Year: 1861




ment had been selected three miles south
of the town, and there, much TO our cha
grin we were compelled to march with
out even being permitted to halt; while
the utmost enthusiasm was displayed by
the inhabitants at our approach and while
we were passing through the town. From
the fair sex, all along our route we had
boon uniformly greeted with smiles, bo,
Iquets and waving of hands and handl<er-
chiefs, bat rs we marched through the
beautiful. town of Bedford, our path was
Utterly strewed with flowers, so thickly
were they showered upon us. The ladies
OF Bedford have the reputation of being
generally very beautiful and from the
hearty manner in which they welcomed
us weary soldiers, | have no doubt it is
deserved, but rs military discipline does
not permit gaping or side glancing was
unable to make any observations; ard
believe our whole regiment marched
through without violating rule so diff
cult to observe under the circumstances ;
and as did not get back to the town Gu-
ring our brief stay at Camp Mccall, | was
unable personally to verify my impress
ions OF its ladies. ! have every reason,
however, to think them correct.


The march from Bedford to our camp
ing ground, afterwards named Camp Nc
Call, was the most toilSome and exhaus-
ting of the whole distance of twenty three
miles. Every energy had oeen called to
their support by the men to sustain them
or their first days march. and when they
reached Bedford they supposed their task
was accomplished; but wher three dusty,
hot and weary miles were added to what
was already long days march, their
spirits sank, and it was with the utmost
eXertions on the part of their officers that
they could be induced to remain in the
ranks and complete their journey. But
all things, even a weary march, must have
an end, and about five o'clock in the af.
ternoon we attained the summit oG hill
which became at once ponulous as a city,
and cast ourselves upon the e!rth to re-
viye our exhausted energies.


Camp Mccall was in many respects
desirable and pleasant place for camp
surrounded as it was by woody hills luXus
RANT with dark green foliage, while a mag
nificent spring Of the purest water gushed
summit we pitched our tents and at the





medicinal Springs of Bedford poured forth
their healing waters within the distance
of mile and half. But we were not
long permitted to remain in so agreeable
locality. On the Wednesday morning
following our arrival. we were ordered to
march and the evening of the same day
found us ten miles on our way towards
the southern border OF the state; and the
day following about noon we arrived at
our present place Of encampment, within
less than o mile of Mason & Dxon's line:
twenty two miles south of Bedford, and
eight north ofCumberland, Md in nsr-
row valley with Wills mountain on the
West, and Evit's on the East.


It affords me great pleasure to say that
during our march and transportation from
Camp Curtin to this point, no Company
in the two regiments displayed better dis
cipline or greater powers o! endurance
than the "Raf:man Rangers" in the first
and the "Washington Cadets" in the sec-
ond regiment; while among the disorders
incident to the passage of nearly two
thousand armed men, and which it is i'm.
possible entirely TO prevent, have never
yet heard aught charged against either of
our Companies, or a single act to their re-
prOach. The citizens Of Clearheld county
will never have cause to blush tor her
representatives in the reserved corps of
Pennsylvania Volunteers but on the 9th
er hand they may well be proud of them


This letter find is spinning out to a
much greater length than had intend
ed, and | must draw it to close. In
our march we have passed through great
variety Of country as regards appearance
and fertility, though all broken and hilly
and frequently mountainous. Your read
ers generally know the character Of the
country east of Huntingdon. South west
Of that point, we first passed through a
medium of agricultural district, and then
into the mountains until we reached
Hopewell. Hero the surface again opens
out, and is tolerab!y well cultivated, havl
ing the appearance of recent improve.
ments. As we approached Bloody run
marks of superior fertility and cultivation
were apparent, and from that place to
Bedford the country is populous, rich and
we'll cultivated. Beyond Bedford south
ward we passed the far famed springs and
entered rough billy district, with al
sparse population, and thin soil poorly
cultivated.


On last Wednesday morning We struck
our tents at Camp NJ Call and took up our
line of march southward through rough
hilly and unpromising looking country,
but as wc proceeded sOuthward down
Cumberland valley its appearance impro>
we'd and around Centreville fifteen miles
from Bedford we found thickly settled
and prosperous settlement. After pass
ing here the country gradually became
less improved and cultivated and more
hilly, and whore we are now encamped
the hills arc abrupt and high. The soil
| think is naturally tolcrably good but is
indiilerentiy cultivated and the people
look like as if they had merely enough
without abundance. 1t is an old settle,
ment; the inhabitants generally Of Ger
man descent, although several generaN
tions removed, and not over stocked with
intelligence.


cannot pretend TO give you any idea
as TO our destination When we left Bed
ford, we supposed it was for the purpose
ofmarching directly to Cumberland, but
our commanding officers did not like tol