Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-01-23

roads are barely passiblo. Our march must
necessarily be very slow and wcalisomc.-
There Is quito a similarity in the people and
the country. The people live in abject igno-
rance they arc the nlthicst, and most indo-
lent community Of human beings ever met (;
so Ignorant that not more than two out Of ten
can spell their own names correctly; so indo-
lent that they raise no more than Is required
Tor their own subsistence, and as few articles
Of that as possibloj aud so filthy that every
thing has the appearance Of being a thousand
years old. Plenty Of old people that have
never been ten miles from home. school
houses arc from five TO ten miles apart, and
50 poorly erected that the smaller scholars can
crawl through the apertures between the logs.
We are now within five miles Of the place
where the rebels are fortified. They have ta-
ken their position in gap between two
mountalrs. Their number is estimated from
5000 to 5000. Our scouts informed MS yes
tcrday tLat about 400 OF their cavalry were
within four miles Of our camp. am unable
to say at present what number we shall attack
them with, but ! think we Will meet them
with their equals. Our force here is compos-
ed Of the 12d Ohio, l4th KY, infantry and
McLaughlin's Battalion Of Cavalry. The 10th
Ohio Rcg't will join us before we make the
attack. The expedition is commanded by
I
health Of our Reg't is tolcrablc good consid-
cring the excessive labor our men had to per.
form. The principal diseases that they arc
attacked with are Diarrhca, Measles, Pncu.
monia, Bronchitis and rheumatism. We are
having for the last few days several cases Of
Camp Fever owing to the inclcmency of the
weather; but our ever active Surgeon, Dr.
Joel Pomcrenc, is equal to the emergency -
We have had warm pleasant weather, like au-
tumn (eXcert the falling OF the lcdves,) un.
til the beginning Of this month. Since that
it has been cold and wet. ] have written
more than | expected to when / commenced +,
but | hope TO give you the news Of battle
before week.
Yours, truly,
D. B. f., 42d Reg't.
PArSTvrLLE, Jan. II, 1862.
EDIToRs OF FARMER:--We have just gained
great and glorious Union victory, over the
rebel forces under Gen. Humphrey Marshall,
by the Union forces compo sed of the 42d and
10th Ohio, and the 18th and 22d Ky. Rcgi'ts,
commanded by Col. Garfield. The forces en-
gagged on our side numbered about 9 600, and
that of the rebels about $500. The battle
took place on the 10th inst, on Middle creek,
two miles South of Prestonburg. The contest
commenced about half past II O'Clock and
ended at 5 o'clock in the evening. For four
hpNlS an lllCtSSdul lOdI vi llluShCllN NuS ucdGu
fro m both sides. The rebel loss was great.
They claim to have lost $50. We found s5
on and near the battle ground. During the
battle they were busily engaged in carrying
and hauling off their dead and wound ed. One
OF their field officers was killed, bu it was not
ascertained who he was. We had one killed
belonging to the lith KY, and 13 wounded,
. Of whom have since died fiom theirwounds.
The victory was complete, and more success
iul battle has been rarely fought since the war
commenced. As the wounded were brought in
from the field they were Immediately dressed
by our Surgeon, DR.. Pomerene, who was very
active during the battle. He amputated a leg
the same evening. | am glad to say We are
blessed with the right kind of Surgeon. The
health Of the troops is toerablc good, consid-
oring the hardships they have to endure.
Yours, Very Truly,
d, B. Z.