Rec 24th

 

Camp Chase

Paw Paw Station

on B. & O. R.R.

Febry 19^th 1862

 

My Dear Friend

                        Your letter came to hand in due time and would have received an answer before this if I had not been so much engaged in my other duties as to prevent it. I was very glad to learn that yourself and family were well and that your family has increased I hope it may continue to do so and that every member of it will reach a ripe old age before it begins to diminish

 

I have been around some since you heard from me. before we left Romney we went out to "blues gap" a distance of about 16 miles and cleaned out a lot of secesh. I suppose you read the details of the affair in the papers. Lander came to Romney a few days before we / left and took command I understand that he wanted to hold R and let Jackson come if he wished to. he was so much in favor of this idea that he remonstrated with the commander in chief when he first got orders to retreat. he again got an order to fall back on the R.R. and at the same time received a reprimand for meddling with the affairs of his superiors. if Lander could have had his own way at that time Jackson would not be in Winchester now. as soon as Jackson got into Romney and was prepared to defend it, then Lander was ordered to go and drive him out Jackson would have had the advantage if he had staid, but he got scared and ran when we were within a few hours march of him. Some of our troops are again in R. we are now about 30 miles farther / east on the R.R. than we  were before during the last month we have not been in camp more than three or four days at a time. marching in such bad weather as we have had was not very agreeable, but is better than staying in one place all the time. there is a very large force here now waiting I think for the road to be repaired and the weather to settle. I hear that the bridges are nearly finished. A road is being made to the Potomac which is but a short distance from the camp. I think it is the intention of Lander to throw a pontoon bridge across the river so as to enable him to get forage from Maryland or to move his army over if necessary. a few days ago our Reg^t in company with the 8^th Ohio and 4 comp'y^s of cavalry went out to a place called Bloomer or / Bloomers Gap 15 miles from here towards Winchester at which place there was a lot of secesh. Lander was in command and we had the right of the line. We started at 2 in the afternoon and reached the enemys camp at daybreak next morning. the secesh had notice of our coming and were retreating toward Winchester. Lander ordered the cavalry to follow them and away they went like a lot of Devils with him at their head. on coming up with the confeds he ordered a charge and the four companys sailed in killing 13 and capturing 40 among the prisoners are 15 commissioned officers including the Co^l who was in command. two of our cavalry were killed and a few slightly wounded. Lander was in the thickest of the fight and it is said captured 5 of the prisoners himself. the Infantry were not engaged. Lander received a dispatch day before yesterday stating that Fort Donnelson and Savannah are ours. the news was read to the troops and caused the wildest excitement. joyful shouts rent the air and rang far and wide among these lonely old hills. the news of the recent Union victorys has cheered the men up. they now feel confident that something is going to be done and look for a speedy termination of the war. I hope the next news we get will be of the fall of Bowling Green or Columbus or both 

 

I tried to wind up on that other sheet but could not make it.

 

            I have received a number of papers since I wrote to you for which please accept my sincere thanks

 

            The papers tell me of the cold weather you folks have had up there and of the sleighing and skating carnivals. I suppose the question which was all the go among swells a year or two ago of how does your Meerschaum color? has changed in these days to do you skate?

 

            We have plenty of snow and cold weather out here but find very little pleasure in them. Just now the weather is very wet and the mud is about 8 inches deep in camp and getting deeper very fast 

 

I have just read an account of the taking of Fort Donnelson. Floyd I see true to his nature stole off again, the dirty thieving coward but it is a glorious victory New York will be wild when it hears the news I know I see that Buell is in the field and Mitchell has got into Bowling Green. Look out for squalls down that way

 

            You must excuse blots as the tent leaks a little and the rain is coming down in torrents

 

Give my respects to Mrs Preston. hoping that you are all very well

                                   

I am your Sincere

                                   

Friend and obt serv^t

James Clarke

 

Mr. E. Preston Esq

                                   

My address is

J.C.Co.D.5^th O.V.I.

Gen^l Landers

Command.

Virginia

 

via Cumberland                                  

            Maryland

SOURCES