The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1864-06-16
Letter TfSn cAg gsGdsaaI orard.
f MAarikssrao, Va. q
T,r rH 1onl


though; that you would like to bear
from US again. wrote you oLec from
GAINESVILLE, 1 believe, and whether you
have been kept posted on our proceed
iings since then or not, know not Our
company was torn up in zanesvillo
and divided among nine companies o.
the lG0th Reg't, which iS composed
principally of Perry county boys
They have been playing rather sharp
game 1t our expense all the while
We left Zancsyillc for, VIC knew not
where finally, after travelling three
days and two nights, We brought up at
lIarpcr's Ferry, where we remained
several days. Were then sent buck to
Martinsburg, and started the same day
for Scigel's headquarters 70 guard o
train Of Government wagons. We got
along finely, but being unused 10
marching, We were pretty well used up
We arrived at camp Cedar Creek
right side up, just q day or two before
Gen. Hunter took command. We re.
mained there a few days, when We
started with the army for the front
We marched with the army one day
and went into camp near Woodstock
where we remained two days. Last
Sunday a week the army moved On
toward the front, while at the same
time we started back, with an empty
train. When in the town Of Straws
burg, the boys went for things pretty
Fl eely. a lady standing in door told
our Eol. that he should take care rs
there was danger ahead. have often
thought she took that plan Of gettirg
up an excitement and thereby saving
her garden. We went on short dis.
tancc and came to where there was a
group Of negroes, the women issuing
biscuits to the boys. We asked q dar
key if there were any bushwha .kcrs
around. HG said, "dar was sum, but
dey can't do nofIin wild You fcllors
dars only bout twelve oh dem We
proceeded several miles further where
we took along family Of fcontrabands
Toward evening, while resting at Mid
dletown, the news came that q train
ahead of us was attacked by the rcb-
els; we started on the double quick
thinking they were just ahead Of us
but we went four miles before we saw
anything; we then saw what they
had done, but the Johnnies had skc.
dadlcd. 1t appears there was train
of II wagons guarded by about eighty
New York cavalry, going toward the
front, and while passing Though New
town party Of bushwhackpfs, est.
mated at from $50 to 400, pitched into
them. Our cavalry retreated and the
rebels Of course took our horses from
the wagons and set them on fire. The
Captain of the cavalry was killed and
several of the men wounded. We en-
campcd at that place for the night
and early on Monday morning oul
pickets were fired upon, and we wcr,
drawn up in line and started OH doub
le-quick. Two Of our companies were
fortunate enough to get pop at them
After volley or two they broke fol
the woods, leaving us master of th,
field. There were several of the rebi
rubbed out by that operation
Our loss amounted to one wounded
and several taken prisoners, among
them our quartermastc-, but they ti
escaped by some means or other. A
8 o'clock we started again, but in tn,
mean time our rations gave out, ant
the boys began to get pretty hun
cry and they pitched into every
thing in the way Of provisions tha
they came across. Ono Of them tolt
me that he and some others went to ;
house and asked for some bread; th,
lady told them that she had none; bt
he said he smelt some baking, and IL,
went to the oven and sure cnougl
there was bread baking. They tool
it all and told her that they would pay
for it when the war was over.
We arrived at this place again OF
Tuesday morning, making the trip il
q little over two days, a distance of 81
miles, The valley through which w,
passed is splendid country, the be9
OF lime stone land covered with eXccl
lent grass; and where You see any
wheat it is firstrate, but there Is very
little to be seen. Yet you can see th,
effects of the war at every ster +; ther,
are places where there are no tensel
for miles on either side, and many o
the buildings have been destroyed
When this war is over they will have
to begin anew,
There are but very few citizens tC
be- seen; no stock scarcely; it looks
very dcsoatc: the folks Of the Nortl
have no idea of the desolation aud dc
struction of the war. l think ever
the Copperhcads il they could see thi
country, would never wish for war ir
their own Statc-as they have done
The people here art tired of the war
and arc praying for peace.
The boys arc generally well :; there
are one or two cases of measles and
one of fever, otherwise they arc very
well.
Last week package Of The Gazette
came here and was distributed amongst
the Fairfield Boys. | cannot describe
the joy exhibited ON their countenun
ces. 1t appeared as welcome as coo
spring TO Il thirsty traveller in des
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