Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-02-05
Letter from TVostern VireIn,a.

Ihe following racy letter is from a To-
ledo boy in tue 9th Regiment, who thus
relates his first experience in soldier life.
NEW CREER, Va, Jan. 90, 1869.
DEAR----: Well here l am, soldier
boy eager for fight on tho sacred soil of
virginia. still live, though tho dificul-
ues and hardships have began to tell ON
some others. We started from Camp Chase
last Sunday, marched miles to Columbus
through rain and mud, were packed Into
the cars and rode all night. A Jolly set
we were. In the morning we arrived at
the banks of the Ohio river, which we
crossed IN the forenoon. Stopped there,
bunked on barrel heads with nary a straw,
until tile water, swollen by the heavy
ratns, drowned US out. A charge with
the bayonet could not drive back the adj
Vanfing waves, and there was no. hope for
US but retreat, which was effected ia good
order about o'clock A. NJ. We marched
mile, halted, prepared breakfast and
then eucamped, where wo remained until
8 o'clock the next day There Wsrs eix
companies of the regiment that were in
clined to stay aud be payed off dB pfomis-
CD, but the Lieutenant Colonel appealed
In an eloquent speech to their patriotism.
ne spoke OF the great and pressing need
of their services-thAt perhaps even then
battle was raging few miles ahead of
us. The words were fit and fitly spokens
The mems hearts were touched, They
cheered1 and the sound that filled the mir
was sweet music to those aspiiing for
light. II had the true ring in Il. We
cooked up, struck our tents in the dark,
marched silently away and were packed
on the freight cars Of tho B. go. R. 3.
On or way saw some hills that be bills,
none OF your little ant-hilIs q Toledo.
Think of hills two miles high aud rocks
for which there is no sort Of name, We
rode next day and night.
On the second day We stopped near a
Secesh. The boys went over TO SEQ him
M old man of as years. Says he to the
boys; ~ am sccessonist aud am not
afraid to tell you so.n The old mans au-
dGcity and bitterness angered the bows. but
instead of shooting him on the spot, they
manifested their Indignation like Yankees,
to some particular purpose. They started
Tor MS barn and made the agreeable ac-
quaintance of some twenty chickens and
turkies. The old Secesh came out with
desperation iu his eye and rifle in his
hand. Tho boys made q rush for him,
seized his gun aud then entered his house,
ransacked and stripped it. Tho old man
being rich and of some respectability, no
uottheyi OF course, were very mad and
disgusted.
After this episode, tho train started.
rode on tue top of the cars and soon became
black as a t'ContrabandV
Grafton is n very pretty place, it would
be OF some importance if il were not so far
away from Toledo. We crawled up a
mountain three miles highEand passed
through tunnel threo-quarters OF mile
in length. A number of engines were
needed to haul up the train, there being 3
regiments behind us. From the top Of
tue mountain could see trains of cars
reaching back for Eve miles. 1t was an in
teresttng sight. WepRsed here huge rocks
TINT semcd to sit on the side of hills aud
trown upon US. Close by the edge of the
track on either side these grand old rocks
would lift their heads far above US. How
1t stirred my blood to see them, such mon
ster chapes, such rough strength. Oh 1
thought 1, if this be the symbol of Nor
theru character, weare ofall men the most
happy,
We nre now at New Greek, onithe Po=
tomac, 16 miles from Romney aud rebels.
Our pickets and enemies are within two
miles of each other. Not far of, but
wish we were nearer. II luck favors 1
mean to go, out with a scouting party and
you need not be surprised to hear of some
daring exploit, important capture or abig
thing executed in double quick time by
.'M0son's little Orderly"
have a rife that will just send ball
one mile in direct line as sprightly as
one could wish, il not more. Some one
must get out of tho way therefore.
Your, truly, T. J.O.