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Secessionism, a just vengeance for its crimes, and from the top of the court-house, the Stars and Stripes--the “flag of beauty and of glory” --were floating gaily in the air, telling the criminal traitors who infested the place that the power of the
American Republic was yet in existence.
We left
Huntersville about five o'clock in the evening, and marched back ten and a half miles that night, making nearly thirty miles we had marched that day, besides the exhaustion consequent upon the excitement and labor of our skirmishing and charging about
Huntersville; and to make it harder, a cold, chilling rain and sleet began to fall about dark, and, when we halted for the night, the boys' guns were covered with a thick coating of ice. So you can imagine that we needed rest, and we got it in barns that night.
The next day we marched to
Big Springs, where we met another force of our men and Second
Virginians, under
Lieutenant-Colonel Richardson, of the Twenty-fifth Ohio, who had come out to hold that point and protect our return.
Sunday night we got to
Elkwater, and Monday at noon we reached here, when the boys gave three hearty cheers for
Major Webster, who, in a brief speech, thanked the officers and men of the Twenty-fifth Ohio and Second Virginia for their gallant conduct, and then we set about getting rested.
The expedition was successful in every particular, and to show that we did “secesh” considable injury, let me state that, according to inventories of the stores on hand at
Huntersville, made out a few days before, which
Major Webster has in his possession, we destroyed three hundred and fifty barrels of flour, thirty thousand pounds of salt, (a precious article with the rebels,) about one hundred and fifty thousand pounds salted beef, they having just finished killing and salting three hundred cattle, two thousands pounds coffee, large quantities of sugar, rice, bacon, soap, candles, forage, etc., the value of which may be fairly stated at from twenty-five to thirty thousand dollars. Besides this, we secured a large number of
Sharp's carbines and sabres, two or three rebel flags, and a vast number of other articles.
I regretted that we could not get our wagons clear through, so that we could have brought away at least a portion of the provisions.
The officers and men of the entire force reflected great credit on themselves, by their bearing throughout.
The march was excessively severe.
We were gone just six days, and marched one hundred and four miles--“
Virginia miles” --which every soldier will testify are twice as long as any civilized mile, and this, too, in the depth of winter, over miserable roads.
Major Webster endeared himself to all by his manly, soldierly bearing, and reflected great credit on himself, by the success which crowned his plans.
No better officer can be found in the service.
He is a true gentleman, possessing those qualities which fit him for command, and also those which draw the affections of his men to him, and make them feel that he is their friend, and for such a man they will fight to the death.