The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1862-08-20
Coruspondenee Of The cadi1 senliaol.
The Parkersburg Scare.

Quilted, and have resumed their wonted ayo-
oatiohs, aud Southern Ohio has got over its
nightmare. Il might be interesting to your
readers to hear the story, and as the Eighty
sixih Ohio was one OF the characters in the
farce, was in the mix myself also. We
were lying in camp at Harrisburg, when on
Sunday evening, July "a, Gen. Kelly ordered
Lieut.. Col. Hunter with Companies A, !, Q,
Il, to be ready to move in the morning at 8
O'Clock. In the morning a dispatch came
from Parkersburg stating that Jenkins
Cavalry was committing all sorts OF depreda-
tons, stealing horses and provisions, and
burning the bouses of those who did not
treat them kindly; that they were getting
reinlorcements all the time, and were about
to make descent upon the city. OF course
we were soon all excited and anxious to be
there. Everyone was in high spirits, for
now we were pretty sure we would have q
brush with the guerrilas, piece OF good
fortune we had pretty much despaired OF
being ours. AIS O'Clock the camp equipage
was loaded, and then the live stock in blue
blouses got aboard, and were packed as tight
as they could be in the box freight cars. 1t
was an awful hot day and there was no ven
tillation at all. We stood it as long as we
could, and then went to work and knocked
the sides out OF the. cars with the butts OF
our guns and we soon had holes enough to
let in plenty Of air and to shoot through II
necessary. As we sped along the road the
reports got blacker and the news worse. a.
bout twenty miles from Parkersburg we
found Virginia soldier nortally wounded
tby the guerillas, lying by the track. AT the
toll gate station, five miles farther on, the
Engineer received dispatch from the K. X
company to run the train no farther, as it
was fraught with too much danger. Col
Hunter told him that he should run the train
in. or he would find man that would do it,
as the train was bound to so to Parkcrsburg
i'm meditiately. The engineer said be would
run It on his own responsibility. At this
moment a dispatch came from Paikersburg
STAT ing that the guerrillas lined the road, and
that we should have to fight our way through.
The Colonel gave the command to "load.'
CONFUSION reigned supreme. Some Of the
fellows were so excited that they rammed
their cartridges into the piece without tear
log them, others cleared space VI about ten
feet around them TO get room enough to load;
but the majority stood up in their places,
silently rammed the MIME rife ball to its
place, primed their pieces, and sat down.
The officers examined their IevolverS or
frightened their sword belts little, and the
train started We arranged it among our
selves what holes in the cars we would shoot
through, as we didn't mean to be peppered
TO death without chance Of firing back, like
Gen. Schenck's men at Vienna last year. AT
Kanawha Station, we heard that fifty guer-
rIlas had been there the night before, and
had stolen several borses; but we had not
yet seen any Of them. Mile after mile pass
ed, and at last, undisturbed, we arrived at
Parkersburg. On the hill side was about
twenty-five men drawn up in battle array, in
citizens dress, and armed with old U. s.
muskets, squirrel rifles aud shot guns, while
they were Aanked by a formidable looking
six- FOUNDER, loaded almost to the muzzle
with railroad spikes. 1t is the very identical
piece that Gov. Wise sent here at the time oi
John Browns raid. Every body was over.
whelmed with delight at our arrival, Tor they
now deemed themselves safe. The poor fel.
lows were nearly worn out with heavy picket
duty, and constant watching. The night
previously all the government wagons, quar-
termaster and commissary stores had beer
sent across the river into Ohio, and gyeal
many OF the women and children had alst
been sent over. 1t was now nearly dark
aud we were marched short distance TO
beautiful grove,and in short time the camp
was marked and the tents pitched. Abou;
twelve o'clock the sound of the long roll
ringing through the camp, reused US up in
hurry. We hurried on our clothes ant
equipments, grabbed our guns, and rushed
out and fell into line. We could see ire
mendous blaze, as though the whole tow
was on FIRE. The word passed along tn
ranks that the guerrillas had surprised tn
town and was burning it. The Lieut.. Co
gallopcd up to the. head Of our company
and commanded forward march," an
away we went down the hill into town, ex
pcetirg q fight this time, sure. As we drey
near to the fire, it appeared very much lik
an ordinary fire; and the engines were throw
ing water on 1t, pretty much as 'hey do j
Ohio. Half ashamed of ourselves we abou
faced and were soon in our quarters again
Of course 1t was impossible to find out VIII
it was that originated the alarm.
The next day Gen. Kelly and staff visite
our camp and reviewed US, and then ser
company H to scatter itself along the "a
road between here and Grafton / understan
that few days ago one of their pickets ha
his head blowed to pieces by a musket bal
by bushwhaeker. We had now about 25
men, and 60 Of them are detailed on pick'
duty, while about 40 more are detailed I
camp sentries, and for guarding the Hospita
Quartermasters and Commissrys department
in turn. Taking uff the sick and non con
missioned officers, and there is 100 left. S
you see every man has to stand guard ever
other day, this with the numerous scoutir
parties, makes us fly around pretty activei
However it is far pre- erable to the hum dru
lie at Camp Burns. We had ano ther alar
night before last. Our pickets fred the
guns from some cause or other, and the can
ssntinels. OF course fired also. We were .
routed out, and after standing under arm
y f-..