Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-11-06
Army Correspoadence.
LETTER FROM THE KANAwHA.
For he Gallipolis Journal
CAMP sEAR Pr. PLEksAsr. Va, I
Oct. 18th, 1862.


CAMP sEAR Pr. .PLxAsAsr. YA.,l /
Oct. 18th, 1862.
Ed. JOURNAL
At last the tedium of inaction has
been broken. Something new, some
thing long desired, seems TO have been |
inaueursted. Can it be forward
movemsntf We shall see. All is life
and animation now. Tents are being
struck, and already the work Of destroy
ing such property as cannot be re-
moved has commenced. But we are
not to move till morning, so the ground,
with nothing to shelter US from the
chilly frost, must be our resting place
tonight. But we are going to move,
and all is good cheer. Many are the
eonjectures as to where we are about to
go; some suppose to Kentucky, others
up the Ohio, and others up the Kama
whs, all having good reasons for their
beliefs. We settle down upon the con-
clusion that it matters not, we are in
| for il now, and we must learn TO wait as
well as conjecture. Little is the sleep
that many of us enjoy on account Of
the many more who are too jubilant to
rest. ~
Oct. goth.
Morning comes. It's earliest streaks
have scarcely appeared till the order
comes to be ready to- move. IT'S a
welcome mandate. The bummipg of
5000 voices mingled with the cracking
of burning barrels and boxes, and the
glare of the confagration, produces
upon the spectator not accustomed to
such scenes, q sensation OF something
wild and fantastic. "Fall in," is the
cry, and now we have slung knapsacks,
shouldered arms, and are in line OF
battle. Now We are doomed to wait
under our heavy burdens, suffering
not only from the pains of the body.
but from an excruciating suspense till
the whole brigade is ready to move
The sun is getting higher and higher,
still we are on a stand march, as the
boys say when we don't march at all
We move a short distance and are
stopped. Suspense continues. At
length we are permitted to move with
out interruption, and that suspense is
relieved. We turn up the Kanswha.
Soon all begin to feel that travelling
under knapsacks is not Of little moment,
and to some whose shoulders have for
long time been unused, it seemed al
most intolerable. We march about
twelve miles to-day, stop near two farm
houses, one of which is Union, the
other not, and, upon these "hangs a
tale," simple and unadorned--a matter
Of fact. I'll tell you: Some three
weeks ago, jenkins, with some 200 of
his men. encamped near said houses
The disloyal family of course, claimed
and received protection at the hands Of
Gen. ]. from the dispolistion that
Southern soldiers visit upon the proper
" of the loyal; but forgetting that
retribution is sure to follow close upon
the workers OF iniquity, they informed
upon the loyal house, and the bandits
were permitted to plunder and destroy
whatever they choose, leaving them in
a state OF almost utter destitution. On
+; our arrival, the boys were informed by
the sufferers of what had transpired; a
delegation, self-constituted, was not
long in visiting upon them such punish
ment as they justly deserved, viz: The
appropriation of every chicken. turkey,
pig and duck, as well as all the wine,
fruit, honey, de-, they had. They
plead loyalty, but they were two well
known, and their pleadings were in vain.
Oct. 9lst.
At noon we are on our way again.
We reach Buffalo, the scene Of our first
skirmish, are met with the sweet smiles
of its fair ones, and submissive coun-
tenances of its lords, but "the smile OF
a woman ever was deceitful," only
true in Dixie, and even men look sub
missive when they mast. We bivouack
just above town, eating for supper such
food as our haversacks afforded. Went
to bed on the ground, slept but little; it
W 90 cO eOiu. VIC CODoOlCu OuIoCiNCo
that we had not seen hard times yet,
that we would be doubly blest if we
never suffer greater inconvenience.
Oct. 2ad.
b 1t must not be forgotten that in the
platform" of the 9lst, one plank was
generally conceded 10 be fixed and i'm.
movable, viz: That the property oi
rebels should never be the object of its
protection, nor in any manner by il
I held sacred. This plank has become g
special feature of the regiment, and the
day of miracles must again come be-
fore it can be removed. 1t is enough
;; to say that when there is an abundance
of forage by the way. and that owned
a by rebels, the boys will not want for ra.
tions.
We march at o'clock P. NJ. When
IS near Red House, it was ascertained
that squad Of Cavalry was lurking in
e the neighborhood. A scheme is con-
cocted for their capture. Good if car.
ried out as intended. But somebody n
always little too fast or some body
4 else is little two slow. The 34th o..
and 4th Va, were the forces selected
for the work. The 34th took q route
through the hills in order to get above
i' them and attack them in front, while
a. a