The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-08-11
ELEVENTH. VOLUME---NUMBER $50.

But hear something behind me snortingi / feed
it passing! Thank God am savedl A riderless
horse dashes by; grasp his tail; onward he bears
me, and the shore is reached Colonel johnson,
on reaching the shore, seizes upon ten-inch piece
of board, jumps into leaky skif and starts back
to aid the drowning. He reaches Capt. Helm,
bat Capt. McClain and young Rogers arevone
Yes, Capt. McClain, the true gentleman, faithful
soldier and pleasant companion, has been buried
in the depths Of the Ohio. We sadly miss him at
quarters and in the field. His genial smile aud
merry laughter will no longer ring upon our ear
But from his manly piety and goodness Of heart
the angels of Heaven will never mark him as an
absentee. May the memory Of his many virtues
serve a beacon-light to guide all to the same
Heavenly abode where he is now stationed.
Two men were drowned in the crossing The
gunboat and transports cutting US off again, Gen.
Morgan fell back again; and just as daylight was
disappearing, the rear of his command was leaving
the river. Sad aud dispirited; we impressed
guides, collected together $50 men who had cross
ed-many without arms, having lost them In the
river-and marched out towards Cnysville. But
before leaving the river, will briefly recapituatc
and sum up in short order the damage to the enc
my in this raid and the sufferings through which
Gen. Ms cenmand passed. On first crossing tho
Cumberland, we detached two companies-one 70
operate on the Louisville and Nashville Railroad,
the other to operate between Grab Orchard and
Somerset, Ky. The first captured two trains and
returned to Tennessee The second captured thir-
ty-fve wagons and also returned We then de-
tached one hundred men at Springfield, who
marched to Frankfort, and destroyed train and
the railroad near that point. We also captured
train, with number Of officers, on the Louisville
and Nashville railroad near Shepherdsyille-sont q
detachment around Louisville, who captured
steamer between Louisville aud Cincinnati, nc Car
rolton, and rejoined us in Indiana. We paroled,
up to the 10Th, near 6,000 Federals, they obliVa-
ting themselves not to take up arms during the
war We destroyed thirty-four very important
bridges, destroying the track in sixty placesr-
Our loss was by no means slight: 90 commissioned
officers killed, 30 wounded, and $50 men killed.
wounded and captured. BY the Federal accounts
we killed more than 200, wounded at least $50,
and captured, as before stated, near 5000. The
damage to railroads, steamboats, and bridges, add
ed to the destruction of public stores and depots
cannot fall far short of S10,000,000 We captur-
ed three pieces of artile and ono 24.pounder at
Lebanon, which VIC destroyed; one a Parrot 3-inoh
gun, at Brandenburg, and . l2-pounder at Port
enemy's hands again; do not know il TO- be So
but fear they have. After crossing into Indiana,
the inhabitants fled in every direction, women and
children begging US to spare their lives, aud
surprised to find We we're humans. Tho
Copperheads and Butternuts were always 10 tho
front opposing us. Occasionally we would meet
with pure SouthroD, generally persons banished
from the Border States. In Indiam ono recruit
was obtained, boy fourteen years old, who came
as an orderly. Our command was bountfully fed,
and think the people Of Indiana and Ohio are
anxions for peace and could the idea Of their abiI-
ty to conquer us once be cotton rid Of, they would
clamor for an immediate recognition Every town
was illuminated and the people everywhere rejoio-
ing over the downfall of Vicksburg.
After leaving the Ohio at Bellevie, on the
night of the 19th We marched 10 near Elizabeth
town, in Writ county, from there to Steer Creek
and across the mountains to Sutton; from Sutton
On the Gauley Bridge road to Birch Creek cross
ing Gauley at mouth of Cranberry, and thence in
10 the Greenbrier country, crossing Cold Noun.
tain, passing over heavy b!ockadcd road Tired
steeds prevented rapid marches, and six days were
consumed ere we reached Lewisburg, near which
we left COL Grigsby, with detachment, which
then numbered about four hundred and seventy
Eve men. From the crossing Of the Ohio to our
entrance into Greenbrier our men lived on beef
alone, without salt, and no bread. Yet their only
wish seemed to be for the safety Of General More
gan and the command.
To the kind officers, soldiers and citzens.that
We have met upon our journey since reaching the
I'D dominion, In behalf Of our command, We ten
Ter them our undying regard and assure them :
hat If unbounded success has not fallen to our lot
his time that we more fully determined 10
strive for our country and cause than ever,
have the honor to be, your ob't serV't, -.
5. p CUsSINGHAM,
A A Geny Moroan'a Cao,v Tt,v'a