Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-11-11
letter from First Delaware Regimen,
LETTER No. 40.
MAR srRIcEER's Gar, Va, j
sunday night, Nov -, 1862


sunday night, Noy. "a, ls62. /
tmESD Ec6EL;
As continuation of the rec; ial
ol our experiences on the march, we state III IL
yesterday morning We struck our tents again sn,l
resumed our progress, which was through .ec
ton apparently almost depopuated. for ii was
/ apparent that there was not sufficient labor -tt
TO gather the corn crops and it was evident
tnnt no arge bodies Of troops had passed through,
for the fences were intact the variegated mes
y OAK hickory and chestnut rendered the aspect
oi the forests charming, aud tbs hil- aud valley.
with the running streams diyersi tie country;
occasionally We would fni a stream no larger
than small ditch furu.shiug mill with its
motive power
Frequent halts rested US until our Regiment
was sent oct together with the Sth Ohio and l4b
indiana, 10 the advance ssirmishers deploy.
ing we ssirmlshed over four or fge miles run
nlng up hills, over fences, through woods aud
across meadows, until sunset terminated our
labors as pedestrians, on the summit of lie
mountains, from which stand point we viewed
landscape which was delightful indeed. Tie
valley with its numerous narrow belts Of woods
anu cultivated helds was beneath US, aud the
we" was bounded by the range of mountains in
the distance. Cavalry pickeis were stationed on
this elevation in the afternoon They held their
place very deiiantly until we advanced when
they fed
As we are getting up n kind of a log of our
military tour, we must chronicle circumstance
generally, so we must speak of the captute Of
Tour hne large horses by an officer Of our reei-
ment they were found in a cave, with the hnr-
ness on them, but to-day were gwen over os
the owner represented himself 10 lie a Union
man. We were in very fair way to max,
cavalry regiment OF ours could we have retained
the horses
~ dark our rsgiaent was posted as pickets on
the front where it was halted As no fires were
allowed, the men were obliged TO dispense will
their coffee We ate our supper in the dark, bu,
''a'hihs ol the proximity Of farm house, q
couple Of Us visited II, the supper table bount-
luIly spread for a halt dozen surgeons Of other
regiments, and believing in the doctrine th4t
soldiers shonld always eat whenever they had nm
opportunity, we sat down md ASSISTED IN diapo-
sing Of the edihles which consisted OF rorn bread
warm biscuit, butter, cold cabbage. cold nnrk
irleh liam, stewed chicken, m H. cold annie
uhmpung7 and coffee such was the retapt and
tne hl7t one that we had partaken 0f under
rooi Tor many months We thought if they CAV.
us raliona such au those whilst We were in Vir.
glnIn' that we were in lucb The inmates Of The
house were very s0cinhle, Int their iptellieence
not OF the first order Seeing some children
running about the floor, the question was naked
now OH they were the reply Of the mother wns
shat the youngest was three years old in cold
weather, the next was five years old ia warm
weather, and /" the young gal was born in dic.
gin tater time" The old Indy de.ired 10 knov
Of US If we had any tin cups for sale. and when
she found that we didn't deal in those wares ele
asked us il we wouldnt give her a piece Of soan
We tore ourselves away from this virginia
family ami returned to the regiment in The
woods. Spreading our blankets down on the
ground underneath tree, We Disposed ourselgts
tor sleep, Which was not difieult Ia Won ar,er
II fhp hnrdngt al.
since We have been in the service The hoys
Nupposing themselves 10 be in front Of the enemy
were quiet The stnrs twjnGltl throtiyb t6c
hongls, the moon threw sh4doWs about. and the
Owls ho0ted from the branches We slept sound
" with our oyercoats for pillows, and dreamed
oi mounted pickets and rebel rnids Our friend
~ one sac dreamed that reb ha cut his throat
Win sabre, and woke up, felt t. see if His ireu.
lar were safe clutched his revolver ut the same
hme' aud was about 10 draw ii On M advancing
nan "hom lie iaacied 10 be one OF the enemy he
dreamed about, but who proved 10 be one Of our
own boys
We were up In line again carly this morning.
ahd marched through Snickefylle md were ar
uereu 10 ascent the ridge in front af us and hold
the gap. Accordingly we assembled the ridge
anu were posted where We could yafch the enemy
who might be disposed To make n break unon
our lines From this elevation We had a view of
an artillery fight which was in propresg to tho
left Of us in the valley. We were relieved this
evening and sent back to rejoin our brigade
winch was ia the rear. And after large amount
~ ~ iharching anu countermarching we discover
that We are somewhat tired, and hunger was
another sensation, for we didn't find much TO ea,
in our elevated position. Tonight our wagons
have come up and raiions have been issued with
reference to pretty extended trim
mus lar we have been on the advance. What
our position will be tomorrow, we cannot say.
but lhat we will have n chance to participate in
some very important movements is probable. for
everything points to an carly and desperate en-
gagement. The grand army Is aropnd nosted
on the hills, and bivouaeking on the levels : |
troops are moving to and fro. As we were des- |
eendlng the mountain tonight, on one side of ma |
VIC could see the camp fires Of the rebels, and on
,he other, those of our own army, forming a .
brilliant picture, aud il is obyions that tbere |
must soon be some cashiug.
Yours
BILLY. 7