Winchester journal. [volume] (Winchester, Indiana) 1862-1863, 1863-01-30
LETTER FROM THE 18TH RE-
CIMENT.
SUFFOLK, Va, Jan, 10, 1863.


Here Is nv last trip. We received march.
ing orders just before dark on the evening
Of the 9th inst, and moved out of camp
by 9 o'clock, P. VI. An expedition for
Blackwater had started from here on the
7th and Sth. as / previously wrote you,
and we were ordered out TO reinforce them
and 10 guard an ammunition train. We
made l3 miles out by 21a O'Clock, when
We halted until near daylight. 1t was too
csld to sleep, and we were not allowed to
build any fires for fea&., ,he enemy would
find 6ut our position. Three Of US laid
down on some rails for an hour or so, but
it was impossible to sleep, as none of US
had taken any blankets along, knowing
that we we're on forced march, conss-
quenUy light weight was desirable.
by 5 A. NJ. of the 10Th We were on the
move again, and very glad of it, too, az
it enabled US TO get warm once more. We
had started out on what is called the
South Qqss road, leading to the ChOwan
river; but now We about faced and tray
eled miles back on the road to Suffolk,
whers we setysdthat part of the expedi
ton which started on the 7th and Sth.-~
At this POINT is ytat is called the Cross
roads. The wAole force now took up
their line Of march for the regular Black
water road, miles, On arriving at this
road, wetook another short cut across to
the town of Windsor, on the Norfolk aud
Petersburg K. R.. 1 miles. Here we came
up with Roger A. Pryor and pretty large
rebel force. but he made off on the dou
bic quick for Franklin, across the river.
We took a couple OF reoel cavalry men
prisoners. Col. Spear vas in command of
the Union forces. He aud Pryor are old
classmates, and Pryor bad sent word to
Col. Spear that if he would meet him az
any one of four named points, Windsor
being one of them, he would give him
chance to show his nsAal. Spear made
forced marches and visited all the points
named, Windsor last, where he found
Pryor's force. but the latter skedaddled
without firing shot.
1t was now about o'clock P. NJ. and
was raining in splendid style. We had
made 25 miles ssafs o'clock of the night
before--no Sleep and felt rather the worse
for wear. A train came down from Suf-
folk with ratiOns for the bOyS,-built huge
fires; made coffee went half a mile to
get some oOrn-fodder so as to make the
rails lay little softer; laid down close
to the fire mo covering) to try ana get
little sleep, as We were going to advance
on Franklin in the morning and force a
fgh; out OF the rebels.
Rain Rain! Half smothered with
smoke, wet through and through, had
just got into slight doze, when some one
shook me by the collar and yelled out,
a. Fall in" Gen. Peck hai sent word
from his comfortable mansion in Suffolk
for Col. Spear to bring the expedition
back to camp that night--only l5 miles
distant
We fell in Immediately, and the 18th
took the lead for home. 1t was 6 o'clock
and had been raining hard since noon
The road is entirely of sand, running
through low. fat, swampy country, and
in no part of the road in coming those )
miles did ind the mud and water less
than s inches deep, and from that to three
feet, with constant rain. Part of the time
IL was so dark that it was impossible to
see two inches before you, but closing up
against one another we moved along as
fast as we could walk Everybody talk
ing. singing, hallooing-making all man
ner of noise in order to keep up their
spirits-slash, splash-slip. slop-slipping
off the road side into bitches neck deep
with water-struggling through "sloughs
of despond"-here man down, half Gov
cred with mud, under your feet,-raiu
pelting You in the face. running down
your neck, soaking through your clothes;
untold layers OF mud hanging on to the
skirts OF your oyercoat, and on your pants
and in your shoes. grinding away at your
I'll ? =, 1aF f-.-t,s
miles accomplished "A halt OF ten min
utes. Everybody crying, Go on 20 OH
DON'T keep US standing here in the mud
until we get stiff etc, etc. Forward
again. Tramp! tramp. Egyptian dark
ness is MONDAY brightness compared with
this. The Regiments behind send on
word for us TO halt; that it was impos-
slbc for them to keep gp at such pace /;
send back word that they know the road
as we'll as we, if you can't keep up, fall
behind and come in at your leisure! On,
and on leading tie column by two or
three miles. Loud rings out the chorus:
80, let the wide world waC as she Eill,
Wen be gay and happy still.
Gay and happy.
Gay and happy!
Wen De gay anu happy still"'
No tagging of spirits, OF you are goner
shure! Extracting humOr out OF our
every misery.
..Three cheers, three cheer. for thr Old