The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1862-01-03
Tiffim attrrklp Tribune.
Letter from Major Franklin.
CAMP ToLANp.
Dec. Il. 1861.
Editors Tribune:

Editors Tribune:
Thank ycu for remembering US, so far
as to send your paper to cheer cur path
way in this wilderness. The last num-
bcr received by me contained a request
that the regiments in the field should
keep you posted, or something like it;
although us cur regiment has but a small
representation from Seneca county sur
pose We are not properly included in said
re quest, still, as the summer and fall CAM
pOign in Western Virgisia is probably
closed, may venture to give you gem
cral sketch OF our movements thus far,
although it may be hard TO DO so without
subiccting myself to tho charge Of ego
tism.
You are aware that we lcit Camp Dem
ison in September with o75 men, that we
were started on steamboats, and told that
transportation for the field would be pro-
vidcd for us without any trouble.
Now the facts proved to be that trans
portation was provided only to Gallipolis
where we were landed on the second day
up. This was about 100 miles short OF
our destination, and from that time to this
we have had to work our own way. Our
/ first operation was to charter boats to
Camp Enyait, that being the head OF
navigation on the Kanawhn at low water;
arrived at Camp Enyart, and found there
a part of the LIST Kentucky Rcg't under
| Col. Gutheric, who put all the obstacles
in our way that he could, so that we did
not get to Gaulcy, the place of cur crigi-
nal destination for which Gas there ap-
pearcd to be a prospect fer a good fight
We felt very much disappointed; but, not
wishing to be idle, Col. Piatt, oil the 4th
day after our arrival left me in command
of the camp with four companies, and TAX
ing six companies with him started in
pursuit of regiment orrebcls, who were
cDcamped at place called Chapmans-
willie, or Cumberland Gap, under COM
mand of Col. DAVIS, but as you have
undoubtedly heard of the fight cur mer
had on that occasion, will say nothing
OH that subject, Tut merely continue tn,
history of the regiment. After the fgh
they remained one day to gather up tn,
dead of both parties and bury them. d,
this time one OF the greatest floods vlsite,
the Kanawha Valley, that ever wa
known since the time of Noah.
Col. Piatt's detachment, on the re;urI
had u march of fly miles, which as tc
difficulty and fatigue, has 10 parallel in
the history cfthis war; they were COM
Ipelled to raft or swim the swollen streams
every hour during the whole march, whicl
was accomplished in about three days.
At night the officers and men, to get out
of the water, had to encamp on the noun.
tain side holding themselves from sliding
down, by cir ging {, buhcs and 81 rul s, OF
brncing their feet against the rocks, the
rain pouring down in torrents all the time
and the rebels say our men lived on raw
beef and pumpkins for four days; at all
events they did not fare very sumptucusly
for we had no teams to carry provisions
nor for that matter have we been furnish
cd with our teams to this day.
The four companies left at Camp En-
yart under my command, did not fare much
better, for the flood covered our whole
camp with sufficient depth of wuter to run
stcamboats all over il and the water
raised so suddenly in the night, that, in
order to save the camp cquipagc, the men
had to dive like ducks utter their proper
ty, and then build RATS and flee to the
mountains for safety. All this time the
weather was cold, yet notwithstanding
all this exposure to fatigue and the cold
wet weather our men were cheerful and
we have had but little sickness in the
regiment.
After tho food, we moved cur encamp-
ment to dryer ground, which wus desic-
nated as Camp Piatt, where we remain
ed about two weeks, when the rebels fir
ed into the steamer Izetta, at Winfield.
We were then ordered to go down and
chastise them; since which time we have
secured the whole country, from the Ka-
nawha and Cole Rivers, to the Guyan-.
dotte and Ohio, and even to the Big San
dy. Ard, believe, their chestisement
has been severe enough 10 make them
wish they had never heard Of the word
secession. When the raid was made up I
on Guyandotte, we were IS miles dis.
tant from that poiat and, notwithstand-
ing their hurry to get back to the main !
army, l had the honor of leading de-
tachment to intercept them, and was on
ly half an hour too late, but as they were
cavalry and our men infantry, we could
not cvertake them.
And here ! must express the opinion
that our Government wculd show more
wisdom if they would increase the caval-
~ force ten iold. Our boys can travel
rs well as any set of men, and they can
supply themselves with provisions and ,
teams from the rebels in the country; hut
they cannot catch the fleet-foored, Vir-
ginia cavalry.
Now, as my letter is getting rather
Iengthy, will conclude with a word in
-egard 10 the late farce at Guuley.
According to tae best of my informa-
ion, our forces at that point were from