We have had our first skirmish.
The town of
West Liberty is ours.
Pluralize “Veni, vidi, vici,” and you have the history of the engagement.
The regiment received orders on Tuesday to prepare for a march.
Accordingly we cooked three days rations, and left Camp Garrett Davis about half-past 2 P. M. Between that time and half-past 9 A. M. we marched a distance of thirty-five miles, over as bad a road as can be well conceived of. It was a constant succession of hills; hollows, creeks, ledges of rocks, and mud holes.
We waded single creeks as much as a dozen times, but I shall attempt no estimate of the number of creeks we found, for fear of offending them by underrating their forces.
As a finale to our wading exploits, we forded the
Licking, some three feet in depth.
A chilly, drizzling rain, making the roads still more muddy and slippery, added to fatigue of the men. Taking into account the nature of the road and other adverse circumstances, the march may be considered a remarkably severe one.
We were accompanied by a company of cavalry and two six-pounders belonging to a battery which, as also the cavalry, had only reached Camp Garrett Davis a few hours before we left.
They came in with
Col. Norton's Twenty-first Ohio.
It was known that a rebel force was encamped in or near the town, but of their number or situation we had no definite information.
The original intention was, I think, to reach the town during the night and surround the enemy.
The almost impassable condition of the road, and some halts to enable the artillery to overtake us, detained us so much that day-light found us some five miles from our journey's end. Those for whose especial benefit we had made so long a journey, on hearing of our approach, were ungallant enough to leave the town, and station themselves on the neigh-boring hills.
As the sequel will show, we were unfortunate enough to be unable to get a good sight of them, but from the best information I have obtained, I would place their number at two hundred.
(If this is incorrect I will be happy to make amends by stating the precise number, as soon as any one feeling himself aggrieved will inform me of my mistake.) When some two miles from the town, the cavalry were sent forward.
They had scarcely reached their position when they were fired into by rebels secreted in a cornfield, at the roadside.
The lieutenant of cavalry — I have not heard his name — was wounded in the leg at this fire.
This was the only shot on their side that was effective, throughout the whole skirmish.
The effect of the first shots on the men was surprising.
Tired out, as they were, they, scarcely waiting for the commands of their officers, rapidly “doubled quicked” toward the scene of action, impatiently waiting for an opportunity to get a shot at the enemy.
After returning their fire, the cavalry again took their position at the rear of the column, which was marched into a meadow and formed into line; while, assisted by a shot or two from a six-pounder, the skirmishing companies rapidly chased the cornfield and then began to scour the hills.
Occasionally brisk firing for a minute or two would let us know that they had found some of the seceshers, but nothing like a general fire was given or received.
Two or three shots, fired by the artillery at a rebel flag floating over a house in the town, worse confounded the confusion already there, and those of the citizens, who had not already done so, betook themselves to flight; so that when we took formal possession by hoisting the Stars and Stripes, scarcely a soul was to be seen.
After the firing had ceased they began, with fear and trembling, to return.
The poor women and children were greatly alarmed, and seemed surprised when they found they were not to be molested.
It has been the aim of the traitors to convince the people that the
Northern army was a blood-thirsty rabble, killing all that came under their power, and destroying property wherever they went.
I am glad to see that the conduct of the men, although not as good as it might have been, some minor depredations having been committed, has bees
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such as to show them that such is not the case.
We are quartered in the
Court House, hotels, and one or two private houses.
It has been some time since the men have enjoyed the luxury of sleeping under a roof, and after their long march “tired nature's sweet restorer” did not need much wooing, even if the bed was nothing but a blanket spread on the floor,
The result of the skirmish may be stated as follows: Rebel loss--ten killed, five wounded, six prisoners. We captured six or eight horses, two donkeys, several beeves and hogs, four squirrel rifles, two shotguns, knives, blankets, coats, &c. Our loss--one lieutenant wounded.
Although not on such a magnificent scale as the “reviews” at
Washington, I think that in an humble way a considerable amount of good has been done.
We have taken possession of the town and entirely dispersed the force, now insignificant, but that would soon have grown to be formidable.
The prestige of secessionism in this part of the country has been lost.
Some six or eight Union men held as prisoners have been released, and all who have held patriotic opinions have had freedom of speech restored to them.
All our officers conducted themselves well.
Although not a tactician, I do not see how the affair could have been better managed than it was by
Colonel Harris, who manifested throughout the skirmish great coolness and personal bravery.
* * * * *
Our company is on picket guard to-day, and I have scribbled this during my leisure moments, while sitting on the ground, using a tin plate as a writing desk; and as I left my “writing fixings” and paper at our last camp, I took the liberty of “drawing” a few leaves from an old account book belonging to a departed secessionist; and, as you see by the appearance of the manuscript, the pencil I am using is not equal to
Faber's best quality.
Our adjutant says he will have this conveyed to you at the earliest possible moment, which may be soon and may be several days.
G. E. M.
