The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1863-07-16
Letter from our Soldiers.

v-rrP FROM CAPT. LITZINGER'S COMPANY
FROM BEDFORD TO NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
CREEK aAP-BAcK TO CIvILIzATIoN-TgE'
poys RECEIVE THEIR "FIGBTING CLOTHES"
zrc.-CELEBRATIoN OF THE 4TH JuLY-DEM.
SENT, AND coPPERhEADs IN GENERAL, ETC.
aCAMP JUNIATA,". HUNTINGDON, Pa,
July 18th, 1868.
correspondence OF The Alleghanian.
In conformity with orders received, on
Friday evening, Sd inst, our company left
Bedford borough for Pattonsville, arriving
at the latter point, after march of four
teen miles, on Saturday morning. Our
Captain Immediately reported to Lieut.
Col. Yarnell, commandant of the post, who
ordered us to take up quarters in Yellow
Creek Gap, distant from town one mile.
This gap is one entrance to the celebrated
Morrison's Cove, rich and fertile valley,
teeming with animal and vegetable life.
The position is natural fertilization, its
merits enhanced by judicious application
of pick and shovel. A hundred men
should be fully competent to guard its
right of way against thousand. Saying
which, We say about all that can be ad-
vanced in favor Of Yellow Greek Gap. 1t
is highly sequestered spot, away from
the great throbbing heart of the nation
isolated, alone. Railroads there are none,
while telegraphs are viewed in the light
Of an impossibility. As consequence,
news is rare commodity there. Papers
are always couple of days old when re-
ceived, scarce even at that, and costing
ten cents apiece! To rely upon unreliable
rumors, floating hither and thither, is
rather Indifferent method of becoming
posted on matters and things; so it were
safe to infer that the Yellow Greek Gap
pers, as general rule, are but indiffer-
emily posted. Peace mi ght be declared,
and they fight (provided an enemy chanced
to make his appearance for nearly week
without knowing it
Our camp was situated in the midst Of
most luxurious forest. The stately oak,
the graceful pine, the grim old hemlock,
hickory, ash and laurel greeted us on ev-
cry hand, and intertwined their boughs
and branches SO recklessly that a sight OF
the "ether blue" was rare occurrence,
indeed. Some poet, once upon a time,
sighed for "a lodge in vast wilderness"
He should go thither-the Gap is wild
erness that in point of "boundless contigu-
ity of shade" would most likely suit him.
In such case, then would the adage that
"there's no accounting for. tastes" be
verified; for, for our part, we could see the
dodge" but not exactly in an oh"-iDg
point of view. On the contrary, we pre-
terred civilization
On the following Wednesday, eth inst,
when we received orders to break up
camp and march hither, you may be sure
1t was with no unpleasurable emotions We
prepared to obey. We took the pike as
tar as Hopewell, seven miles distant, where
re were furnished transportation on the
Huntingdon and Broad Top Railroad to
this point. Arrived here, without accident
at midnight: Through some mismanage-
ment, instead of being run into town,
where We could have obtained excellent
accommodations, We were 3dumped" out
about mile below, across the river, on a
protracted piece of trcstle-work belonging
TO the road the latter fact necessitating
some very skillful engineering on our part
before we were enabled to attain terra fir
ma The terra frma was found to consist
principally of rocks and coal-asLes, upon
which We had the pleasure of reposrng
our wearied limbs until next morning.
Your correspondent almost forgot to say
that al the troops stationed at the Gap,
numbering probably four hundred, from
chester, Delaware, and Cambria counties,
under command of Lieut.-Col Yarnell,
accompanied US here. With the exception
VI 'he Cambria men, they constitute part
OF the 10Th Penna. Vol Militia.
Thursday morning we proceeded to
so"n, and took up our quarters in the
courthouse yard. Soon after, requisi-
aon was made out and we were furnished
our uniforms, knapsacks, haversacks, can
,eens' cartridge-boxes, &c. Whereupon
peing In proper trim for soldering la
"00e, We were marched to our nresent