The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-07-24


O'clock, NJ. We have sufficient force at
this point to hold the place, and a
strong place at Strasburg and Middle
town. But why We remain here idle
know not. have yet to learn of the
enemy being found anywhere within
twenty miles of us. Jackson and
Ewall are in RicImOmd-tIiat il not
doubted, and but small insignificant
rebel force remains here, solely to make
show, and scare us off, or, to say the
least, deter us from forward move
ment, and they are effecting their pnr-
pose to charm. Why this vast army
should remain here idle, under such
circumstances, is not only mystery,
but an outrage, when their services are
SO much Deedrd elsewhere. We have
waited until our patience are almost ex-
lansted, for an advance, ar. g" some
where that we mi ght accomplish some
good. Still, here we are, comparative
| ly inactive aud i'm illenrss. We are
soldiers not from choire or for monied
considerations, but because we felt it
imperative that This government should
be sustained and it's Constitutional
guarantees administered alike in all
the States. There is not a volunteer
in the service who is not anxious that
this war should he fought To speedy
termination and as we expect to have
to fight and whip The enemy we desire
20 meet them as soon "a possible and
put an end to the fratricidal strife.
saw in your paper "f a recent date
a very good and accurate delineaiion
of Gen. Banks retrrat-better than |
could possibly give, inasmuch as was
not with the main body, on that pleas
ure excursion, having the misfortune To
get sent off" with the rear guard. !
succeeded, however, with corporal
Ellis and Wilcox, in elnding the rebels
and making my escape, but not never
theicss, without running many narrow
chances. The first night, after travel
ing until near one o'clock, we deter
mined To make a halt and try for little
sleep. We accordingly turned eff the
road into The wood-maie our horses
fast, leaving the saddles on, laid down
upon the ground with our arms and all
on, soon To he lost in the arms of NOR
!heus. All was qniet in a few minutes,
but ere we had lain long one of our
party observed that he could hear talk
ing. We listened in breaihpss silence,
and sure enough, at intervals we could
distinctly hear pronoudccd the words
-" who goes thercm Halt you Id
son of b-h!" BY close observation
We could see away in the distance, per.
haps half or three fourths of n mile off
through the thick under. growth, the
faint flicker of an occasional camp fire.
We comprehendel very readily the
fact that We were very near a rebel
camp, knowing that none of our troops
were any where in that vicinity. We
did not sleep very much that night, but
got up in extraordinary good season,
not waiting for revile"-and skedad.
died. We were three days travelling
over mountains aud rock, fording rivers
and creeks, aud running all sorts of
risks, before we reached Sir John Ran,
a point on the Potomac, some six miles
above Hancock, where we crossed, nav.
ing to swim our horses, and landed
once more in " America" all sound,
save being quite worn out and exhaus
ted by fatigue and exposure. The reb-
els may expect n" mercy at my hands
for entoliny upon me such jaunt as
that. -.......,,
Capt. r. c. Drnison returned to his
company yesterday looking much bet
ter than he did four weeks ago. Still
he is not entirely sound yet. 1t is
source of qualification anil pleasure to
me, to be able to pronounce the promo
tion of Chas. II. Sprague. He is al-
pointed from the l2lh, or junior Lieu
tenancy of the whole Regiment, to
Captain of the first Company-A-
which is mnsttruly fiattering testimn-
nial of his ability and worth as "A relia.
bic and trustworthy officer. While the
company regret IL lose him as an off
Ger, in whose efficiency and integrity
they have the fullest and most implicit
confidence, they nevertheless bid him
hearty God speed" and receive his
promotion as not only an honor To him.
sell, but rs an honor also to Co. Nj. lie
is now absent, having gone to Wash.
inyton on business. Lieutenants IIeaz-
lit and Clernmer are in good health, AMI
on hand for any emergencies. As to
who will succeed Spragne, there ia
nothing known yet. This army will
probably make a move in day or two,
"a We opine it has laid still qnite long