The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1864-10-13

" W ~ " HIe Wllt'
NEA HARPER's FERRY, Va,
September 10Th, 1864.
Dear Nolg:1Af,er saying to gsptfiat
I am well, as usqAl Ilahail, Fo' your
own satisfaction, % a sketch. Of
our travels and j pee ws me
into this Valley OFT hsp a -
will give you the mS Sta
whole, but more espeoi5i Sf III
West Va, Vols, S4a
After leaving the Kannwla Valley,
we came leiSurely along until we arrived
at Martinsburg, vest Va, about the
18th of July, We rested here one day,
then started for Harpsr's Ferry, distant
l6 miles. We arrived there the sSss
day;we remained here one night. an9tl
the following morning started for SsitE-
er's Gap, distant l5 miles, whete we
hoped to Joh Gen. Crook. We had SS
our charge some City Of sixty wagons
and thirty OF forty and auccs. the wag-
Ops all laden with ~ ltmisssry stores,
and the whole train o0os1gred to- General
Crook who had preceded US OuieA1ys'
and was then fighting the rear Of Early'a
army at -eesburg, in Loudon county,
Immediately in rear of Snicker's Gap,
whittier we were bound. After we had
marched a few miles in the direction Of
the Gap. it became apparant TO our ever
vigiIanl brigade cOmmanler = Col. r B
Hsys--that all was not right in the
ueighborhood of Chorles,own in which
Immediate vicinity we then were. He
ordered a hall for The night We could
now distinctly hear the booming of
Crooks guns al Suckers ford, where
be had quite fight, and among the cas-,
uOltieS of thar tight our Iriend, Colonel
Daniel Frost, lost his life.
We were encomped at what is known
as cat,tail branch. for the night. The
next morning Col. Hays with the ESD
and seth .. V. l., went out to make
Reconnaissance in the direction OF the
Gap, leaving the 18th Va. at camp in
charge OF our usin, and sending The 9Th
Va. towOrds CharlesLown. He had not
gone far lowsrds the Gap, until be found
the rebels, and discovered that with his
little brigade he would not be able to
force his passage in that direction, and
we put on bold front and fought and
skittnished with them all that day That
night we camped at the same place os
on the night before The next morning
We changed our direction at compcd
that night at Charleston, the county town
Of Jefferson county, Va, famous only as
the death place Of John Brown. and as
being the nieanesL rebel hole in the She.
nanddah Valley. In the meantime Gen.
Crook had forced Early up the Valley
toward Winchester and was then cross.
ing the Shenandoah on his way to Ber
ryvilc in pursuit of Early's fleeing col
unns. After remaining at Charlestown
one night Col. Hays started with his
brigade to join General Crook at Berry
vile which we did on that same day
Our whole army amounted now TO about
5000 cavalry, artillery and infantry, all
under the immediate command of Gen.
George Crook. On the morning oI the
2lSt of July he started the whole com.
mand for Winchester, distant lOt miles,
all Supposing Early to be in full relrea.
up the Valley. We arrived At Winches-
ter that afternoon, aud camped one mile
above the town. On the morning Of
the 23d, skirmishing began in our front
and soon our lltle rmy was in motion,
We went out some three miles to vii.
lage called Kernsrown, on the S,rausburg
turnpike. After some slight skrnish-
ing tho rebels withdrew and the firing
ceased. We then fell back to our camp
at Winchester suPposing it only a small
party Of the enemy left to W Itch, and an
noy our movements. On the following
morning (e4'h), skirmishiog common
ced at the same place as on the daypr
vious; SO out we went again to Kerns'
tnwn Cen DufGia with his cAvAlrv nm