Year: 1861

DedT oT'-l suppose you ana your
readers would like to know what the 25th
Ohio Regiment has been doing while in
Western Virginia. We left Grafton the
goth Of August for Cheat Mountain Camp,
arrived there safely without any signs of
fight which we expected every moment
There had been no signs of the enemy un-
til the 1lth inst, when our pckets reported
large bodies of the enemy some seven miles
off in what is called the Rosencrant Valley. !
Twenty men were ordered out of each Reg
iment for scouts. Twenty men were taken
from Co. E. 25th Reg't; one Lieut., j. w. !
Bowlus; one Sergeant, L. II. Bowlus; and
your humble servant being one of the party.
Our party consisted Of go men commanded
by Capt. Coon. We left the camp about
9 o'clock at night aud proceeded about 8
miles when it became so dark and stormy
that we could see to proceed no farther
We then stationed cur pickets and stopped
for the night. 1t rained all night and our
men suffered intensely from the cold and
the want of their blankets and food which
we were unable to take along on account of
having to go through the woods in many
instances on our hands and feet through
Lanrill bushes. AT sunrise we took up our
line of march and continued some six miles
when we came to the valley called the Ros
oncrant Valley which is very largo mea-
dow about 80 rods across. In the narrow
est place there is large stream running
through the middle Of it. AS we got to
the edge of the Valley We halted and sent
two advance scouts across to the opposite
side. They then proceeded up a ravine in
the mountain few rods when they were


fired into by a volley of muskctry, when in
a moment the scouts returned to the Valley
both wounded, one in the hand and the
other in the hip. Our captain gave orders
to advance double quick to the creek where
We formed a line of skirmshes when they
opened fire on us. Then we returned the
fire and advanced into the creek, the op
posite side affordiug us very good breast
) work, By this time there was $500 OF
them came down into the meadow and
drew up in line of battle and opened q
heavy fire on us, the balls passing harmless
over our heads we kept up the fire for about
twenty minutes when they commenced
flanking us on the left, when we had to re-
treat about twenty rods up the hill. We
retreated and ralleyed our men neara ledge
of rocks which afforded us very good breast
works when we commenced firing on them
again when they advanced within about
twenty rods of us and stood firing about
twenty minutes when they commenced
thanking us on the left again which caused
us to retreat again. Sergeant L. H. Bow
lus being on the left of the Company did
not hear the command to retreat until the
enemy had came up within few rods Of
him when he looked around and saw that
all of the men had left, and be was forced
to jump down a ledge of rocks some twenty
feet into creek and fell across log which
injured him very badly, so that he was
hardly able to get to camp again but he
came up with the Company and took his
place on the left of the Company when we
were again rallied to the top of mountain
and there waited for them to como up but
they did not pursue us any farther. We
had only one Of our mon killed, 2 wounded
and one taken prisoner. Their loss being
SO killed and 81 wounded which is state
ment of prisoner we took. We then pro-
ceeded on our way back to the camp and
when we came within about two miles of
the camp we heard heavy firing of musket-
ry on the road in front of us. 1t was cause
ed by about 1000 of the enemy which had
come in between us and the camp during
the morning fighting with about FIVE hun
dred of our advanced pickets. We ad-
vanced very cautiously until within about
} 20 rods of the road when we opened fire on
them on the left, killing Colonel Ander-
sons horse, also killing from to of their
cavalry men and taking 2 prisoners when
they returned our fire. By this time our
pickets were reinforced by 800 more from
the camp. We then passed along the
mountain to where our boys we're who by





this time had completely routed the enemy,
they leaving their kapsacks aud blankets
and in many instances their guns in the
road. Lieut.. ]. w. Bowlus was slightly
wounded in the wrist in the last fire. Our
loss in the last skirmish was Q killed and 2
wounded, The loss Of the enemy was "a
killed wounded and IA We took prisoners.
We all returned to camp much fatigued.--
Our little party was escorted into camp by
several companies. We were received as
the prodigal son, for they all thought US as
cut to pieces or taken prisoners. We all
went TO our quarters where we ate our sup
pers and were ready again.


You may look for battle here soon for
they must soon fight or do the other thing.
| Sergeant L. HI, Bowlus is doing as well
as could be expected. Alfred Stump and