Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1863-08-20
Number 80.
For the e.llipoIi. Journal.

Il
Mr. HARPER-Dzxa sfR:-I noticed
an article 10 your paper dated July.
30lh. highly commencing the activity.
readiness, and bravery Of your Gallia
county Militia. This is all fair and
right. but while you strew honors thick.
lg round sheir pathway, let Truth in
regard to the Meigs militia, have place
in your popular journal. First YOU
say "our militia were absent in camp.,,
According to the requisition Of the
Governor we did stsrt to Msffstta ON
Wednesday. arrived Thursday night.
! immediately reported to the Colonel
Commanding. and there Learned the
Fosd she rsbels had taken. snd their
probable Invasion Of our town. Col.
Putnam put me in active command of
the two volunteer companies, which
were fully armed and equipped, and we
started from Marietta Friday morning.
and arrived in Middleport 10 P. N. of
same day. and Immediately moved out
in the direction Of Rutland. three miles,
holding the advanced portion of our
forces ready for the dawn of day to
give US sight OF the enemy. Saturday
We had considerable skirmishinp with
them; on Sunday we were ordered to
Beman's Run. some distance above
Pomeroy; that night we succeeded in
capturing a large number Of rebels,
With horses. arms and equipments; on
Monday morning we marched the
prisoners down to Pomeroy, safely
odging them In the Court House.
While making arrangements with the
Provost Marshal, learned from a re-
liable source that large force Of the
'nemy was making for Cheshire. L
communicated the intelligence to Hon.
7. B. Horton, who Immediately had
he Condor No. 8. brought to the land .
ng with orders for my~commsnd to go
Eight mile, 10 prevent the enemy
RON crossing. The order throughout
'as promptly and rapidly executed,
nd within fifteen minutes after receiv-
1g the news. my command was aboard
be boat and going down the river as
lst as possible. On coming in sight
{ Cheshire and near the Island, We
aw steamer ceming up. supposed by
IS to be'a transport, which sfterward
roved to be the Scioto No. 2. Thatis
he boat that turned round and steamed
own the river, and not the "Condor
p." Our boat was landed at the only
racticable place, short distance above
le head Of The Island, the companies
apidly formed and marched down on
ss-aoubie quick and took pasisions- on
lie Virginia shore and Island. and by
D doing. preyedef the rebs, we honest
! believe, from crossing. Three had
rOssed before we got there, and there
as large number near the river edge
lady to make the attempt, but on the
ppearance Of the Condor and our
'rce, they fell back; in less than an
our, Hobson's command came up with
lem, and the result was their capture.
reat credit is undoubtedly due the
ilitia Of Gsllis. also Athens. Jackson
I'd Lawrence, for believe the entirs
immunity did their duty nobly. But q.
say that one portion or locality only
erformed their duty to the dispatage-
ent Of other places, is, TO say the least
It. circumscribed and unjust. I
i've not written this to herald the
eigs militia; it is enough for US that
we know we did our duty" and we're
at the "dealh" generally. but just to
k the early insertion OF this litllo
ticle In your paper for truths sake,
Yours truly,
r. B. WILSON.
August 4, 1863.