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LETTERS FROM OUR VOLUNTEERS.From the Same Regiment. HEADQUARTERS 7TH REGIMENT, PENN'A CAVALRY, } Camp Thomas, near Bardstown, Nelson Co., Ky. } February 5th, 1862. } EDITORS OF THE MINERS' JOURNAL: We are weekly in receipt of your valuable paper, which is as welcome to us as any dear friend would be from our native County. In the JOURNAL we find many communications from other regiments and companies. I will, therefore, give you some information concerning the whereabouts of our Regiment. On the 26th day of January, we left Camp Crittenden, near Jeffersonville, Indiana, about three miles from Louisville, Kentucky, where we had been stationed for one month and crossed the Ohio River to Louisville, from whence we started towards Green River. The first day's march we made but nine miles, and yet, with the Ohio River nineteen feet above low water mark; with eleven hundred men, twelve hundred horses, thirty-one Green Sire mules, and three ambulance teams in our train, to cross on one boat was nearly one day's work in itself. In the evening, we encamped in a beautiful little grove; erected huts; kindled camp fires, and satisfied our hungry selves. Our camp in this place was called Camp Sword. About 9 o'clock, it commenced to rain and snow, and continued all night and next day, so that it was almost impossible for us to travel. Consequently, we laid over until the morning of the 28th, when with the sun once more shedding its refulgent rays over us, we started on our route. We traveled 19 miles this day, our teams being all heavy laden. We halted at a place called "High Grove," and encamped for the night. Next morning we again struck tents, and continued our march. The morning being somewhat cloudy, before we marched half a mile it commenced raining. Well, we had a nice time this day on an eighteen mile march. Soldiers are not, generally, considered to be overly clean in regard to their persons, and the clerk of the weather seemed to have caught up this idea, as he gave us a shower bath that not only penetrated our blankets, guns and great coats, but also the pores of the skin. He need not have troubled himself in our behalf, as we travel where water is plenty, and where we make good use of it, not forgetting that cleanliness is a virtue, even if others do. One thing is certain, however; in our ablution in this case, the Government saved some soap by the operation. When night came, we turned up in one of the most beautiful camping grounds I ever saw, about two miles south of Bardstown, where we of course, pitched our tents. Bardstown is a sort of central depot for the troops, one pike leading off to Somerset, via Lebanon, on which we are quartered; the other to Bowling Green, via Munfordsville. In this last direction our neighbors, the 9th Penna. Cavalry, Col. Williams, has gone. I learn they are yet at Munfordsville, which is sixty miles from here. It appears that they cannot go any further at present, on account of bad roads. We were to await orders here, and are still awaiting them. Of course, we do not know how soon we may leave. If we are sent on down the Nashville pike, we can only go some 35 or 40 miles more, to the advance, where we will be obliged to lay by for better roads. Our final destination will be Tennessee, providing there are no such obstacles as entrenchments, masked batteries, artillery, and smaller arms, thrown in our way. This is one of the finest days we have had since we left Harrisburg--now about seven weeks--and under the skillful management of our gallant Colonel, George C. Wynkoop, aided by Major John E. Wynkoop, 1st battalion, Major James J. Seibert, 2d battalion, and Major James K. Given, 3d battalion, we are taking advantage of it, by drilling from early this morning until late this afternoon. Our boys are becoming very proficient in the exercise of the sabre, and carbine manual.--So says Capt. Gay, Cavalry Inspector, who, by the way, inspected the regiment this morning. As for their horsemanship, he says they have not their superiors in this south western army among the volunteers. You will, of course, expect to hear something in regard to secession in this vicinity. We are in the midst of an enemy's country, and the expression of their sentiments is only prevented by the vast number of Union forces stationed at various points in their immediate vicinity. Not more than three weeks ago, the Southern Rights friends, as they call themselves, held an election at a house within sight of where we are now encamped, for Senator to the Confederate Government, and where they can go and carry all their legislation with important information as to the different localities of our army, without molestation--which they undoubtedly do, by what is here called an Eastern Tennessee route, which communication our forces, owing to the bad condition of the roads, as yet, have not been able to cut off. General Buell, however, is watching them, and they hate us Lincoln hordes, as they call us, especially the cavalry portion of them, as much as old Nick himself. We have all sorts of amusements in camp. Now and then, a Secesh turkey or chicken makes his appearance, and hurrahs for the Southern Confederacy. Our darkey, Frank, being a very staunch Union man, will not put up with any such nonsense, and of course, the next we see or hear of them, they are jumping out of the camp kettle to the table. The health of the Regiment may be considered as very good. No fevers, but some few cases of dysentery, owing to the different changes of water. We have buried but two men since we left Harrisburg. Our Lieut.-Colonel, Wm. B. Sipes, whom you all know, has not, as yet, convalesced, and is still absent and in Philadelphia, confined to his bed, where he has been with typhoid fever for nearly three months. It is due to Major John E. Wynkoop, to say that he has been acting Lieut.-Colonel, in place of Lieut. Col. Sipes, and that the efficiency of our boys in the drill and exercises is owing to his unremitting perseverance, and patience with them. Major John E. is a very efficient officer, and is untiring in the performance of his duties. If he should have an opportunity offered him for a set-to with the Rebels, he will, without doubt, acquit himself and his command with credit to himself and his country. Our Regimental Adjutant, R. F. Moser, from our county, is a tip-top officer, and will make his mark. Our Regimental Quartermaster, Thomas H. Rickert--you all know him--with his Assistant, John B. Reed, of St. Clair, are kept very busy to keep up the supplies, both for horses and men, as so many consume a vast amount of feed and provisions.--We have some 1100 men, 1206 public, and a number of private animals, which consume daily over 14,000 lbs. of oats or corn, and 18,000 lbs. of hay. This of course, takes a little foraging. Our friends, the sutlers, H. F. Miller and J. L. Shoener, are doing a thriving business, and the only difficulty they experience is in not being able to keep up the supplies. In this country, you will bear to mind, that it is not like Pottsville, where you can at any time, at three or four hours notice, procure anything, in any quantity. It takes one week for a letter to reach us, and two or three weeks for merchandise from Philadelphia. Our battalion organizations are as follows, all of whom are very efficient officers: 1st Battalion.--Major, John E. Wynkoop Adjutant, Wm. J. Allen; Quartermaster, Wm. J. McQuade. 2d Battalion.--Major, James J. Seibert; Adjutant, N. E. Wynkoop; Quartermaster, John D. Burge. 3d Battalion.--Major, James E. Given; Adjutant, Dr. Warfield; Quartermaster, H. H. Fisk. Keep your eyes open. The Colonel, George C. has made up his mind to make his mark with the gallant 7th. WHITE ASH.
Source: White Ash, "Letters From Our Volunteers, From the Same Regiment," The Miners' Journal and Pottsville General Advertiser, Pottsville, Pa., Saturday, 15 February 1862, page 2, col. 6.
Who says nepotism wasn't alive and well during the Civil War?! Major John E. Wynkoop was Col. George Campbell Wynkoop's nephew, by his older half-brother, John Wanshaer Wynkoop. Adjutant N. E. Wynkoop of the 2d Battalion was his son, Nicholas Wynkoop, and the Adjutant of the 3d Battalion, Dr. Warfield, was his son-in-law. George believed in putting his trust in family, that's for sure. Chris
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