1 Bucks County Intelligencer, FROM THE DOYLESTOWN GUARDS. July 23,
1861 Page 3 Col. 3 1
FROM THE DOYLESTOWN GUARDS.
[Correspondence of the Bucks
County Intelligencer.]
BUNKER
HILL, Va., July 16, 1861.
We are again on the march. On Sunday morning, last,
the force at Martinsburg received marching orders. At
2 o’clock on Monday morning, the 30,000 troops encamped
in and near Martinsburg were busy in making prepara-
tions for the onward move.
On leaving Martinsburg, none of us know where we were
going to, but all were ready and willing to follow the
leaders, let them go where they would. We are now en-
camped on Bunker Hill, a half-way place to Winchester,
which place I hope to write you from next.
We left Martinsburg, in two columns; one, 8,000 strong,
under the command of that excellent officer, Col. Stone,
and the other, 22,000 strong, under Gen. Patterson. We
took different roads, reaching this place about the same
time. The march was certainly well conducted, taking
the rebels very much by surprise. It was my lot to be one
of the rear guard, we take care of the wagons, &c. Four
were detailed from each company for this duty. When
about four miles from Martinsburg, in company with a
friend, I stepped into a private house, in hopes of pro-
curing something to make a dinner from. We found the
supply was quite limited, and prices were running
extravagantly high. Short-cake the size of a common pie
dish, thinly dotted over with blackberries, they had the
boldness to ask 18 ½ cents for; and buttermilk, well
watered, sold for 25 cents a quart. We learned from this
family that five rebels had made their escape from the
house not fifteen minutes before our advanced guard
reached it. They told us that the men had been staying
with them for two weeks, had good horses and were well
armed. They had been acting as picket guards. They
said they had been shot at five times by our pickets at
Martinsburg. In the morning, they saw considerable
smoke in the direction of our camp, and one was placed on
the house top to see what it meant. When he discovered
our troops approaching, they were not long in getting
under way for Winchester.
The rebels, ten days ago, had a large encampment a
short distance from this place. They had no tents (in fact
they never had any), but they made their temporary
houses from wheat sheaves, stolen from the neighboring
fields. These Southern rascals live almost wholly by
plunder. If our army would leave them alone, they
would soon destroy themselves. Farming is neglected,
and it will not take long for them to steal and eat up what
they have. Salt provisions are already all consumed.
We had much difficulty with our teams. Uncle Sam
has been horribly cheated in buying his horses, as he must
have in his possession every balky horse in the county.
On nearly every hill we stuck fast, but after some whip-
ping and a good deal of noise, would start again. Gen.
Patterson had the pike, leaving us the common road—and
it is, indeed, a very common road (at least, common to
this section of Virginia), exceedingly hilly, and in many
places rough and narrow.
The train of wagons in our line was fully a mile long,
the other train must have been more than double this
length. Two of our wagons were turned upside down,
spilling the contents (mostly crackers) in the ditch below.
We reached this place about 4 o’clock in the afternoon.
A company of about 500 rebel cavalry were encamped here
when our advanced guard came up. They rushed into
them without much ceremony, killing one man and wound-
ing two others, securing three horses. Capt. Perkins sent
two cannon shots after them, as they retreated in hot
haste.
More than one thousand men were sent out from our
camp last night as picket guards. But nothing of im-
portance was seen or heard. The enemy still hold Win-
chester. They no doubt have a large force there. Our
army will remain here, as I understand, until General
McClellan comes up, and then we will move on together
and take possession of the town. We are well supplied
with good batteries. Capt. Doubleday is with us, with
two large rifled cannon, and a number of heavy ones not
rifled.
We see no negroes on our march; they have all been hid,
or moved further down South, and it is very seldom we
get sight of a white man. Women and children are seen,
but not men. We expect to find them at Winchester,
perhaps before to-morrow evening. We all enjoy good
health. SIGMA.
P. S.–Capt. Davis has just returned from headquarters.
He says Gen. Patterson last night obtained drawings of
the fortifications in and around Winchester. Captain
Doubleday thinks it will be sport to stand out of the
reach of their guns and batter their works to pieces. The
work will be done to-morrow. I regret that our people
have not possession of Harper’s Ferry, as there is danger,
it seems to me, of the rebels slipping off by railroad in
that direction, and coming up upon our rear.
MARTINSBURG,
Virginia, Sunday, July 14th, 1861.
Messrs. Prizer & Darlington,—Respected Friends :—Yes, at
Martinsburg, settled down in the same melancholy state we were
in at Washington Arsenal; nothing new on the carpet for
some time but the arrival of soldiers, plenty of which you can
see on every side. What we are staying here for is a subject of
much discussion. Some reports say that Gen. Patterson has dis-
covered that the enemy are too strong for him and is waiting
for McClellan to reinforce him; or to act in conjunction with
him. Other reports represent that the enemy obtained such ad-
vantage of him at the battle of Falling Waters, in running, that
he is unable to overtake them this side of Richmond, and does
not wish to fatigue his column in pursuing them. There is no
doubt but they did up the fastest double-quick (from Falling
Waters to Martinsburg) on record. One of them, now in this
place, is willing to certify he did his best and could not keep
within hailing distance of them. One of the Berkeley County
Guards came home yesterday. He stepped up to one of our offi-
cers and said; “I am your prisoner.” The officer was much
surprised, and thought the Guard had made a slight mistake,
and had intended to make him a prisoner. He represents the
rebels as all leaving Bunker Hill, and not a heavy force at Win-
chester—not more than 12,000. He took the oath of allegiance
and was happy of the change. They have plenty of bread, (a
piece of which I sent home), but other provisions are scarce.—
They were tremendously scared on supposing that we were after
them. Reports are in camp that we shall move soon ; but you
can place no dependence in any story you hear, without it comes
from head-quarters; then I believe it. We do not often find out
their import. I have an idea there is nothing to prevent uncle
Abe and Gen. Scott from getting rich; they attend to their own
business so well. Our quarters here, are pretty comfortable
when the weather is clear, but when rainy, as it has been every
afternoon since our arrival here with one exception, it is very
unpleasant. Night before last we spent a miserable night; it
rained throughout the night, only ceasing at short intervals to
get a better start for the next shower. I believe the South can
take us down in the way of thunder storms. We had very sharp-
lightning. Some thought the rebels had opened their batteries
upon us, and there was a great similarity in the reports. Our
camp prevents a very different appearance from any one we have
yet occupied. Our wagons and what few tents we have, (most
of ours we left at Harper’s Ferry,) are situated in a ravine run-
ning north and south. The hills are very steep on each side.—
The sides on which we have erected our bough houses, have to
be terraced, or the probability would be in the morning you
would not find yourself where you went to sleep. The peculiar-
ity of our roofs consists in raining inside aft it is done rain-
ing outside.
I understand if any damage is done to private property by it
being occupied by our troops; it is assessed, and an order given
on Uncle Sam for the amount. I would like to act as commis-
sioner in the case of this camp. I would value the land at fifty
cents per acre, then offset the amount by presenting a bill for
improvements that we have put on, valued at $1.25 per acre, and
take the land as part pay ; then forgive the balance of the debt,
for no doubt it would be repudiated if we should attempt to col-
lect it. The only great enterprise through this section of coun-
try is the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and they have destroyed
all of that they could without too much bodily exertion. To all
property that ? would destroy they applied the torch. The
stone bridges, however, rather staggered them, powder was
scarce, and a great probability of wanting it for other purposes,
and the solidity of the work only saved them from destruction.
We at the North regret, to see a single engine destroyed, when
the cause is purely accidental, but to see fifty-two of them just
at one point in ruins is more than civilized human nature can
stand and keep its temper.
We were under marching orders last night, but they were
countermanded some time during the night. The news from
McClellan caused much rejoicing here. Our postal arrangements
do not give satisfaction although a post-office has been estab-
lished here ; also a mail route to Williamsport. But it needs
time to get them performed. The Guards are in good health gen-
erally. Your paper followed us here, and was very welcome
among us. Yours, respectfully, J. M. C.
BUNKER
HILL, Va., July 16th, 1861.
Well, here we are, within four miles of the enemy, they tell us.
We will stay here until to-morrow, when we move towards Win-
chester. We are 12 miles from Martinsburg, and ten from Win-
chester. We left Martinsburg yesterday about seven o'clock, in
two columns. Our column was under Col. Stone, the other was
under Petterson personally—his columns comprising 22,000 men,
ours about 8,000. This is merely conjecture. Some say there
are 40,000 men in the two divisions. When our advance arrived
yesterday, there were 800 rebel cavalry laying on the farm which
we occupy. Perkins’ battery fired three shots at them, when they
fled in great haste, and our cavalry pursued them, capturing
three horses and two men, and killing one. Patterson’s column
moved along a road running nearly parallel with it. We could
see the bayonets gleaming in the sun at different points along
the route from one to three miles from us. In connection with
Perkins’ battery, we have two of the rifled field pieces from or
belonging to the N. Y. Ninth Regiment. Patterson’s column
has Doubleday’s large guns with them. We are now waiting for
McClellan to advance from the west.
I was one of the rear guard yesterday. While on the march,
an officer came back and reported an engagement ahead, and went
back to hasten the march of the 12th and 10th New York Regi-
ments, who were following in our rear. They hurried past,
causing a great excitement along the line, and when they
reached the front all was quiet, much to their disappointment.
The country from Martinsburg to this place is very remarkable
—for what, I am unable to say. Directly around Bunker’s Hill,
the land is pretty fertile, and would excel the greater part of
old Bucks, with proper care. The buildings are poor—the people,
too. To most questions you ask them, they answer, “I don’t
know.” I had a mind to ask them if they were hungry, and see
if they knew whether they were or not. They have a disposit-
tion to rob the troops, charging twenty-five cents per quart for
buttermilk. When the country here was under the control of
the secessionists, they took all they wanted, without paying one
cent for it. The country is relieved of all meat the inhabitants
tell us. George Hart purchased two sheep last night, for which
he paid seven dollars a pretty large price. And such makes ?
we have been buying for one cent each, they now ask two cents
for, and appear very indignant and even impudent, it you remon-
strate with them about the amount.
There is no doubt but that they have all been extreme dis-
unionists ; but now they are all professed Union men, and why
they should be disunionists, I cannot see. Yesterday, in travel-
ing twelve miles, I did not see one single negro on the road. In
Maryland you could find hundreds in the same length of travel.
Whether they have sent them South, or whether they have had
nope, I could not ascertain. We halted at one place where five
rebel pickets had been quartered for six or seven weeks, and they
had not paid them one red cent. The rebels had taken the father
of the family prisoner. This is their story ; but I judge him to
be a secessionist; and probably bearing arms against us at this
time. They are not to be trusted, I fear.
I was up at Gen. Patterson’s head quarters, this morning, while
five of our men were brought in, with chickens, rakes, forks, and
other plunder they had stolen from some farmer near the lines.
He reprimanded them severely. He said he had advised them
until he had become tired. Now, the next that were caught, he
would shave their heads, and have them drummed out of camp.
Since I came back, I hear they caught four stealing sheep, and
are about to put his sentence in execution to-day. They will
make a sorry appearance. I cannot blame our men for stealing
from the rebels; they are such a mean set. J. M. C.