The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1862-06-25
LrRAY- Va June 10Th lRG

FRIEND BAILEY: Seated on the grass in the
tented field, with my knapsack answering the
purpose of table, with soldiers all around me,
some cooking their beef in various ways, some
writing to their loved ones at home and others
lounging on their blankets, beneath their fly
tents trying TO rest after our fatiguing march of
over four weeks, / find myself trying to pen
some of my unconnected ideas for my old friend,
the JOURNAL.
Since my last letter, which was dated March
S0th, we have seen and suffered more hardshps,
probably, than any other Division in the service,
in the way of marching On the 10th OF Nay
we left Woodstock to jim McDowel's forces at
Fredericksburg, which place we reached on the
22d of May at P. NJ, hungry, sore footed, rag
ged and dirty. Many of the boys were without
shoes, and many of them were obliged to fall out
by the way, although the men were almost uni
versay willing and ready to comply with any
requirement of our highly honored old General,
James Shields During the march it was impos-
sibe for our trains to supply us with full rations
therefore the rice beans, salt pork aud soup were
not given to us, while the articles given US were
bard crackers, coffee, sugar and beef on foot,
which being driven along with the Division was
so heated that the beef was not much better than
none at all, but worse than all this, we could not
get good drink of water once day. We
would pass a well occasionally, but it would be
so thronged with thirsty blue jackets, that to get
drink was impossible. The stagnant water
in the mud holes along the road was dipped up
and drank with great eagerness. When we got
within 10 miles of Falmouth, we met an old ne
gro woman who said that she had come over to
see Uncle Sans boys. Upon being asked what
she thought of US, she said, "Whar de ye all
come from De Lord bless Uncle Sans boys, I
hope in de Lord, dat yell clean EN- all out down
dar."
On the day that we were to start for Richmond
with our Division on the right and advance of
the army, our General received intelligence, that
that willy old Joe jackson, had advanced down
the Shenandoah valley, driving Banks small
forces and taken the places for which we had so
recently fought. Shields men, although fatig-
ued, took new courage and started back for the
old tramping ground We went by the way Of
Manassas Junction saw some OF the ground up
on which the skirmishers operated in the Bull
Run fight, and was within miles of the battle
field. We reached Front Royal on the SOth OF
the same month, having marched all Light OF
the 29th. The advance brigade found about
900 of the enemy at this place, but as Is GUS
tomary fer the secesh, they soon lit out, with
the exception Of 90 men who fell into the
hands of our cavalry as prisoners, and one /
pound gun which they had taken from Banks
Jsckson's stay in Winchester, however was
short, for Banks being reinforced, soon hurried
him back TO his own place.
Our command, on the lst inst, took up march
for Luray, to prevent him on his retreat, from
leaving the valley at this pass, but arriving here
we found the bridge to be burned, by the citi,
zeus, and learning he had gone on up the pike
We proceeded up the river to the Columbia
bridge and found that burned also. Arrange.
bridge, and the timber was mostly got out foi
that purpose, when we were informed that Ere
mont was closely pursuing the enemy toward
Fort Republic, at which place he would be oblig
ed to cross our path, in order to gain the pasi
by which he could reach the road leading to Cor
deusville. Accordingly, the Sd and 4th brigade:
Tyler and Carroll proceeded to the bridge al
Fort Republic, to intercept Jsckson's forces ant
burn the bridge, thus giving Fremont = chance
to take the whole rebel force, but Carol from
some cause, failed to destroy the bridge anS
Jackson's overpowering force, reached one sid,
of the river and boldly met one compATaviv,'
small force and succeeded in driving te,.
With considerable loss. The Gsht j.
been desperate. Soon siseF tho 80
over met WG Perrin aBa - TS,at :,
lst Ohio Artillery, Ra" .rv II Tbev ,old n
that they 6red over ,oo ~
the last, ,he col. Ioo rounus anu '"S' 'o~ar
j 'f aims of the enemy were with
- eir gun, and that ct every shot
"a during which time they were shooti
! ,.ster, the enemy were mown down by scor,
rhe two old friends mentioned, when / N
e them, were covered from head to foot with mu
r and their faces were so black, from the effe'
$ of their gun that one would hardly recogni
!. them. Three guns were. taken from their b
d terry and nine in all from our force. The 81
e was not within 20 miles at the time Of the fgt
e but when We met the ambulances returning W
Il the wounded, every man was so enrsged at {
defeat that each one felt ready to meet the
n fernal devils as many termed them and il
D. them one to FIVE. On meeting the retFeati
u men We were haulted and formed in line OF b
= tie, expecting that the enemy would soon M
E. and engage US, but in few minutes body
al cavalry was seen at "a distance, from whom N
3. senger came, informing US that they were !
ie mont scouts, who had succeeded in crossing
N river, and from him We learned that the Wh