South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1884-01-25
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The first day OF January, 1862, we
struck tents, marched. out OF camp
and took the road leading TO Bath,
Morgan county, Va, near the Il. l.. o.
K. X. 1t was a very pleasant warm
day for the time of year, SD We march
ed about twenty miles aud camped
for tue night. / went home rs IT was
near aud stayed all night. aud was ut
camp next mornlng ready for the
march, but the weather had changed
, considerably lii was cold aud rainy.
We marched on and it showed that
evening so that our baggage-wagons
could not get up, and we were with
out tents, blankets aud rations. They
came mp next morning where we
cooked rations and we soon were on
the march again. That evening we
entered Bath, and captured some few
o: the enemy, but the greater portion
escaped 10y running over tue Militia
force that Was sent around to cit off
their retreat TO the Potomac. TIE
next day we went on TO he river and
| threw few shells across. captured
some government stores, remained
there two days, the weather very bad
all tue time. showing, sleeting, lain
ing and freezing; we would lay al
night without tents rolled up head
and he Is IN onr blankets, and in the
morning would be covered with snow.
Every few minutes some OF tie party
[ was sleeping With, woald poke his
head out iro... under the bIan Sets, and
let In the snow around our nccks.
when he wcull get punched in the
ribs until he would haul in his horns.
We then marched back towards Win
chester and eamped ut Fingers Store
the roads were one glare OF ice, and
it WAS very di!iicnt Tor the wagons
and Artillery to get along. Four
men were detailed To go with each
wagon i'll order 10 keep it on the road
in going around the hillside curves
| WAS on detail, and we would tic
ropes to the top of the wagnn-bed in
the rear, aud all swing TO tho upper
side OF the road The horses were
smooth, and IN going up II'lle hill
have seen one horse in each team
down nearly all the time. and as soon
rs one would get up aEotIcr wonltl
be down, and sometime, all four at
once. That day | saw Gen. Jackson
get down off of his horse and put his
shoulder to the wheel OF wagon to
keep it from. sliding back. By slow
and tedious WORK We arrived nj camn
after night, the troops were marching
IN tho rear. | had oar tent up aud Il
good fire made out of rails by the
time they arrived. We remained al
Tie camp three days, sent all The sick
! to Winchester, took MP the line OF
march Tor Romney, hampshire Co.
The iirst night we campcd at The
Great Capon River, built a foot bridge
across ii aud North River aud camp
ed the second night at .Slanes' Cross
Roads i he third day we entered
Romney and found the enemy had
evacuated the place on hearing o!
cur approach. The weather was ex
tremely rongh--wc were all covered
over with sleet, and as it would freeze
fast TO us rs II fell we presented ralh.
er u lcY appearances We remained
in Romney several days, when oui
brigade was ordered back TO Win
chester. some OF Gen. Loring's com,
mand remaining. Ny company be
ing from Hampshire county, received
ten days furlough. through the kind
ness OF Lieut. Col. j. r. Jones, whc
pleaded with Gen. Jackson in our be
half. So we all started off for Spring
field, our native town, nine mile.
North Of Romney Ill high spirits, au1
the brigade started for Winchester
Bot when we arrived at Springfield
we were not as happy as we expecie,
to be, from the fac, that we were tw,
miles outside 0i cur pickeis, aud wer,
constantly in danger OF being pickle,
MP by scouting party from the cue
nay, which came III nearly every da'
or night. ,ut Sc managed To- dodg,
them all the time, aud enjoyed our.
selves hugely with the girls, viii
whom we bad spent our school-bo,
days. But the last day they cam,
near capturing ONE of our boys. To-
they were just starting out Of town
when the scout came in, and they rur
into the house and bid until all wer,
safe. We all met IN R0muey at IN,
time appointed, aud star ga enroni,
for Winchester, leaving Loring's Bri
gade TO hold the place--aud arrived
IN Winchester in three days found tn,
brigade building winter quarters, fou
miles North West OF town, on th,
Pughiown road so we went &C. worL
and did likewise. Thus ended SO.
we're winter campaign. We we're on
nearly one month and had MISERABLE
weather all the time and did no fight
ing except some little ssirmiehing
bit lost more IN, u from sickness than
IT we had been engaged IN BIG bat
tie, and accomplished nothing, for TIC
enemy retfeated across the Potomac
Nr a.