The enemy in the Virginia Mountains.
--The campaign in the
Virginia mountains has been one of great discomfort and suffering to both armies.
A correspondent of the Cincinnati
Times gives a terrible picture of the suffering in the
Northern camp, particularly on the night of the 26th of September, when a terrible rain storm burst upon the army.
Two regiments were exposed to it without any shelter. "The stoutest men fell completely exhausted by the rains and blasting winds.
Hundreds were struck down by the chills.
The fort and all the reliable places of shelter were filled with the sick.
The horses suffered fully as badly as the men.
"The weather grew colder during the night.
"A number of stragglers were found unable to walk, and were brought into camp.
"I wished that the whole country could look down upon that scene last night, and feel the piercing winds as they shivered the half-clothed almost dying troops.
Scores perish here, not by the bullets of the enemy, but by the mismanagement of the War Department, and — excuse the truth — the negligence of those at home.
"Only one death is known.
"Some ten or fifteen horses were found dead this morning and others in a dying condition.
"The road down the mountain is badly cut by the torrents, and the telegraph is prostrated.
"The sick — and there are many of them — are immediately attended to.
‘"Day before yesterday, the 12th Indiana and 6th Ohio marched towards
Lee's camp for the purpose of making a reconnaissance, but after they had left, the storm I have described set in, and as the 6th Ohio was without overcoats, and many with ragged breeches, I fear they have suffered severely."’
