The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1862-10-07
RroIl.cnl. ~ So. s. 80.


Brodheud, Wis, Sept. 8. 1862.
Den Brother Your letter OF in
quiry respecting Harlan is received,
and ! hasten 10 reply, feeling sure we
have your sympathy in this our day
of trial.
Harlan has been very sick with ty-
phoid fever, taken prisoner, paroled,
and have been to Virginia after
him. he has so far recovered as TO be
able 10 resume his studies AZ Oberlin,
where he now is, and will remain un-
ill he is exchanged or discharged,
which latter he will effect if possible.
He was at home last winter on fur
Tough, left March 18th and returned
to his Regiment, 9th Ohio, Co. c.
Just in time TO take part in the terri
bic battle Of Winchester, on the 23d
Of March Every fourth man Of bis
Company fell, including his immediate
right and left hand men. He fired
twenty-five rounds, passed between
the coniending armies more than a
hundred rods, to carry message, in
the hottest Of the fight, which officers
refused TO do. Says he heard and
felt the bullets whistle through the
leaves and through his hair, and yet
received no injury. Surely our cove
nant God covered his head in the day
Of battle.
On the 8th Of May he was taken
from New Market 10 the 81 Brigade
hospital at Mt. Jackson, very sick.
! On the 10th was carried 10 SIrasburg,
where there were over nine hundred
in the hospital, and there he remained
until | found him, the Sth Of juno,
having been totally insensible the two
| last weeks Of the time. | left home
the 27th Of May, the day after Banks
crossed the Potomac into Maryland,
trusting in The God Of battles, who has
heard and answered many prayer
in this war, but 10 all human appear
ance having no prospect Of seeing him
alive. Saw in the kilograms before |
left the State that the hospitals con-
tanning our sick were burned, and
those who attempted to escape were
assassinated. My journey was a sad,
but instructive one. | felt that il
would be a great comfort to know that
he was decently buried, and where
buried, if dead. | saw many search
/ ing for friends, who could not asccr-
{ in even that much about them. 1t
was ten days after ] left home before
/ | could get up the valley to Strasburg,
/ it being held by rebels, and was the
! frst civilian that passed from Win
chester to Strssburg after the retreat.
Sixty Of Jackson's scouts were picked
up by our men and brought in prison
ers. on the road that ! passed over,
+ the next day after passed, and yet
no evil beiel me. | went through
nine hospitals in Maryland and Nir-
ginia, 10 search Of Harlan, where sick
ness, wounds and death revealed some
thing Of the calamity that is upon US
for our sins. Preached 10 soldiers
and citizens on the Sabbath, talked
with many Shareholders, &c. Provi-
dence favored me, and started for
home in ten days. Harlan was fee.
bic, but improved on the way. The
family had received a letter from one
Of his friends in Oberlin, giving an
account Of the particulars Of his death,
and did not know | had found him
until my arrival home with him. The
sequel in family and parish can be
more easily imagined than described.
More than two weeks bis death was
hourly expected, but we think his con-
stitution is not essentially impaired.
lie has been calm and full Of faith
through all, and never expresses a
regret al having enlisted, and seems
10 have foil confidence IN the justice
Of our cause aud in he God Of battles
Says that every bullet he sent at "a
rebel was accompanied with a prayer
for the success Of its mission. When
shall We as a people learn The ways
Of our God 10 times Of old, and BE- in-
strueied by his coansels.
Yours, &c.
WARREN CocHRAN.