Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-02-27
From Capt. Drake's Company.

RALEIGH, RALEIGH Co, w. Va,
Feb'y 18th, 1862
FRIEND EsrILL.-An item from the soldier
is generally welcomed, particularly by those
having friends in the Army, even if that item
conveys no other intelligence than that all
are in the enjoyment of that precious boon,
health. The health of Capt DRAKE's COM
pany is isexcellent, not one being reported un-
able for duty except some few who now are,
and have been, for some time in the Hospi-
tails at Charleston and Wheeling. | can truly
testify that the general health has much i'm
proved during the past month, as is evidenced
by the corresponding favorable change in the
appearance of the men. One of the chief
reasons of this has been the granting OF
'leave of absence to those whose health had
been manifestly impaired by the hard marc h.
cs and excessive exposure to which we were
subjected during the recent summers cam.
paign. 1t does latigued and worn-out SOL
dier more good to take trip home, than the
united wisdom and prescriptions of dozen
physicians, and so long as the system Of
granting furoughs does not work a NANTES
injury to the service, it should be encouraged. =.
Qutc number of this portion of the Army
have visited home the present winter, and the
SD Regiment may be TRULY thankful 10 that
excellent officer, Lit. Col. Hayes, who for
some time has had command OF the Regiment
for his cndeavorS for giving as many as pos.
sible a chance to visit home and friends once
more,
After pleasant sojouln OF some three
weeks with friends and acqu lintances iu sLt-
tie Holiness returned again to the land of
rebsldom and "Lush whackers," arriving at
this place on Monday last, doth inst. finding
the boys all well and hearty and in good
spirits.
Our 'boys' returned from scouting cxpe-
ton on last Monday evenng, weary and foot
sore, for in so hours they had marched as
many miles, over the worst roads imaginable,
Ga description which it is useless for me to
undertake, because l cannot possibly do the
subject Justce,) being exposed to the pitess
peltings OF cold and freezing rain, advanced
within short distance of the enemy, out
numbering them five to one, sleeping, or try
ing to sleep without fire or covering and
then, on Sunday morning attacking them,
and dispensing their whole force in utter con-
fusion, killing two and takin 6 three prisoners
some horses, guns, &C., without the loss ofa
single man. Had they, (the rebcls) but stood
their ground, they would have certainly
proved very formidable to our little band
which, all told, was but 22l, while we had tho
most positive assurance from scouts. citizens
and prisoners, that their forces did not mum
ber less than | 200, if not more, embracing in.
iantry, cavalry and artillery.
Returning, our men fired the village of
Jumping Branch, small post-town Of some
dozen log houses, and burned all except some
two or three, as the place had been used as
rendezvous for the enemy and the bush ,0hack.
ers of the surrounding country. You OBJ.
serve that make use Of the word bush 10 hack
or quite frequently, as applying to certain
class in this country. For the benefit of the
nninitiated, might explain that it is term
IN common use with the soldiers, and is ap-
Piled to that class who have fred upon our
troops SO often during the past summer from
some inaccessible point to us, where 1t is USE
less for us to attempt to reach them. They
are somethin ing similar to the guerrillas of
Mexico, and many brave soldier have they
most foully murdered. To such an extent
was bushphackiag carried in Western Virginia,
that majority OF the soldiers here apply the