September 20.– I am ordered to the place of judge-advocate and to be attached to headquarters. I dislike the service but must obey, of course. I hope to be released after a few weeks’ service. In the meantime I will try to qualify myself for an efficient discharge of my new duties. I agree with [...]
Cross Lanes, Near Gauley River, South of Summersville, Virginia, September 19, 1861. Dear Mother: I am in the best possible health. Since the retreat of the enemy I have been too busy to write. You must look in the correspondence of the Commercial or Gazette for my welfare. If I should lose a little [...]
Cross Lanes, September 19, 1861. Dearest: It is a lovely moonlight evening. I mailed you a letter this morning, but as Lieutenant Wall of Captain McIlrath’s company has resigned to go with the navy, and will go to Cincinnati tomorrow, I thought I would say a word further while our band plays its finest [...]
September 19. – Offered the place of judge-advocate general by General Rosecrans. Have served in five cases – [on the] 5th and 6th at Sutton, 16th, 17th and 18th at Cross Lanes (also the 12th) –and a few days between those dates preparing reports of proceedings.
Cross Lanes, Near Gauley River, South Of Summersville, Virginia, September 19, 1861. Dear Mother : – I am in the best possible health. Since the retreat of the enemy I have been too busy to write. You must look in the correspondence of the Commercial or Gazette for my welfare. If I should lose a [...]
Cross Lanes, Near Gauley River, Below Summersville, Virginia, September 19, Thursday A. M., [1861]. Dearest: – I fear you do not get the letters I have written the last ten days, as we are out of the reach of mail facilities. I got your letter of the 5th about forty miles north of here out [...]
Birch River, Eighteen Miles North of Summersville, Sunday, September 15, 1861. Dearest: – We are as happy and care-for-nothing [a] set of fellows here today as you could find anywhere. I have now for a while an independent command of four companies, Twenty-third, Captain Moore, Captain Lovejoy, Woodward, and Drake, two companies of the Thirtieth [...]
Birch River, Between Summersville and Sutton, Virginia, September 14, 1861. Dear Uncle : – I have no time to write letters. We are getting on finely. Our battle on the 10th at Gauley River, you have no doubt heard all about. Nothing but night prevented our getting Floyd and his whole army. As it was, [...]
Gauley River, 8 Miles South Of Summersville, September 11, 1861. Dear Lucy: – Well, darling, we have had our first battle, and the enemy have fled precipitately. I say “we,” although it is fair to say that our brigade, consisting of the Twenty-third, the Thirtieth (Colonel Ewing), and Mack’s Battery had little or nothing to [...]
Tuesday, 10.–Marched seventeen miles, drove enemies’ pickets out of Summersville, followed nine miles to Gauley river. Enemy entrenched on a hill, high, steep, and hidden by bushes, three to six thousand strong. We get ready to attack. We have been divided into three brigades: First, General Benham’s, consisting of Tenth (Colonel Lytle’s Irish), Twelfth (Colonel [...]
Monday, 9.–Marched over Powell Mountain and camped eight miles from Summersville. Enemy near us; a battle to come soon.
Sunday, 7 or 8.–As officer of the day, I rode all day– up Birch, crossing it forty times and going fifty to sixty miles. Rode out to pickets with General Benham.
Saturday, 6 [7].–Marched to Birch River.
Friday, [September] 5 [6].–As judge-advocate, with General Benham, Colonels Scammon, Smith, et al., I tried two cases. J. W. Trader, etc.
SUTTON, OR SUTTONVILLE, VIRGINIA, September 5, 1861. DEAREST:–We are in another camp of fine views. This is the last stronghold of our army as we advance toward the enemy. We are now part of an army of from six to eight thousand and are pushing towards an advancing enemy stronger in numbers, it is said. [...]
Wednesday, 3 [4].–Saw General Rosecrans and staff. Caught our guard without a salute. We go with him south today. A good time with McCook and his Ninth. Marched from Bulltown to Flatwoods on road to Sutton, about ten or eleven miles. Camped on a hill with Captain Canby’s Company F of our right wing and [...]
Tuesday, September 2 [3].–Twelve miles from Walkersville to Bulltown. Found McCook and had a good time with him.
Sunday, 1 [September].–Drummed three men (youngsters) out of Captain Drake’s company, by [the] colonel’s order. The men all approve it but it makes me sick. The boys all probably confirmed thieves before they joined the army, but it makes me sick. Also sent back a waggon-master and drivers. This pleased me. The rascals refused to [...]
CAMP CHASE, June 30, 1861. DEAREST:–Sunday morning, according to army regulations, there is to be a mustering and inspection of all men, visiting of sick quarters, etc., etc., on the last Sunday of each month. We have gone through with it, and have found, with a few exceptions, matters in good sort. Our colonel is [...]
CAMP CHASE, June 28, 1861. DEAR UNCLE:–I found all well at home and at Columbus– all feeling anxious about you. I gave as favorable an account of your health as I could conscientiously. I am again in camp. Our new colonel is personally an agreeable gentleman to be associated with; in experience and education, equal [...]
CAMP CHASE, June 27, 1861, Thursday, A. M. DEAREST L–:–At my leisure, I have looked over the little what-you-may-call-it and its chapter of contents. It is so nice, and has everything needful that I have thought of, and more too. Much obliged, dearest. With all my boots, I find I have no slippers; forgot, also, [...]
CAMP CHASE, June 22, 1861. DEAREST LU:–I start for Fremont this morning. . . . As to surgeons, four only are to be appointed; it will not be possible to get two of them from Cincinnati. Either Clendenin or Dr. Joe will not get appointed. I mention this merely to show the facts. I want [...]
CAMP CHASE, June 20, 1861. DEAR UNCLE:–I now expect to leave here on Saturday and come to Fremont to stay over Sunday with you. On Monday I will go down to Cincinnati to stay one or two days, and then I return to devote myself to the instruction and exercises of my post. Matthews returned [...]
CAMP CHASE, June 20, 1861. DEAREST L–:–Your letter filled me with joy–as your letters will always do. I write to say that my present purpose is to go to Fremont Saturday, to remain over Sunday, and Monday, to go down home and stay one or two days only. You will find it so pleasant up [...]
June–, 1861.–Early in the second week of our camping out in service, Colonel Rosecrans returned and set vigorously to work organizing the regiment. The evening of the day he returned we were closing up matters in our tent preparatory to going to bed, when two gentlemen rode up with a dispatch which announced the appointment [...]