The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1862-05-30
LETTER FROM THE 55Tu.
FRANELIN, Va, !
NAV IA, lS62.S

May Ia, ls62,}
DEAR TiDuNE;
After the lapse Of q few weeks, during
which time visit to the Gland of many
Dreams and short "patrol" over the
broad, fertile acres of Old Seneca, So
cial pastime with kindred aud friends, a
rcvel in the elysum oiyouth's sunny cline
had been realized, and good time in
general the order of the day throughout
| agaiu find myself amid the COZ ficting
strategies of hostile Gdycrsitics and the
multiplying scenes OF "wgr's wide DESC.
laiion," which looms up on every side.
Arriving atNcw Creek by Rail Road
we ewcrc obliged to take u romantic little
aunt across the country Il distance offorty-
two miles, where our regiment was en-
campcj,
We came up with our division on the
I'd, nothing OF special interest, except
the natural scenery of the country occur
ring TO charm the weary traveller on his
way or delight the anxious gaze.
On the 81, we crossed the Potomac,
which at this point is very rapid aud ,ur-
bulcnt. The work was u tedious one
owing to the uncyenncss of the bottom
and swiltncss of the current.
The artillery lost one horse and bare
ly escaped losing half dozen more
at the peril Of the lives of their men, who
succeeded in cutting the harness and ex-
Treating them.
The next day we took up our line of
march for Franklin, distance 80 miles
which we made in two days. The next
day ubout IL NJ. u mossonger arrived with
intelligence that provision train belong.
ing TO Gen. Mlroy had been fired into
about s miles from camp, by some Bush
Shackcrs.
DetUchments ofcavnlry were sent ou,
aud two infantry squads to apprehend the
thieves aud bring them in.. Fifty four o.
our company, armed to the teeth, with
two ratons in their haversacks and head.
ed by Lieut.. Pool volunteered to 90 ia
pursuit. We waded the Potomac, which
took US up to our cartridge boxes, scaled
the shaggy bluffs and secured the rocky
pineries crossing, in our travels, noun
tain stream of some magnitude, some 81
times in distance of miles.
/ But our scout uvailed nothing, for when
near the place we met the cavalry return
ing with the news that they had captured
the nest, but the birds had flown, leaving
all their effects, except arms, consisting
of blankets, knapsacks and provisions &c.
We returned tc camp again by Z. NJ,
mu ch disappointed at having been march
cd up the hill but to be marched down
again.
The next day our whole line was
again set in motion to join Gen. Milroy
at Mcdowell, 80 miles south. Jackson
and Johnson were about 10 converge at
that point, and with their entire force at
tack Gen. SIlroy, and our aid was de-
manded as soon us possible. By 10 A.
NJ. the Sth, after hard march, we reach.
ed the scene of action. On the after
noon of the same day our cannon opened
fire on the rebel cump from an adjacent
hill, and continued at intervals to belch
forth its emissaries of death very much to
the discontinue Of the rebels, who a.
tempted to plant battery on neighbor-
ing hill, but were summarily driven
of.
At near 6 in the evening Gen. Milroy
desired permission of Gen. Schenck, who
had assumed command, to take the 18TH
and 25th Ohio regiments and cut of a
fraction of the main body Of rebels which
had appeared on the eastern hill side.
A brisk fire was shortly opened by our
troops and returned by the rebels with
equal vigor. 1t soon became apparent
that general engagement was brought
about, and as volley attervolley of musket-
ry, in quick succession followed, the con-
test deepened,
Our men steadily ascended the
precipitous steep preserving steady and
unbroken line against murderous rain
of leaden hail. In an hour the S2d and
s2d Ohio were sent up to relieve the
others, which by this time were nearly
out of ammunition.
The rebels likewise continuingto throw
in fresh regiments, firing and falling back
to reload, Thus our gallant fellows con.
tested the ground, stoutly advancing uh.
I'll the Two contending forces confronted
each other in close and deadly conflict.
Soon the rebel line commenced wavering
and falling back, when our troops took
possession Of the hill
Night began to gather in upon the
scene of bloodshed, and as the darkness
thickened and the smoke and fog hung
its sable curtain around the mountain
brow, we could only conjecture the rela-
tive positions vi the contondIng armies by
the vivid flashes Of musketry which would