose there would not be fl,
n who would not gladly accept change of positc
/. Last night about ! o'clock, we were arous
N by an alarm, but soon the order arrived to go
D, bed again as the alarm proved false.
to 1t. Colonel Baly is home on furlough a
i, Major Philip Kreshner is commanding oGc,
Y, We have at present three daily drills, one fro
t. AZ to BE A. NJ, the second from I u to 9la
sh M and the Sd from 81, to 7 o'clock 2. NJ,
cry Sunday morning regular inspection of arm
IN accoutrements, as we'll as quarters takes plaC
the former under the company officer, the latt
under the commanding officer and surgeon of t
Regiment. @
The health of the regiment is tolerably 60
for the season OF the year, Company b is dol
fine. suppose you have heard of the death
our comrade Simon 2. Price, of Holmes coun
His untimey death is deeply regretted by t
members of the company.
Like noble and worthy son Of his country,
IT. responded to her call filled with bright hopes
H. the future, Soon he won the affections of ca
cd soldier and was loved by all who knew him, |
ed disease came upon him, of which he never {
d. tirely recovered, and on the 18th of June,
to Father called him to the spirit land Silent dc
se he slumber in the cold grave, where the ringi