The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1862-02-27
ARMY CORRESPONDENCE

! Paw Paw TUNNEL, Va, Feb. IT, '62.
EDS. JouREAL,-Geztgsmen When last
wrote you it was from the North Branch
of the Potomac. I now write you from
the main stream of that old river, celebra-
ted in the history of our country.
We left North Branch Bridge at m i'd
night, some two weeks since, without tents
or cooking utensils, with three days pro-
visions in our haversacks, and after laying
over one day in the mud and snow, we
arrived here, distance of twenty-five
miles, not in the best plight imaginable
Although the entire trip was made by rail-
road, yet it seemed that we must take two
days to make it, in order, I suppose, that
we might fully appreciate the duties Of a
soldier. Here we remained three or 70 IT
days, without tents or anything to CO X
with, and 1 assure you but little to CO )k
AT last, however, the tents came, al d no
sooner had the men got comfortably itul.
| ted than an order came for them 10 be
ready, with three days rstions, to start at
ten o'clock each morning, and at that hour
each morning for three or four days. Our
regiment was found, with hsversacks and
blankets, ready to start, for some place un-
known either to company officers or men.
The men would then be sent to their quar-
| ters, under some excuse or other.
On Thursday last, however, we were or
dered to be ready at 6 P. M, and at that
hour some 1000 infantry, six hundred cav
airy, and good quantity of artillery, took
| up their line of march towards Winchester,
where all hoped that we were going. AT IL
at night we rested two or three hours, sf-
| ter which we again started, all buoyant
with the hope that we would soon have
| something to do; but, contrary to our ex-
pectations, we were then informed that we
were only going to Bloomery Furnace, which
was near by, and at which point fight was
expected We soon arrived at q point
| where the rebels were supposed to be, but
they had evacuated it some days previous.
We were then ordered down the Winchester
road which runs through a most beautiful
valley, and soon came upon party of rebel
/ militia, about four hundred strong. A
| skirmish Immediately ensued, the rebels
| running and shooting back from behind
trees and rocks, whenever an opportunity
presented ITSELF for more than two miles
This skirmish was entirely between the re-
bells and our cavalry, our infantry being too
far behind to participate. We captured
| fifty-three prisoners, among whom were Col.
Baldwin, and some ten other commissioned
officers. Two or three rebels were known
to be killed, and some wounded. Our loss
| was two killed aad one wounded.
Although the road was good one with
| beautiful meadows on each side, the rebels
were permitted to take off some twenty
Eve teams and all their baggage in the face
of our cavalry. Why this was permitted,
can be attributed to but one cause. It is
said that some officers on horseback, at one
time, had the teams in their possession, but
the cavalry refused to come to their support,
and as q consequence, all was abandoned.
That the papers and correspondents of
the press, who are usually fond of making
great men out of very small material, will
magnify this into brilliant affair, have
no doubt but assure you that it was
nothing compared to Cheat Mountain
Sighting.
Our regiment, the l4th Indiana, was
second when we started down the road, but
before dozen guns had been fired, we were
in the lead, and kept it, in advance of all
the infantry, with Col. Kimball at the head,
all eager for Cheat Mountain fight, but
the rebels were too heet-footed for us, and
to our dissatisfaction we were ordered back. 4
The Crescent City Guards, as usual, were
III dOFanGe Ol LHe1T pieeCeSf anu NA0 SOLH0
thing in the way of picking up a half
dozen prisoners, who had hid
Ed. Newbanks and another went into
house, which seemed to be vacated. Out
of amusement, Ed. followed up, and de-
rnanded that the rebels come down from
above. At the second call, much to the
astonishment of the boys, they were an
swered from above by the reply, that tive
give up" and three rebels came down and
surrendered to the two. 1t is doubtful
which were the most astonished, the rebels
or the boys.
Sergeants Bradford and Dalzell found a
fellow hid in drift pile in the river, and
harnessed him, and l believe that two 9th
ers were taken by some of the Creseents.
So we did something, if we were on foot
We all returned that night, most thor
oughly tired and worn out.
Some half dozen of the Crescents are on
the sick list, but none are dangerous.
Yours, w.