Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-08-20
From the s7th Regiment.
CAzP BANNING, NEAR HARPERs
FERRY. Va. Aug, 9TH, 1862.

Eds C.roaicls.-Realizing that one let
ter through your columns comes to many
in the final. we beg place for word from
the S7th. Our friends will not premise in
the outset that we should date agreeably
tO that call, "Ho, for Washington %
shough it might be said. without boasting.
that the Regiment Was within thirty
miles. and Is nearer than any other three
months regiment from our State. Our
l)t is reilly fortunate, and we tn nk envi-
aole. The Pennington and Johnston
ooys can not only re-echo the old watch
word. ''all Is quiet on the Potomac" but
the cheering one, "all are well 20
We have been encamped here on Boil
yer Heights since July llth, surrounded
BY the health ensuring peaks of the Blue
Ridge mountains. Purer air and better
water Is not found, so that the health of
he regiment is and has been extremely
good, not a case of camp fever, and of
summer complaint comparatively few, al
though we have, until This week, drilled
from FIVE to six hours per day. Our Colo
mel Henry B. Banning, of Mt. Vernon,
having been in the service through
this country, appreciated the wants of his
men, and sees that they are met. No
one could be more respected as q COM
mander or loved as man he is soldier
among the boys as well as a commander
oger them.
Our camp ground Is upon portion of
tie battle ground Of Oct last. when the
rebels under Johnston skedaddled from
before Union shells. Many relics Of the
fight are found and brought in. Shells
and round shot are more plenty upon
each Cos. parade ground, than play-balls
on the Seminary grounds.
The weather has been SO exceedingly
warm, that each company has built row
of bowers in front Of their quarters. At
distance the camp looks ike ministure
forest, dotted with bee hives. We have
the >ibley tent. The boys are in the
oest of spirits, complain of nothing: un-
less that their turn for picket guard does
not come often enough. They witness
return of cavalry recruits with good
horses, double barrel shot guns and other
secesh property, and wonder why they
do not send infantry scouts ?" They
view the Government ruins here, enter
the old engine house where John Brown
was taken, (uow Government blacksmith
shop, and though his deeds may not
cheer US on to avenge wrongs he would
blindly right, those ruins. these deserted
mansions, these feuceless fields, this
great desolation On one hand. and the I'M
housed grain of this fertile Shenandoah
Valley on the other, meeting our gaze
from every hill top, and looked upon so
vorac ously BY old S,orewall, together with
The fact this is the key to MARYLAND
these facts, say potently, Be viytLLaat The
probabilities are that we remain mere du-
ring this month, and perhaps until we
are mustered out. There are two y. Y.
Reg'is.-three months men here. one bat
tallion Of cavalry, and three companies of
artilley. The people are of course all
good Union peopla.-mostly poor widow
women" The other day one of our Ser
geant's gave the lady of one of these F.
F. v, postage stamp in change After
turning 1t over and over again, and almost
looking Washington out of countenancc,
she saws What banks that air on?-
Why l didn't know Linkin had made
sich, though l heard he was guine to-
The stamp was not one of the late Treas
ury issue. The greatest delight of these
good Union folks, appears to be in ''heec-
ing" soldiers,-only ninety miles from
Baltimore, connected by rail, and no
risk TO transportation from rebels, and we
must pay twenty cents pound for cheese
or sugar; and almost everything else in
proportion. Gen. Pope's order may
change their style.
Contrabands are continually within our
lines All the Government teaming here
is done by them, and still It's said many
are fed IN ldleness. One came to our
Captain to-day, as hewas Officer of the
Day." and wished squad of men to 20
tor his family. Some of these good I'm
ion" men, say fghing will never end this
war, They sympathize with rebels, own
they have friends, and even children in
the rebel army, and pass for Union peo-
pie.
We expect 10 learn the results of the
swearing" soon, as it was done most all
around US, but trust it will be of that
quality which can be felt. An occasional
Chronicle reaches US exciting thanks for
the next, at least.
Yours, &C., PEcLIs.