Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1862-02-14
LETTERS FROM OUR SOLDIERS.
CAMP PIERpoNr, VA.


Mr.. EpIroR: Dear Sfr:-We are glad to
learn that old Bedford County bas furnished
so many companies for the three years service,
and so nobly given many Of her young men to
the country in the hour of need, TO battle for
our civil aud religious lterties, the union
of the States, the Constitution aud Laws as
they were bequeathed us by the Patriot Sircs
Of '76, and we pray Heaven she may have
her reward in seeing rebellion soon crushed
The union restored, aud every section, every
State united 10 enc eternal brotherhood, never
again 10 be broken or rent. Then shall trea-
| son hide its accursed head in the dust, and our
own native Eagle shall rise, and, soaring high
ID the heavens, Aqn bis broad wings for joy,
and bear messages of freedom, peace, and
good will, from the Northern lakes to the
Southern gulph, and from the Atlantic to the
Pacific, and all nations of the earth shall do
as honov, and call US three blessed.
Beroze tsis shall be accomplished, Slavery,
the corner stone OF the Southern Aristocracy,
may, and we sape, viii have to be blotted, as
. curse. from our land, and the q. S. A., with
all the boasted powel..s Of tho Cotton Ktng,
and God, made Que vast wilderness. but
then, and not TIL then, shall i1aDy o. bedford
sons return to honor her, as she has nonoreu
her country in the trying hour. 10 the mean
time We pledge ourselves she shall no. have
cause to mourn her children's shame, or blTsh
for them in the day of battle; yet We are sor.
~ she still has some young men at home, who
could we'll join Us in the struggle. There are
yet, however, young men needed to gil up the
different companies, aud they may yet win the
esteem of good and loyal men by joining
heart and hand with US.
Now for our company, formerly known as
the "Hopewel Rifes," but now Company E., |
Sth Regiment, F. ", and attached to the 1st I
or Gen. Reynolds brigade. Il Is, doubtless,
we'll know to most of Jour readers that We 1
went into Camp Wilkins, at Pittsburgh, June
IL, 1861, in which we remained, as a camp /
of instruction, until, at a call from the Presi-
dent, July 1st, We moved for Washington, aud
have siuce changed station three times, doing t
in the mean time much, and probably impor-
taut labor, such aa picket duty, working on
foru6catious, &C., bat no fighting, at which
the men have nurmured not little.
We arc now encampei near the Washington
and Leesburg road, miles from Washington,
and II from Dranesville, 10 the direction OF
which We make all eur scouting and foraging
expeditions, We have several times penetrated
the enemy's lines, driving in their pickets, T
aud once advanced beyond Dranesyiile, but
though these excursions always pay well, in
Secesh corn, hay, oats, g., We have never
been fortunate or unfortunate enough to meet
tho enemy IN battle. They don't seem to like
this. They say ssthey came to fight aud they
want to DO it, but they begin to think the
rebels know the country, and understand runs
ming too we'll to meet us this side of Manas.
sas, CentreViIle, or Leesburg. The time for
as to advance there seems 10 the minds of the
rulers to be not yet. God grant them wisdom
to know.
la camp We have but little now to do save
guard duty. The ground, owing to the late
heavy rains, being so soft and muddy that
drilling is almost impossible. We spend our
time mostly IN the tents reading, writing, So
claI conversation, &C., or when the weather
Will permit in out door athletic exercise, and /
in this we practice all the games ingenuity can
invent or recollection bring 10 mind, including
foot racing. jumping, foot ball, boxing, Sc.
In the use OF the gloves, sometimes knock
down or a bloody nose Is given aud received, /
but even this passes off pleasantly, no one
presuming TO get angry, or at Ieast not TO
show it, for in this case he would be severely
booted at aud become the butt of the compa-
ny, not a desirable position. A great many
dry and some PRACTICAL jokes are also practice
ed. They also pass off pleasantly. We have /
not had fight in the company since coming
to camp, whichI venture there are few compa-
MES in the Brigade can say.
We have lost 4 members by disease, but the
the health of the men is now good, but one
maa being in the hospital, and he is getting
we'll. Reading matter is devoured with avidi- I
IT, Thousandso of newspapers are daily sold I
IN the camps, and there is but little danger Of
the army becoming deficient in general lantelii-
gence 90 esseniia! to Republican people.
This is already extended TO much greater
length than we had intended, SC with best I
wishes to all our frie1ds we will close.
Yours, &c., j. CLEAVER.