Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1910-12-16
Camp at Brandy's Station,
Culpepper Co. Va.


August 20, 1868.
My kind and affectionate friends at
home.
Having concluded after SO long a
procrastnation and utter negligence
of the duty ! owe my beloved parents
and relatives, To address you in this
dark hour Of our history, for, in the
last month the enemy has met with
great many successes, and they are
again invading. the already desolated
soil of Virginia, yet it is sacred to
every Virginian. 1t is too true and
cannot be otherwise, than at this
present time, is the darkest hour of
the war. Yet / am not despondent To
patriot, let the South rally around
her flag and proclaim il one of free
dom, we are now needing every sue
cor, and every man who enlsts volun-
tarily in this great struggle, increases
our strength. We, the army of North
ern Virginia, have undergone hard
ships and privations, such as other
troops have never experienced. The
expedition into the Keystone S,ate,
Penn. and the Battles fought therein,
have never been surpassed i'm history.
The Guerrilla Briagde, now commonly
known as Gen. A. G.. jenkins Brigd.,
took the advance of the invading
army at Front Royal, Va. and led the
van 20 the Notifications at Harris
bug, Penn. Presuming you would
like to hear something concerning the
trials and adventures of the Brigade,
will endeavor to give an idea, even
If it is an Incorrect one. This COM
mand when organized, was enlisted
with no other intention, and having
been promised by Gen. Jenkins and
other officers who assisted the General
in raising this command, that it was
organized and raised expressly and
exclusively for the defense of south
western and northwestern Virginia.
This was promised, but our Country
has called us to the defense of an
other section of country and it is our
duty, as soldiers, to remain where we
have been ordered, and act our best
as soldiers should, but / will give my
attention to this subject in another
paragraph of my letter. We crossed
/ SHENANDOAH at Front Royal anC
. took the van of Gen. Lees army,
, having been ordered to the rear oi
, Winchester on the Charleston road il
? order to cut off communications from
, Milroy, we advanced upon Berryvill'
causing the enemy to retire to Mar
tinsburg, and from thence to Bunks
Hill, where we came in contact will
1900 Union troops, who had takel
shelter and cover in two or thre
5 stone houses. They gave US great an
noyance, as we were at that time il
pursuit of wagon train-some thre
n or four hundred in number. We Tough
8 them some three hours, dismounted
& until dark and severe thunder storr
:, closed the scene of action, casualtie
e on our side very light. Col. Grahal
! was slightly wounded. We capture
t some seventy prisoners, killing an
ID wounding about thirty, eleven @
'e which were left dead upon the felt
le The enemy taking advantage Of Il
ar darkness withdrew their forces ar
lie retreated in the direction of Winche'
m ter. Pursuing them at dawn of ds
ne across the country in the direction
s. Winchester. We flanked them al
C. took position on the roadside in the
u front in ambush, when very sudden
no three thousand Infantry and six piec
Of artillery made their appearance
column, moving in direction Of Wi
nd chester. Knowing our inferiority
I'D numbers we thought it prudent to
of them pass quietly, as we knew tn
As. we're going to Winchester to sure