Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-06-12
Army Correspondence.
Correspondents of the Ganipolis Journal
E NEApow BUR-. VA,
Hi June Cd 1862.


MR. HARpER.-SrR:-Having afew
leisure moments, and thinking perhaps
somesof your readers would be interes-
ted in short detail Of the movements
of the sd provisional brigade, aud
particularly Of the 36th regiment o.
V. l., have seated myself for the pur-
pose of informing them, as far as
strict laws and my own ability will al
low at SummsrviAe on the 10th Of
May, by a general order, we were
formed into brigsdes consisting of the
FS6th, '4sth and 47th Ohio regiments, Col.
Geo. Crook, commanding. On the
llth another order was read, announ-
cling that the Brigade would concen-
trate at Meadow Bluffs, and for the
3sth to prepare Immediately for march
in the direction of Lewisburg. We all
welcomed the announcement with i'm
mense delight. for having remained
there so long, We were glad to leave.
On the morning of the l2th we started,
and after crossing, or rather wading
fGauley river, we began to march across
the mountains. For two days we
marched in single file over path used
by bushwhackers, and it was not until
the third day that we came in sight Of
anything that betokened civilization
We then came into the valley some
twenty miles North of Lewisburg,
where there is some beautiful farming
lands. On the third night after we
left Summerville, we camped in nice
little village called Frankford, where
we heard that detachment Of the 44th
and 47th regiments, with Major Hoff-
mans battery Of cavalry, had taken
possession of Lewisburg, after routing
the rebel cavalry from that place. On
the 18th Of May we reached the boas-
ted Lewisburg, the town which the
rebel General Heth's command had
boasted they would never give up to
the accursed Yankees, but Heth and
his command had gone. We rested at
Lewisburg one night. Next morning
the Seth and 44th started on a march
across the Allegheny, to make dash
on the Virginia Central Railroad. and
captured all the enemy's stores at Jack
son depot. We passed the White Sui
phur Springs and the town Of Coving-
ton on our route, and on the second
day reached the depot. where our COM
mander, Col. Crook, seized the tele-
graph Office, and found that the Provost
Marshal of Allegheny county had Iele-
graphed to the rebel General Jackson
to send him several regiments Of troops,
aud that he (Jaekson) had promised
to send them Immediately. Col. Crook
then burnt the bridge across Jackson
river. and fell back to Lewisburg, bring
ing Capt. Spriggs and other important
prisoners. .r
On the morning of the Esd, our bril-
gade was awakened By the noise Of
drums and muskets, and the firing at
the picket post on Greenbrier river indi-
eating that there was work at hand
Immediately company G, of the 36th,
and company D, of the 44th, were sent
forward to stop the progress of the
rebels. Deceived by the fog, they mis-
took a hody Of rebels for our pickets,
approached within close range, and it
was not until they received volley,
that they discovered their mistake. .'
Capt's. Palmer and Tulleys immedi-
ately deployed their companies and
commenced falling back, for the whole
rebel force was upon them. When
the rebels discovered this, they sent up
a shout of triumph, but alas! for them,
they knew not that two as gallant regi-
ments as ever were formed were wait
ing patiently for the word "forward,"
to avenge the insults our flag had re-
ceived. The rest of the brigade had
now fell into ranks, and were marching
down through Main street to form be-
tween the rebels and the town, and
then to advance on them. By this
time they had chosen their position and
had commenced sbelling our camp, and
with one piece they were trying to rake
US as we marched through town; one
shell burst before US, and another ever
our heads, and then before they had
time to depress their piece, we had filed
out of the street, the 44th on the right
and the 36th on the left. We formed
line under cover of hill, and then
advanced, and from this ] can tell you
nothing Of the movements Of the 44th,
for we were separated from each other
by row of dwelling houses. but I can
say this much, they performed their
part nobly, charging on the enemy's
battery, and capturing four of their
best pieces, and moving the rebels
down like wheat. When we gained
the crest of the hill two regiments of
rebels opened CALLING fire upon US,
1.-THE 36th.) We then received the
command, "forward, double quick"
and away we went. driving them be-
fore us like chaff before the wind
Once they rallied behind fence, but we
soon drove them from their positions. |
Then commenced their retreat, for BY
this time the 44th had driven them back |
from the right in confusion. They
burnt the bridge across Greenbrier to
cover their retreat, and we marched |
back to camp considerably elated over
our victory; aud why not? We had
fought at least two to one, and they
used artillery while we did not. Their
force amounted to 5000 infantry,
pieces of artillery. and 100 cavalry.