, 1863-03-25
THE NOBLE COUNTY TRAI-
TORS.
Arrival Of the Troops Mt Hoskinsyille
and Flight Of the Hutternuts-Par-
ties to be Captured

t1eHtD 0o NAp*AASAs
[From the Cincinnati Commercial, 23d.1
HosKSss111E, Noble GO: OIL
March q, 1SG3
Tho Noble Comfy expedition left Cam
bridge, Guernsey County, at ten o'clock last
day afternoon at Two o'clock. The march
from Cambridge to Cumberland, q distance Of
sixteen miles, was accomplished by four
o'clock ?. 1n., Of Thursday, the roads being
in o comparatively good condition. at Cum
bcrland the troops were 1uartered IN the dit
breakfast, while the officers partook OF the
generous hospitalities Of Mr.. John Foster, the
model farmer OF that section. Scouts who
were sent out that nigh', visited the country
around Huskinsviile, and brought back fnfor~
mation that the butternuta were encamped in,
eQuads Of from twelve to twenty on the hills
between Hoskinsyille and Sharon, and that
from all they could learn, were determined to
practice guerilla fighting upon our troops rs
&c advanced. This ncws vas most welcome,
TO the boys, whose only wish seeTed to be that
tho enemy would show fight in some manner.
was resumed. The little army now consisted
Of about two hundred men, rank and file. An
advance guard of about twenty preceded the
main liody, following dozen mounted scouts
ond fauked on either side By pfckcts, who
moved through ths s weeds. II Iae IN ma1a body
and provision train Of three wagons, with
guards, brought up the rear. The entire
| country between Cambridge and Hoskinsyi1lc
| is of q character which one not well acquaint-
I'd with Ohio, would little expect to find,
being succession Of lofty hills and ridges,
The roads are horrible ut present, dnd 1t is
owing entirely to tie exertions Of our very
| competent Quartcrmaster, that the heavily
| loaded wagons have been brought along i'll
safety. When within about mile Of Hos
kinsvil1e the strictest caution was observed,
/ and every eye and car was strained III eypec-
fancy Of seeing or hearing something Of those
VIC we're afler; but the only liVing forms yis-
iblc we're those Of our little party winding
| through the woods, aud the only sounds
heard, were those Of the footsteps splashing
| through the mud, the creaking Of the wagons,
| and the murmur Of the wind through the
trees. As VIC descended, t!&e long bills aear
fIoskinsgillc, and came il sight Of the miser,
| able village, savage looks Of dissatisfaction
| were given By all; for it was plain that the
birds had flown The village was silent, and
tenanted only By few women and children.
AS We passed through the place, few fright
ened female fces were presented at the win
dowa aud Immediately Withdrawn; but none
| Of the valiant Copperhcads we're to be seen.
The troops were quartered in tho church,
and the headquarters were established In the
school-house adjoining. In the course Of an
hour or two, loyal citizens from the neighbor.
hood rode In, and, from them, NC learned, in
confirmation Of the report brought us Willie
at Cambridge, that the rebels had organized
themselves 10 the number Of about two hun.
drcd, passed resolution to fight to the last,
elected the ,dcserter, Wesley AcFarreu, as
their commander, drilled under his direction
until they had obtained q considerable degree
proficiency, and then, upon receiving infor.
| nation from their runners, that our force had
reached Cumberland, separated, and, in squads
| of tens, twelyes, &c, had taken flight to the
Hills and woods for safety. The cownrslly ruff
fans who would express sympathy for the reb.
els, scoF at our Government, maltreat their
LOYAL neIghborss, md threaten attack upon a
tured into their midst, showed plainly their
bastard character, by breaking and lying be.
fore force barely equal to them in numbers,
Mr.. Moses D. Hardy, the Union citizen oi
whom spoke in my last letter, came to head
quarters yesterday afternoon, and was soon
bns;ly engaged With Commissioner Halliday,
in drawing up list Of those Of the rebels most
| prominent IN the disgTacefnl afElfr.