Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-07-17
Letter from Capt. brakes Company.

Letter from capt. brakes Company.
FLAT Tor MOUNTAIN, MERCER Co., Va ! /
July 4th, 1862. ! |
FRrrvD EsrIL Tho lcarth Of news, of in.
tcrcst, and our isolation from the rest Of mankind,
has produced its natural results; almost general
disintcrestedness, and letters home possessing 10
news of consequence. 1t would, therefore, seem
singular that should attempt the writing of
letter under such discouraging circumstances
Things past are so long past that they possess no
special interest, only as ancient history; things
present are olhings, and things future | no not
deal with. However, If am denied the privilege
Of relating about marches, fights and skrmishcs,
believe | can give my opinions of matters as
they have existed dulig the campaign. "Thcre
is no great loss without some small gain" This
may be and is in contravention of military rcgu-
lations, but my opinion sounds so much like that
of most in camps, which is circulated pretty freely
and openly, that havn't much fear of any dis
astrous consequences resulting thcrcrrom, to me
Whether any special interest can be derived there
from, am not now in situation to Judge, but
the public will please read and imagine themselves
pleased, and fully compensated ccordingly. The
! imagination has wonderful effect in regulating
Our pleasures and pains. | have no desire to
abuse any one, neither the man who bears the
insignia of office, nor the common soldier, but
claim it as a privilege, although military rules
deny it, that when honest men have been insuted
and abused by having incompetent officers placed
over them they have a right to speak out, and
express their opinions. Tolerate until toleration
is mbcarable. The attentive reader of the Far
mcr for the past year will bear witnes, to the fact
that have, as general thing, abstained from
praise or ccnsurc of officers, that ! have not
burthcncd my letters with complaints nor have |
made an wholesale business of Dragging of any
off, the qualities o.. any officer; butnuw, this time,
this rule will be lost sight of and my opinions and
views will be expressed, Gas forbearance will cease
to be virtue" Indeed so long have we been
lying torpid and inactive. that speculation rs to
our future movements, is entirely dead.
Whether our commanding General is entirely
to blame for this state of affairs, no not know
but part is most surely attributable to him, loI
there certainly arc opportunities at times to take
advantages. when the enemy is not yet far distant
if the tinidity Of commander did not lrustrateit
In speaking of the comfy General, ! refer 70
Cen J. d. Cox, commanding the District of the
Kcnlawa comprising the kcnhawa and New
River Valleys, and a considerable portion Of coun,
try on either side. The forces under his command
arc formed in three brigedes numbered lst %
and Sd, and under the commands of Coloncls
Scammon, Moore and Cook, r, spcctiycly. There
tl,o
hawa not brigadcd
The Infantry are all from Ohio, and form much
the greatest part of the force. comprising the
llth, .2th 23d, 2Sth 31th, 36th, 37th, 4lth and
47th Regiments. The lst and I'd brigadcs arc
here under the immediate notice and command OF
Gen Cox, while the 3D. is across the river, some
25 or 80 ncs from us. This latter is the ono
which, with an inferior force, and wthoutartillery
SO cfltctualy whipped Cen. Heath at Lccsburg
not long ago, capturing four cannon and one hun
drcd prisoners, this single act being more thar
Gen. Cox has accomplished with twice the mum
Der, better equipped. This must not be construed
50 as to reflect upon the soldiers, for, il any o
' your readers could have witnessed us, aud healC
I, the opinions of the soldicry at the time of our re
treat from Princeton, any such oughs woult
u have been strangers to them. The truth is, W,
n have gained nothing, and lost much, and fact
5 will notice here, that at the time of our arriva
= here, the troops were in fair way for utter de
S moralization. SO disgraccGul was the retrea
from an inferior force considered without shown;
= fight, that we were, at the time, entirely unfit t.
y encounter foe. ] thank God that such spiri
e pervades the Ohio boys; that, although the judg
c mcnt OF one man, guides them, and eyprompu
It obey all commands, yet, in their own minds, the
= take exceptions to such judgment, when the
J know it to be erroneous and i'll founded. Fror
u reports since obtained, it is pretty certain that a
Is Princeton, We were superior in number and equip
70 ment,s and our boys were all Grand cxpcctan
&C of something being done.
Though the enemy were in our front and rcal
H. they combined did not equal ours. They, too
we're MALTA, and conscripts, who, know, won
fight, if they encounter an equal or superior. Gu
re troops were nearly all disciplined hid seen service
iy and were mostly well armed.
,g Our retreat from East River to Princet wa
n considered iudcous and wise, but farther tha
Nv was unnecessary, and that if permitted to fgh
o. victory awaited us in a short time. But ma
nd who is permitted to wear shouldcrstraps with
re star on, was not content to haut until % mile
sy lay between him and Princeton. We might Z
n weN haze Eeoer lett Princeton, as 10 camp a"
nS remain here euer since TIC 18Th Of May.
ot Probab ly our General having an eye single
u our welfare, wishes to keep cut of harms wa
"' if indeed, any appearance Of dange presents it
nd self, and knowing the summit of this mountain
ed be healthy location, has brought US up here
ur rusticate, and enjoy the cool breezes prevale
Up, here during the heated term, a Ia Home Guard
SIG Whether Gen. Cox's capabilities are great enou
'al to take charge of a respectable Home Qua
AS Company, is query in my mind just now. Pro
re- ably, have dilated long enough on Gen, Co