Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-08-27
I Letter from the Sunbury Guards.
CANT NEAR CHARLESTON, VA.
August 20, 1854.

/
. DEAR WnvERT -
Since wrdte to you last, W,
have had weary marches and travelled many
miles after the Johnnies but as yet have mol
met them in regular battle Since the 10th
of this month, Gen. Sheridan has done his
best to catch and whip the rebels, but theft
fieetness and the popularity of the country
in the way of mountains and gaps, is such
that ne is now no nearer that object than
when our march commenced. Our cavalry
drove the rebel videttes often while on Our
march towards Winchester, and every dav,
IN ski:mishes, compelled the graybacks to
run for safety. Early was forced to retreat
" the mountains beyouu Strasburg, where
lie threw up intrenchments, hoping to draw
onr army into a trap, but our commander
Knowing the position he held, and the al
most lmpossibility of driving the enemy
from the gap, did not advance further than
Cedar creek with the main atmy, and then
sent the cavalry to commence operations,
| by trying to draw hin out into an open
held and fair fight. This they accomplished
on last Tuesday having as Gen. Sheridan
reports "a brilliant affair" in which the re-
pels lost severely in killed, wounded and
prisoners. In this fight the rebs crossed a
stream and made charge; they were re-
| pulsed and in recr0ssing, besides the killed,
many were taken prisoners, the cavalry boys
saying come back, or we will shoot. This
command was readily obeyed, the Johnnies
thinking like Capt. Scott's coon, "not to
shoot and they would knock undern The
| enemy were forced back to Front Royal,
when they were reinforced by two Divisions
OF Longstreet's corps, from Richmond. Our
force then fell back to the creek when a snarp
artillery duel came off. Not making anything
out of this, Sheridan fell further back, try
ing to coax the enemy from his earthworks
and the stronghold of the mountain. This
the Conted leaders would not accept, so
Sheridan moved part of his forces back to
! Winchester, then to 3crryville, keeping,
! however, his army so fixed that there could
he no danger Of surprise, and finally to
this camp, two miles from Charestown,
where every preparation is made for fight,
and the great wish now is that the rebel
horde will make their appearance in force,
| 20 that the strife may end in the valley, and
| that we may 80 etleCtually use them up that
| there will be an end to the raids into Penn
s!l ania and Maryland.
On our rcutc from Berryvilc to Middle
! town. we passed farm house on the porch
OF which. wee re gaily dressed young
ladies. They laughed and chatted with the
selves generally agreeable Not suspccting
anything wrong, the most of our corps pas
sd 10y, whrn little brother allowed there
WAS some soldiers in III" hou-c.' The Pro-
v"st Marshal thought it adyi,ahl, to exam
lne the premises, and by 50 doing found
concealed under beds, three rebel Gficers
and seven priyutcs. These gentlemen were
~ work threshing grain. and our skirmish-
ers coming on them so quickly they could
/ not get away. so they sought the house for
shelter thinking by this rusc of the young
Ladies donning their best E,b ard tucker"
] they could clude the vigilance Of the Ganks
and escape. They were mistaken ard ere
! you get this, these cAicajrous gentlemen will
! be in dara1tcc rilc, guarded by Uncle Abe's
! pets.
Charicstown Is not the place it was three
! years ago, when we were cnCampcd there as
three months men. Then business was brisk
! stores filed with goods and open to pur
ca~crs, the streets crowded with men, and
the open windows showed the faces of
many beautiful women, some of whom wore
smiles and appeared happy, while Others
| played the part of the girdgo and spat at our
! uoys rs they passed on the side walk. Now
misery and want are visible, stores closed
signs displaced, streets deserted, buildings
burned and everything indicates that these
once happy people, what are left, are
! brought - poverty, il not r.ervaGon. Win
chester has been right smart place, having
| all the modern improvements, such aS gas,
! water works, &c. The buildings are really
ilue and the streets well paved. 1t is situ-
utci in IL splcudid valley and must have
! been Il place OF considerable business. But
| ike its sister, CharlCstown, war and battle
/ has mad ui.cc, o. it, and now it is but a
"Gcayr;ct Sj!iugr.'
\ caYalry tram was attacked at Berrys-
/ vile, icT days ago, by Mu>ehy's men, just
Is they were coming out of park. The guard
! ,nuuirCd day mcn) were surprised and fled.
cnving arms &c, in thn confusion. The
| wagons, about fifty, were burned and two
! AJndrcd mules captured. \ scouting of
cavalry hearing the firing, Immediately star
! ted 10 the rescue, and arrived in time only
/ t. give case to the gucrrilaS who we're no
| Iilrd ui the whereabouts Of the train by Il
citizen who, for his part was hung AS Il
| -py. Iuis spy made speech acknowledge
, i"g his guilt, giving his reasons for the act,
aud thea most pitululiy begged tor his life.
II Was of no avail, ior the facts were So pos
itiyc that he,itancy to carry out the sentence
would have been criminal. He had been
under arrest twice before, but managed to
dress, having been but short time before
seen = rebel unitorit, in fact, about the time
the train Was attacked. Papers were found
oA him addressed to Longstrect, giving Il
particular account of our forces the amount
of infantry, artillery and cavalry, and, be-
sides, he was identified by an Adiutant,
whom he, the spy, had stood guard over
while lie was in Libby prison. He had the
spiritual advice of three Chaplains, and was
baptized shortly before his execution.
Several promotions have been made lately
in the 4ith Pa, Vols. the mCst prominent
oil which is Capt, j. T.. 5. GOBLIN, to that OF
Major TINS appointment is well deserved
and is the unanimous choice OF the Rcgi-
ment. The members of Co. c., for their own
good, are opposed to losing their Captain
Dut lor his advancement are well plelsrd,
aud consider what is their loss is gain to
the regiment.
The members of Co. c., that were taken
prisoners in the battle on Red river, have
been parolcd or exchanged, with the eAcep-
ton Ol John {. Stcrner, and a:e now at theiI
homes ON turlough or III hospitals at New
Orleans. While at Tyler, ltNhs, they were
yacclnattd or Iunucuialcd with impure mat
ter which impreynatcd their blood and no"
they are uiilictud with liberated limbs and
sore eyes. The fends, pretending to Civ,
these men preventive Tor small poN, iilleo
their s. stems with u luathsOmc disease thai
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