Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1862-02-07
rron ne ssa Rssius.n.
BETERLE, IA, SUNDAY EvENISo,
December 29fb. 1861.


December 29ih, 1861.
Hr<nsrrsd and Dear Br4Gher L,scists-Ihree
weeks ago to-day received your welcome let
Ger, and now attempt 10 ans@er II. shOtlid
have written before, but for the unsettled con.
Viisinn Of our regiment. Al the time I rpc,iy-
ed your letter, VIC had orders Il move frum
Cheat Mountain; and then supposed we
should get On the borders ef U.ia somewhere.
I'm, We only were permitted To move in that
direction to Iievrr,y, he place where NC row arc
tIur prospects of getting out Of here are poor
=. prsent. In fact We have not much anxiety
IN leave Beverly. Our condition IS so much
l,ettcr than on Cheat Mouuiaiu iha; we feel a;
hoS,1c ar,I well satisfied, except that we would
rather bc in i more active campaign. We
enlisted to fight, and We w-nt to b. where there
j. cIance to do Il under comretern comma l.
,i-rs. Bu, yeH may b. ready 20 inquire why
we were not in the fSht at Baldwins camp?
! think il is due uz that you thOrc in Oln
should know the facts ia the case. lst. We
have been in a number, and seen so many lit
re expeditions conducted by Indiana comman-
sIer- here, without success, that our regiment
has last all confidence in their Gcncral<hij,
ard are unwilling to ran the risk 0f defeat
that aecrues from the want OF skill or StrRfe-
" in those that command. 4 gam, At that
time our sick list in the regiment was about
so, and they had lr'en carried 10 BcveTlv.-
Three companies and detachment uf 30 men
from the other companies had also moved, and
wr got orders 70 leave the Mountain Monday
We started abou: , r. ul., marched to I1uttons-
vile and struck our tents. The next day we
m1rched TO Beverly over b4ul roads, aIaI | WIS
very tired. Just after We had retired our Adj
jr'an4 came TO inquire hnw many would vOiui,-
f""T 70 20 back. mt only 10 the Summit bat
- miles beyond, t0fght the rebe.s Oar Buys
mnrh regretted that Nc hal not bcen Irlt on
the Mountain ill after the fight. But we we're
unwilling 10 reirace That distance when we
knew that our Captain and R'gim nfal OH
GERS did not approve Of the expedition. About
$50, principally from those companies that had
tested. with s1me from The O'h'rs, did 20 and
the unanimous testimony or those wIlr fought
by, their side is. that they fought like veterans
think we have just as good fighting n4tcrial
in the 32d regiment and us competent officers
ne any Ohio VOlun'eer Regiment; and W. on'y
want a good chancp We want to fight un.lrr
commanders in whom VIC have cunddence-
We think Col Ford is ihc most competent
man here. and we would like 10 attack the en-
cmy IL Col. Ford could plan and conduct the
attack. That was hard battle, and though
nur men fought we'll, the battle was lost. be-
li,'ve, f,r the want Of GeneraIship The re-
port. we understand. is circu'ated in the In,li-
ana papers that the battle was lost through
the cowarlicc Of Ohio iroops-a most palpa-
lle SANDER on Ohio regiments that fight under
lutlana Brigadier.. Ir Col. Ford had b..en in
command do not believe we Jnid have fail
cd IN the attack on tireen Briar. OIc thing
is clear tina, indiana commanders here claim
the pr;,it. to their own troops when success
flL The loss in the last battle, as nearly as
have ascerta;ned, Is as follows: Loss in the
3M. kiIlttl wounded; 25tlI Ohio, IL killed.
81 wounded and Is missing: Bib Indiana,
about 30 wounded and killed; 9th Indiana,
about as many III all about 80 killed, and
from 80 10 100 wounded. You spoke in Your
letter Of how we are probably eraplowd ON
the Sabbath, and the picture yoa drew in your
imagination was very correct Onr
JANUARY Ist, lS62.-l NOW sit down TO fin
ish my letter. had 10 stop Sunday evening
for rOll-call, and since have been so busy ma
king my monthly return. aud our pay rolls for
oar next payment. that have no' had time
until now. We finished them this furrnoou--
] will tell on how We welcomed in the New
Year. Iate lust night, after Isl nf our co:
lAny had retired, an order came 10 u to pre-
pare Tor my emergency. The eau of th,,
alarm was dispatch that company Of one
ar the Virginia regiments we've taken. prison
srs, fthe correctness OF the report 1 have not
vet been able 10 learn. but doubt its tru,h)
and that il so they might march 10 our posi-
tion in the night To- surprise us; so we threw
nut abolt 25 men. as picket guards All of
us loaded our guns and had tbs rcbels nlaGle
their appearance, VIC would have given thema
warm reception. But it-f.rsvvvl u false alarm
The health Of cur regiment is improving. We
have some cases Of measles and mumps in our
company. A. q. Baile is sick with fever. g.
Frasil and l.. Garli- .ghouSe have been quite TN
well for more than u week. ! think they will
not get down however. Oar ln1n are now in
comfortable quarters and in gcUd spirits, and
think the general feeling among others is,
I'VE would rather be soldiers in the pErsent
threatened condition uf, our country, and. Ell
tiure the hartships and pFiVaiions of a sollierS
lit than 10 be VI home. do not know how
the Young men Of Ohio can BE- eon;enird at
home, when their country needs their service;
for one know ] could not. We have less ai,-
prehension OF Fur here. | suppose, than You
have at home. Though We seSnI 10 be threat
ened By Old, England again, aud things look
poricntous Of wdr.yet / Icrl We shall succeed
in the end; and rather than sacrifice The honor
of our government let us meet tine issue OF u
double war-vi.s- with Eng' and and the Con-
rdcrat. States. [ am in for tire years mere,
if necessary, to learn R,rsl;tnd nSt to ohIterferc
in our domestic strife. SultrAPop slys "IIc
that passes by aid moddiesr with strife rot be-
longing TO him, is lilse man,th takes Dig
l,y the car" 'Fhe inference Is he will probd-
hly get bit England viii probably find that
UroYerh to be true ii sIl, dpes not mind her
own business. But enough of war. Tie NOR
sls Of the ramp are generally bud; but, though
Sceucs with me are changed, and | am obliged
10 sec much wicketiacsS than at nom :, il
nn,v has tic effect TO make me sci myself more
firmly against it. We have bul little religious
opportunity, yet throne oi Grace is acccssi-
bic. and still feel that am satisfied with tie
step I took Ircceivai=a letter from Joshua
Paul Monday, the FIRST have received from
any Of my relatives for about fors' weeks. ]
write more letters than receive. Should chat
lie So? We have had remarkably good wealth
q here the last month and our situation at
Beverly is 50 much better tiaA uI CEIcat M,,un-
tain that we ieei comfortable. Oars is the on
Is regiment at Beverly now, and We are much
scattered, !Iaying 10 guard the different ru;,ls
To-day consPaBy took o days rd'ion' AMI
started for BelEngton, the place Of the report
ed capture oil ouF men last night They took
b,aris 10 build themselves quarters. aud will
likely remain there 10 guard that place.. Al