Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-02-06
Letter from Dr. Pomercmc.
PAwryiLLE, JonssoS Co., KYy I
January II. 1861.

been thinking of my promise to you, but
could not iulHll IL on account Of not having a
convenient place nor time to write.
Since our arrival In this State wc have been
on the march almost constantly, with tho cx.
ccpton OF only a few days that we lay ny for
the purpose Of sending out scouts 10 recon.
n0itor The country aud learn for certain the
whcrbabouts ol the enemy, the number Of
their forces, etc.
Humphrey Marshall with a force Of four
thousand men and six pieces Of artillery were
cntrenched at this place, but as the Union
army under the command Of our much esteem.
ed Colonel, j. a. Garfield, advanced, be com
mcnced rctroatng back 10 oPrestouburg, twelve
miles above this point. On the 9Th inst.
the 42d in connection with the l1th Regiment
pitched their tents within mile and half Of
Paintvillc. They sent out scouts. that night
and learned that the enemy had abandoned
their cntrcnchmcnts and were on the retreat,
so next morning we struck our tents and
marched into town, just as we arrived we
were reinforced by Bowles 2d Virginia Caval-
ry. In short time a messenger informed
the commander that number OF rebel Caval-
ry had been seen on Jcnnic's Creek, two and
bali miles above. Col. Bowlcs was ordered
up and overlook them, when a regular run
ming fight cnsued for at least five miles. They
then came up TO the rebel infantry stationed
on hills on each side Of the road, who fired
into them killing two Of our men and one
horse, and wOundiag the rider in th" arm,
hand and head. They then rctrcatcd back to
Pantville, bringing the wounded man to my
quarters for surgical aid. The next morning
the SAME Cavalry, in connection with four
hundred Infantry and McLaughlin's First
Squadron Of Cavalry from Mansfield, Ohio,
were ordered to go in pursuit OF the enemy,
our humble servant was chosen Surgeon Of
the expedition. After cqupping myself with
instruments and dressing sufficient to meet
, the emergencies that were most likely 10
arise, we started in full hopes Of ov vert akinq
the enemy. When We came to the place o
the scene Of action the evening previous, th,
ground was strcwn with blankets, camp ket
ties, hats. etc. We found two rebels lying il
the roan. one shot through the chest and the
other through the head. Since then there
have been thirteen more bodies found. Aftcl
travelling several miles further we learned
that they continued the march all night. We
then gave up the chase and returned. Tho
next morning Colonel Garfield took clever
hundred picked men and Colonel Cragnol
of the 10th Ohio, who had joined us the dag
previous with his regiment, and started fol
the vicinity of Prcstonburg. That night at
10 o'clock a dispach came that they were
marching on the enemy and ordering Lieut.
Col. Sheldon Of the 42d to reinforce them
with thousand men, and Tor me to follow
with instruments and dressings. 1t was rain.
ing and exceedingly dark that the men
could not see to travel. We waited until 4
O'Clock in the morning, at which time we
started through rain and mud, winding our
way through deep ravines and occasionally
climbing lofty peaks which we had no sooner
ascended than we would have to descend equal.
ly as abrupt
We had travelled but a short distance when
we received dispatch for the Surgeons to
hasten on, that they were within one mile and
a half OF the enemy, and intended to make an
attack. l had my hospital Steward, Mr.. D.
B. Elson, along, with all the necessary requi-
sites for the occasion. We hastet ed on as
soon as we received the dispatch. DR.. Nc.
Bride, Surgeon of the 10th, went with us
leaving the reinforcement in the rear. We
followed the guide at the full speed of oui
our noble horses and caught up with our gal
liant boys about mile and a half above Pres
ton burgh, on Mddlecreek; where they haC
called hault and sent out skirmishcrs. A,
soon as they returned we marched a half milt
! further and halted; sent out skirmishcrs, bu
they had not proceed far before they wer,
= fired upon The fun, as the boys called it
then began and there was an almost constan
discharge of musketry for over four hours
/ The rebels were naming their cannon to tn
! best advantage all this time, but fortuuatel
a they sent the grapcshot, ball and shell som
II distance over our heads, amusing us with tina
peculiar hum that accompanies their passag
c through the atmosphere. When the battl
commenced our foice was LOO Infantry
y and theirs 200 with pieces Of cannon; bu
Il they were so situated that they used only
of their cannon. Our reinforcements did no
E reach us in time to render much service, bcin
, 90 ayhaustpd from n forced march they yvnrr N n
Il put in action. There was not more than 50
OF our men engaged at any time and strlng
> as it may appear we routed them obtaining
= most glorious victory with the loss of but
: single man and 10 wounded, two of whom
have since died. The one killed was of tn
l4th Kentucky Regiment; Of the wounded
8 were OF the 42d, 2 of the 10th, Of the 22
and | of the l4th Kentucky Regiments. Tn
i 2 that died of their wounds were of the 42d
e One of them had his thigh so mangled that
u had to amputate it at the upper third; he
!, doing well and from all present appearance
1 will recover. The remainder OF the wounde
u are doing WE'LL At the close Of the battle ther
c was an extreme anxiety among the men to kno,
who were among the unfortunate victims o
the engagement. We were all agreeably dis
& appointed when we learned that our causual
l. ity was no greater. The number killed o
;, the rebel side has not been ascertained to
X certainty, as they carried off their dead an
Is wounded during the time of battle but fror
o reliable sources, we learn that there wer
W from so to 100 killed. The next morning ou
men found Is of their dead that were on tn
. outskirts. At the point where the firing wa
u mainly directed the ground was covered wit
= blood showing that it had been efiectual.-
y They reported that they had killed bctwce
q 500 and coo of the Yankees, and their los
in killed and wounded and missing was 25t
took possession of an old log house th'
y had neither windows nor doors to receive til
II wounded in; it was all that could be Obtain
y ed. The poor fellows were much exhauste
le from the shock Of their wounds, besides bein
a fatigued, having marched the day before an
u laying out all night in the rain without sheltt
III and nothing to eat but few hard cracker!
&c together with the labors of the day, rend ere
them quite PROSTATE. We dressed thei
'c wounds and used all the means within OF
T. power to make them comfortable until NOR
10 ing, when they were taken to Prestonburg,
at which place we remained with them until I'll
~ 9Th inst, when we returned to this place.
u So far | am well satisfied with my postio
although it is laborious and deprives me
many Of the comforts Of life, besides its +,
sponsibilities. | should like very much I
return to little Holmes TOR a short period an
l. enjoy the social society Ofmy old friends, bl
duty demands meto remain for the present