Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1862-04-10

| 200 wards wide We lay quiet here until hal
| past one o'clock Sunday morning, when tht
| force crossed the river with the exception o
ten or twelve of companies II and j and twenty
Union citizens, who had come to reinforce u.
and who had not slept in their houses for two
months After crossing the river We had to &C
| up the east bank about six miles to reach the
| rebel rendezvous.
We arrived close TO it about daylight, wher
the work of catching prisoners commenced.-
The force that has beer stationed there to guard
the river had been disabled the Tuesday pre-.
vious and we had 10 content ourselves with ar.
resting the bushwhackers that lived in the vi.
cinity; of which there were fifteen seen and l3
taken. We also confiscated ii horses, 5 mus
kets, shot CUP and or 10 squirrel rifles not
to mention the maple sugar, honey, hens, and
ben-eggs. that We fell heir to. The county was
secured for miles up the river, aud as we were
not likely TO do any more good there, we took
up our line of march down the river. Perhaps
you will admit the policy OF it. when you are
informed that we were only eight miles from
the rebel camp at Blue Stone. Our force was
less than so, while one of the Virginia Volun-
teer regiments was somewhere between US and
Blue Stone. After re-crossins the river, we
rested at Mr. RcHMAx's S until the morning fol-
lowing. After partaking of a good breakfast
we started for camp. which we reached at o.
clock P. NJ, travelling the distance OF "a miles
in about nine hours.
The weather was very changeable, and snow
squalls were plentiful, but we could congratu-
late ourselves that we had no rain storms 10 en-
counter.
Capt. J. L. DRAKE had command of the ex-
pedition, and 1t was prosecuted with alacrity,
and the men generally were glad 10 get at some
business of that kind; especially, when there
made three unsuccessful chases after the enc
my and the prospect at first was forbidding.
/ was standing by the river, and noticing n
folded paper lying in the water. lifted it TO
examine its contents, and found it to be a notice
TO the militia of that place. 1t had been thrown
aside by one of the prisoners If had it
would send it to you. As production, it
would be a curiosity. 1t bore date of March
22d, 1862, and called on the militia TO meet at
Blue Sulphur Springs on Monday the 24th,
with arms, ammunition, one days rations, and
blanket; accompanied by threat tia, if they
did not comply, they would be drafted. 1t is
supposed that a large number thai should have
been at home that particular morning. were on
their way 10 the Springs. That little paper was
valuable. as proof of the guilt of those that
we've taken.
There was not gun fred, although one of
the enemy leveled his gun at Lieut.. SMITH. but
seeing so many biuc jackets about, suppose he
concluded it might not be healthy TO go TO shoot
ing; so he lowered his gun and commenced
apologizing, saying, Il thought it acas our own
mcn." What an ignoramusl If ignorance is
necessary to bliss. what a happy people are
those of Western Virginia! Capt. DRAKE is
Provost Marshall at this post. and have just
witnessed him administer the oath to a couple
of citizens; one of whom could not write his
name. The ratio of those of the citizens that
can write is about one of six, and of the remain
der, one half cannot make their mark. Let all
our friends feel thankful for their educational
privileges, and hope that our whole country
may be so blessed, and that speedily.
The health here is very good. There has
been but one death in our regiment at this place.
On last Friday week two Of our cavalry were
waylaid, murdered and robbed. while ding
duty as patrols. Another, shot at the same
time has since died. This is the way bush
whaekers and towards fight.
The entire number OF prisoners taken in our
last expedition was Is, Of whom, one took the
oath, another was released on parole, and anoth-
er was too i'll TO be removed. The other tifreen
have gone to Camp Chase. Ohio.
This last have been informed since I COM
meneed writing. Hoping to take another tour
soon l close this. J. N. r. CRAWFORD.