The Highland Weekly News: Letter from the 60th Ohio -- Notes by the Way
THE HIGHLAND WEEKLY NEWS:
HILLSBOROUGH, HIGHLAND COUNTY, OHIO
THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 1862

LETTER FROM THE 60TH OHIO -- NOTES BY THE WAY

SUNDAY, May 25. -- To-day our brigade was marched out about 10 miles and back to camp by night. The object of this move was to deceive the enemy in regard to our movements. -- Gen. Fremont and the main army moved to-day toward Petersburg. It is reported that Banks has been completely cut up by the rebel Jackson, and Fremont has been ordered to pursue Jackson and if possible capture him. We are not the least mad because we have to leave this forsaken country. Nothing but mountains and mountain streams are to be seen on every side, and the question is constantly suggesting itself, how do these people live?

MAY 26. -- We left our camp this morning at an early hour, and for want of sufficient transportation had to leave some of our tents and a lot of knapsacks, &c. Co. H, Capt. Williard's, was detailed to stay at Franklin to guard the sick and commissary stores left behind for want of transportation.

MAY 27. -- Crossed the Potomac on a pontoon bridge. Leaving Co. F, Capt. Cowgill, to guard it, and Co. K, Capt. Gore, and two companies of the 8th Virginia, to guard the baggage train, we pressed on to overtake the main army, who have one day the start of us. We reached Petersburg at 6 P. M., drew rations for 5 days, exchanged our muskets for Enfield rifles, and started at 12 o'clock for Moorefield, leaving behind such as were not able to march.

MAY 28. -- Reached Moorefield this morning at 8 o'clock, wading the Potomac, which was here very swift and deep. Being the advance, we passed several German regiments and stopped two miles from town for breakfast, which was prepared and eaten in a drenching rain. Here, for the first time since we entered Virginia, we saw some really beautiful country and a beautiful town. This afternoon we marched some 7 or 8 miles and encamped on the summit of a tall mountain. Reports in regard to Jackson's position and movements, and Banks and Shields, are as plenty as blackberries, but as no one knows certainly, except Gen. Fremont himself, it is useless to repeat them or write them down.

MAY 29. -- Rested here during the day, and this evening at 6 o'clock started again in the extreme advance. The object of our march this evening is to reach the bridge across Lost River, 16 miles distant, before Jackson hears of our coming and destroys it.

May 30. -- We reached our destination last night after a force march over some bad roads and numerous small streams, nearly two hundred men falling behind from fatigue and sore feet and legs, numbers of them not getting into camp until this morning. At 12 M. we started forward, and after a march of 4 miles reached Wardensville in the midst of a heavy rain. Stopping here for a few hours, we marched forward two miles and encamped. Still raining heavily.

The "Jessie Scouts" came into this village day before yesterday, passed for Secesh cavalry, learned all they wanted to of Jackson and his movements from a party of Ashby's cavalry, were treated very hospitably by the citizens and rode off unsuspected. To-day they created quite an excitement by visiting the citizens in company with the "Yankees." On our march last night we came across a dozen of them at a farm house, and arrested them for a party of Ashby's men. Their guns were taken from them, and they were consoled with the promise of being shot, when they were identified by some of our party and released by Col. T. They are a sharp, reckless set of fellows, dressed in all manner of ways, principally with hunting shirts and Secesh uniforms. They take a good many bushwhackers by "playing off" on them; and, getting to look at their guns, say, " now, you d____d rascals, travel." -- They look surprised at first, but soon find out that there is no fun about it, and march quietly off to headquarters.

MAY 31. -- Commenced our march this morning at 3 o'clock, wet and tired, it having rained on us all night and drizzling all day. Marched nine miles and encamped on the road toward Strasburg.

SUNDAY, June 1 -- The day for battles. -- At 10 o'clock to-day we came upon a small force of the enemy, composed of 4 to 6 regiments of infantry, and 3 pieces of cannon, posted on the road 4 miles out from Strasburg. Four companies of our Brigade (Companies A and B of the 60th and A and B of the 8th Va.,) were deployed as skirmishers, marching down a lane at right angles to their fire. Shot and shell flew around us and over us and through us -- that is through the lines -- about as fast and as thick as one could well imagine, and it is a great wonder indeed that some of us were not killed. As it was, one of Co. A was wounded slightly in the hand, and three or four of the other companies flesh wounds in the legs and arms; one in the temple. We fired from 10 to 15 rounds at the gunners and a line of skirmishers some 250 yards distant, at a fence, when we were ordered to retreat; there being no force whatever in reach to support us. We fell back in good order, returning by the same lane we advanced in, the artillery and battalion of infantry firing upon us as we left. In about half an hour two pieces of cannon were brought up and opened fire upon the rebel battery, Co. D deployed as skirmishers. They soon after retired, falling back to Strasburg, to which place after dark last night, through the most miserable and muddy roads that you ever saw, our Brigade marched, but for what purpose I have not yet been able to discover. Although tired and weary with six days and two nights marching, and the skirmishing and fighting of Sunday, we had to march four miles to this town through mud knee deep, and so slippery that men were falling down continually. We had some 200 cavalry and two pieces of artillery with us. At the entrance to the town we killed one of their pickets. Forming line of battle with the 8th Va. and four companies of the 60th -- the other 5 companies, A, H, I, C, and F, advanced with the cavalry and artillery on the town. Meeting with no resistance, we passed on through. The cavalry then taking the lead we followed for a mile and a half, when their pickets fired into us. The fire was returned by the advance of the cavalry, and then the whole column, except the foremost company, wheeled about and came galloping down the road towards us. The Shenandoah lay on our left and a steep mountain on our right, leaving barely room for a pike, so we had to get up the mountain sides to keep from being run over by our own cavalry. As soon as they had passed, we opened fire a the point where they were attacked, not knowing that one company was still there. In a few moments this company came galloping down the road and we prepared to give them around, when some one suggested that they might be our own men, and our fire was reserved. After they passed by we remained in our position about one and a half hours, when we commenced to return.

JUNE 2. -- Cavalry and artillery having both deserted us, we were left in a nice pickle. Eweli's Brigade, from Louisiana, were encamped on the hill above us, and a fort in town was full of the rebels. 400 of their cavalry followed us back to camp, and all that kept them from attacking us was their fears that the whole army was in their midst ready to pounce down upon them as soon as we found where they were. -- This much we have learned from escaped prisoners, and their own men taken prisoners. This very foolish move, as I can but term it, was attended by the loss of 5 or 6 of our men taken prisoners, among whom was one of the finest little fellows and best soldiers of our company -- Harry Mingus. We are in hopes that he will succeed in making his escape, as the prisoners Jackson has are escaping every day.

To-day we form the rear-guard -- would have been in the advance had not the Brigade Surgeon reported us unfit for duty, and thereby secured a day's rest for us. However, we started this afternoon in the midst of a violent thunder storm, and marched to Strasburg and put up in town.

JUNE 3. -- Our 60th Regiment left town last night in the midst of a hard rain -- the 8th Va. refusing to go until morning. At 9 A.M. they overtook us and we all stopped to rest. While stopping here an order from Gen. Fremont was received to dismiss the Band, and the boys have reluctantly taken the back track. Skirmishing was going on yesterday, and is to-day between our advance and Jackson's rear guard. I saw a rebel Lieutenant with his foot and a Union soldier with a leg amputated, lying side by side in a house by the road. One of the enemy's balls went through a dwelling house, taking off one woman's leg and severely wounding another.

PROMOTION. -- Ord. Serg't. Brown, of Co. A., is promoted to Sergeant Major; Serg't. Major Cummings to First Lieut., Co. E.; Sergeant Hatcher, Co. A, to Orderly same company; R. R. S. Quin to Sergeant same company; Orderly Trumper to Lieutenant in place of Lieut. Ankeny, Co. C, deceased at Franklin.

JUNE 4. -- Marched to-day in the rain. Many of the men are worn out with marching. We reached Mt. Jackson at noon. Find Fremont and army here; the bridge over the Shenandoah burned and Jackson visible on the opposite side encamped. River so high pontoon bridge can not be built.

JUNE 6. -- Our Brigade in advance to-day, moved forward until we reached Harrisonburg. On the way, mistaking some of our cavalry for the enemy's, 3 shots were thrown in their midst, fortunately without harm. Just beyond the town we came upon 4 Brigades of the enemy, with cavalry and artillery. Our Brigade was advanced up the hill. Part of the 8th Virginia, as skirmishers, fired at long range into the rebel cavalry that kept filing thro' a piece of open ground to deceive us as to their numbers. They returned the fire at one point and retired, the balls lighting at our feet. We drew off and encamped, two companies of the Buck-tails taking our place as pickets. In the course of half an hour they were attacked by two regiments of "Seceshers," and we went double-quick to their support. The 8th Virginia being out of ammunition could offer no aid, and the main army had encamped three-fourths of a mile back. It was not without some misgiving as to the result that we advanced unsupported by infantry, cavalry, or artillery. But as soon as the rebels found the Buck-tails were being reinforced, they retreated. We let fly at them, doing the best we could, which exposed our position, and shell and shot flew over our way in close proximity to our heads. We took shelter behind a stone wall, and lay there until ordered back by special command from Gen. Fremont, who, it appears, had previously expressed his desire that no engagement be brought on to-day. The enemy having left the main road and taken off to the left, it was desirable to find out something of his movements before pressing him any further.

In these skirmishes 6 or 8 were killed and some 30 or 40 wounded and taken prisoners. Up to this time we have taken, since Sunday, 500 prisoners, many of whom declare themselves very tired of war, and say they do not know what they are fighting for. A messenger arrived here this evening from Shields, and reports him 35 miles from here, on a mud road, endeavoring to head off Jackson from Stanton.

JUNE 7. -- Army not in motion this morning. Heavy cannonading can be heard in the direction of Shields. -- This afternoon Milroy's Brigade, ours and the 55th Ohio, with some cavalry and a Battery of small cannon, hauled by mules, start to make a reconnoisance in force. The enemy is reported 6 miles from here.

Banks is coming on behind us with 10 or 15,000 men.

More anon.                                                                                          A.

"Letter from the 60th Ohio -- Notes by the Way." The Highland Weekly News: Hillsborough, Highland, County, Ohio; June 26, 1862.


Microfilmed article contributed by Theodore E. Lewis.




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