Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-04-10
Good Day.
NJ. NJ. SPIEGEI,

RALEIGH, Va, Mar %. 1862.

)
notice and recital, which shall attempt in
my poor and feeble way.
Various and numerous reports had reached |
us, at times, of the depredations committed
by the Jusiulackers on the East side of New
River, on their inoilcnsiyc neighbors on the
opposite side, merely on account of their
Union proclvities These reports came
from such reliable source, that Lieut.. Col.
Hayes, commanding 23d Regt was induced
to do something for the relief of the Union
citizens, and to break up the rebel rcndez-
vous. Accordingly, on Thursday last, an
order was issued, to the effect that Cos, ii
and | prepare four days rations, and have
everything in readiness to move by next morn
| ing. Friday morning everything was ready,
but, as there had been considerable rain the
night previous, it was feared that the swollen
condition of the streams would prevent our
movement, but, after much delay, and great
deal of counscing; occupying the entire fore
noon, it was finally decided to ego ahead" -
At IL NJ. we set out, our force consisting Of
s. men from Cos. II and | respectively, and
10 from Co. b, in all about so, under COM
mand of Capt. Drake. We marched four
miles on the main road, in southeast dice
ton, where we turned to the left, going in a
more castcrly direction; and, although the
road was an unfrcqucnted one, it was quite
muddy and difficult to travel. For the first
eight hours the road was tocrably level, but
afterwards the way was varied by the usual
steep, precipitous hills, over which we were
compelled to Chamber. At this distance we
commenced descending steep hill the road
being cut along tho side at three places nearly
parallel with each other, two turns on the
hillside bringing the road in the shape Of steps
and the boys in order to save distance, "cut
ucross,'' steep as the hill was, thus going
u about ono third the distance that those who
| were mounted were obliged to travel. W.
were then on the banks OF a stream which w
were obliged to cross, as we did all others, oil
fallen tree, and when on the opposite side
= we had to crawl along the steep hill sid'
through tangled bricrs and laurel, and picl
. our way over logs, trees, and loose stones
for nearly Il quarter of mile.
y, We then regained the road which crossed
the stream farther up than where we 'cooned
it," We travelled along some three or foul
miles further without any incident worthy o
note, and finally arrived at the house of ;
Union man, tired and hungry. We stayed al
: night, and the next day until ?. NJ. whei
we set out for New River, distant miles
which we reached at dark, and took up quar-
tcrs ut the house of a Union man, nameG
> Richmond, who has suffered most shamciully
. from tho deprcdatons of the 6ushnhackerS.-
Ills son was our guide and had it not beer
- for the conduct of his rebellious ncighbors il
destroying his property, and threatening HI
!. life, he never would have interiered, altho
Is he was u staunch Union man. He had twic
20 been taken prisoner, the first time he elude
/ the vigilance of his captors, and the sccon
lr time, being under the guard of three men
lie and riding horseback behind one of them
1t and knowing his life to be in danger, he too
Us his penknifc and drawing it across the throa
&c of the man who sat before him, he cut his gu
ct loose, shot another of the men and the thir
Il was so frightened that he escaped withou
to further trouble Such treatment exasperatet
G. Richmond, and he was bound to seek revcng
1t and this was his object in plotting us throug
to to the point we eventually reached.
y, The Jush,chacserS we were after lived up tn
river some six or seven miles on the opposit
sidc and it was decided that about midnigh
we wodld set about our work, as we woul
!" tEen have moonlight. Tho time arrived, AM
~ we all got ready. should mention that du
" ring the night, some 20 or 25 of tho Uno
" citizens Joined US, and we now had quite re
, spectacle little force SO far as numbers wa
", concerned, but such motley crowd as wa
there assembled, it has not often been my lo
- to see. Dressed in all kinds of costume, an
~. of ages ranging from the gray-haired siro
" the bealdlcss STRIPPING, they were decided
!, a curious looking assemblage OF humanity
&c bat their courage | will not call in question
IN Having our force in readiness, squad wa
of sent up to guard the ferry, lest the seccsh, i
IT, attempting to escape from us, might take
ef their boats. Some 90 Of us crossed Tie river
nd which we effected in couple of ''dug- outs
he ashed together, capable of carrying ten me
y at a time 1t took fully two houls to cross
,I as the river is about an eighth of mile wild
Sc where wo crossed. Having got over, we pro
he ccedcd noiselessy, and as rapidly as possibl
70 up the river. Just as day began to breal
til the first house was surrounded, and SO quietl
'ir that not an inmate was aware OF our presenc
u. until we were laundering at the door.
rs Immediately Quads of us pushed iorwar
he quickly to surround other houses, and in
very short time we had quite number
no prisoners and horses. Some two miles fu
r. ther up the river as another house, which
ie of us volunteered to go and search, and hay
at got thither, we made good haul. Return
&c, ing down tho river about three miles, we col
Z iccted together our captured property an
,oi found that we had u prisoners, 10 horse
ith several saddles and brides, about a doze
guns, (some of which were muskets take
Nv Nv from our soders), and other articles 'too nj
be merous to mention," except l might mott c
two, or three dozen chickens, evincing II
(, good taste of soldiers. AS we had now dol
he nice Sunday morning job, we started bac
'p- with our plunder.' Having recrossed Il