Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-01-05

I =
If it is Inconsistent that should know
anything about lighting, it is somebody's
duty, no doubt, to keep me away from
where men fight, Rigid discipline and
prompt In every department of the army is
teVldently Indispensable to its existence as
well as success. But have seen discip
line pushed to such an extent as to have
rendered their subjects sad, soulless, nerve
less, purile and weak, the "yitnl spark"
extiuguished and men transformed into
machines. They rendered blind obedi-
ence and always on great occasions stick
In the mud or fall in the ditch. The true
lighting men have seen, love their couu-
try and hate its enemies, men of noble,
generous impulses and iDtexible In their
purposes, ln them the "irun will' is ap..
parent and when the enemy is met, 1t as
sumes control of the fexsns aud exten.
slons, something has got to come"
saw rebel brigade, since asoertaiued
to be composed OF i've regiments, formed
in line of battle to flank aSd capture a sin.
gle section Of your battery (Lieut. Thea.
ker's), which was DOUG damaging execu.
ton near the road by the mill, south of
winchester. Lieuts. Chalfaut aud Rich
ards, with their noble boys, knocked their
imposing lines into "pt" aud occasioued
their complete rout in leas time than il
takes to tell it. As they "double ouickedn
it for the hollow to their left the command
"a little moro lower, boys, and little more
to the right" repeated as each gun was
discharged, caused many a rebel traitor
that day to bite the dust. That command
seems to vibrate yet, upon my ears, in the
cool, determined voice of your own Capt.
Oarlin. After this beautiful little episode
II became interesting TO know how the
contest was going on over the road i |
iou1d Lieut.. Theaker's section there, gal
lantly supported by the ll0lb, of my own
native Buckeye State. The overwhelming
force ''pitched against this battery" tried |
its mettle with their hottest fire and poured |
an lncessant shower of lead and shell upon |
the devoted little band; the rebel dead re-. |
iaoiy reported in the woods, folds and |
roads beyond, tell the story OF the execu. |
tons performed. 1t was with an admira-
ton have no language to express, l wit |
messed the heroism and courage of Capt. !
Carlin, his officers and men, before such I
vastly superior numbers of the enemy. In |
the language of Sir Robert Emmett, "theY
contested every inch of ground, burnt every
blade OF grass, ana were there to make the
last entrenchment of liberty their grave" |
The enfeebled condition of my health
Precludes reference now to our social rela-
lions 10 me they were always of the
most pleasant aud agreeable character.
When was compelled to see somo of the
boys, to whom, from peculiar circum-
stances had become warmly attached,
furcibly separated from Others who were
yet dependent aud weak from disease, and
llke dogs marched to the filthy prisons at
Richmond, uncomfortable emotions of sor-
ro" and sympathy swelled up from my
aching heart. To day 1 am more than
gratiied to meet them again, bearing the
appearance of regained health.
Again, in conclusion, let me thank you
tor this testimonial. Much US value this |
.ei.Sn on Aesouut of W orth Dsr &c, il isowinG,
10 the Iact that 1t Is present from Raj. |
terry U, that shall ever feel aud SAY Z az,
proud Of IT. am not willing to ADMIT |.
that any act of mine ever merited such a
testimonial from you My professional
labors with the members of the Battery,
VINO were afflicted, were, ,ou account of the |
position occupied, but simple acts of duty,
TOR which could accept no reward. For
the partial success attending my labors,
acknowledge my Indebtedness to the
prompt co-oParation of officers, the kind.
ness of friends in Furnishing saitable diet,
and the constant care and attention of
nurses. May the dark clouds of gloom
that now hover over our national firma-
ment soon be dispelled, that with the stars
OF our country's glory shining forth, you
and may return in triumph, honor and
security, to remain henceforth in more
peaceful pursuits of life, with the the loved
ones at home. B.H. r.