Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1862-07-04
1Ariny Correspondence Of the lpeiaware c
From the 62nd Regiment.
HEADQUARTERs GEN. FREMoNT's ARMY,
MT. JACKSON, Va, june Il, 1862.

J p0ndlng movements OF zen. ETemODt'S DlYlS-
| ion OF the Union Army. On Sunday, 25th
ult., almost our entire force left the village of
Franklin, and FASTENED with all possible dis
patch TO intercept the rebels in returning from
their expedition of hutehery and plunaer.-
! This was an undertaking the greatness of
which can be fully realized only BY those who
understand the topography OF The country to
! be traversed. Franklin is situated about so
miles south of the Baltimore aud Ohio r. =
road, in valley running parallel with ths She
Eandoah, but separated from it by several sue
cessive ranges Of mountain. Here were many
/ difficult streams to be crossed, and in addition
/ to this much of the road had becn rendered
almost impossible by constant travel and ex-
cessive rains. For the first 20 miles or army
/ literally dragged itself through The mud A
two days march brought Us to Petersburg,
where we left all our camp equippage and bag
| gage except blankets,) nor have we enjoyed
the luxury Of a tent or even change of Goth
ing since. Though the weather has been much
of the time unusually wet we have had no
other shelter than such temporary one as
soldiers wearied with days forced marching
were able or willing to construct out Of such
materials as happened to be at hand But
generally rest would be preferred to anything
else, and not much regard paid to The elements
At AtoeEefield we began crossing the noun
tains. Some of the scenery in the elevated
districts along our route was intensity heauti-
| lul. Its variety is boundess, and the vastness
of some of the views magnifcently grand
The air was often burdeued with sweet fra
GRANGE from the delicious mountain honey suck
lie and the newly expanding foliage. The de-
lightiul groves Of pines, cCdars hnd other
mountain growths, we're enlivened by the ca
rol1ng OF birds, aBtliwhen the dark shadows
of evening siienced the day songsters, the plain
tive notes of the whippoorwil broke the sol
emn stiffness. On Sunday the Ist inst, while
yet miles from Slrausburg, our advance en-
countercd large portion of Jackson's force,
which attempted to dispute our further pro-
gress. Our Brigade hurried forward and took
up our position in front of the enemy Can
nonnadng continued for or hours when a
terrific thunderstorm set in, which put to
shame the p2ny artillery of man. The explo-
sions were the most vivid and violent / have
ever heard They seemed like wrathful exc
crations of God against Ihe wickendessiof men.
Active hostilities were discontinued, aor was
there any farther renewal of them, &c some
picket firing, until the ensuing morning Du-
ring the night the enemy retreated precDi-
lately ard our Brigade entered Strausburg not
long after dawn. We pushed on after the
valiant indicators ofSou heru. right, olr cav
airy aud artillery skirmishiug with their rear
guard, and picking up scores Of prisoners.
The road, fields, and woods were strcwn with
buttcrnutcolored garments which the rebels
had cast off in their flight. Every new and
then gang Of the poor miscreauts passed US
on their way TO our military prisons. Some
were detected, some in pudent and some satis-
fed with their lot. A series of skiruishcs
were kept up until we reached Mt. Jackson.
Here they managed to get their entire force
across branch Of the Shenandoah in time to
burn the bridge ere we could prevent them
Once safely out Of our clutches, true to their
courageous Instincts, they drew up in line of
battle and tried hard to look terrible But
few shells from our artillery soon determined
the chiyalry TO turn 10 US the side least re-
spectacle. One of our pontoou bridges was
Immediately brought into requisitOn, but in
the meantime another rain swellcd the creeks
to giant proportions But the water soan sub
sidcd-our poutoon was completed-we ad-
vauced-and the enemy fed like chaff before
the wind. At Harrisonburg our main body
hailed, but our advance Of skirmishers- going
farther beyond town than they had been order
ed, fell into an ambuscade and weIe roughly
handled. They were at once reinforced and
the rebels driven back with loss probably E.
quail if not superior to ours. At Harrison
burg Jackson exchanged tic excellent Staun-
ton turnpike for wretched mud road leading
TO the southwest. His motive was doubtless
chiefly to avoid us and thus give rest to his
men. But our supplies bad no sooner arrived
than we again gave chase. Gen. Shields was
reported to have taken possession Of the bridge
over the Shenandoah on Jackson's line Of re-
| treat, thus opening up fair prospect for bag
ging him and his whole army. On Sunday
mOring, the 6lh inst, heavy cannonadirg was
heard for some time in the direction of Shields.
The rebels were doubtless endeavoring to
force passage. Our army FASTENED on and
found the rear guard of the enemy strongly
pested about miles from Harrisonburg.-
Blenker's Division Immediately gave battle
Various Brigades moved up and participated
IN the fight, but ours was held in reserve, yet
we were within musket range of the enemy
DR.. Cantwell, Surgeon of the 82nd, was Sc
verely wounded by bullet. Shells made all
sorts of noises over our heads, aud bullets
dropped quite lively among US, yet only two
members Of the SD were hit by them, viz
The above named, and private in company
ID. The battle lasted during most of the day.
1t was chiefly an artillery fight and the roar
| Of the guns deafening. The 9Th New
York regiment blundered into an ambuscade
and suffered the usual consequences of care
lessness. Our loss was thus unnecessarily aug
meuted, yet our aggregate Of killed and wound
cd is no doubt far exceeded by that of the en-
emy. The fight was discontinued at night-fall
and our men slept on their arms. Next morn
ing Gen. Shencks Brigade was sent in ad-
vance. We proceeded CONTINUOUSLY until it
was ascertained that the enemy had again fed.
Passing by their old camp we saw dense col
umn of smoke rising in The air some miles
in front Our troops pushed forward, but il
was only to discover that the rebels had effect
ed the passage of the Shenandoah and had
burned the bridge after them. If Shields had
made any attempt to arrest their progress, be
had certainly failed, and they had again euded
our grasp. Gen. Fremont doubtless for very
good reasons deemed it best not to continue
| the pursuit He has withdrawn his army al
far as this point. His men need rest and ra-
tions, and they are now getting abundance of
both. Many are suffering from diarrhea and
physical exhaustion, and must have time TO re-
gain strength. We all rejoice in the hope of
a speedy termination of the war, and return to
the scenes and pursuits we love infinitely bet
ter than these. Now when the Government
needs every man at his post TO assist in a
chewing this consummation, let the hundreds
who are at home playing sick, come forward
and do their duty, or be frowned upon as de-