Rowlsburgh Va July 3 1861

 

                                                                                                Deare Brother & Sister

I take this oportunity of wrigting you a few lines to let you know how I getting along I am well & hav been well Since I left home the boyse that came from about Lexington are also well. We have not had much Fighting to do yet although ther has been a grate deal of talk about it. Parte of our Company got into a fight the other day 12 miles south west of Rowlsburgh there was an election held there & they went to guarde it alsow parte of two other Companies Our men got ther first & after waiting Some time the advanced guard of the enemy came up Our men concealed themselves & the guard went past on horseback. but some of the Virginians showed themseves a little to soon the enemy saw them & started back Captain Miller ordered his men out of Ambush & began to fire on them the enemy fled like frightened sheep Dischargeing some of their pieces as they fled tere was 50 of the enemy on horseback when they heard the fireing of our men upon theire advanced guards turned & fled alo one man of our company was killed By the name of Osker Smith & an other by the / name of John Mathyas was wounded in the calf of the leg. there was two of the enemy killed that they knew of & it is reported since that there was more killed. Smyth was buried in the honors of war Our captain wanted to send him home 4 men started with him & went as far as grafton but the colonel would not give his consent to have him taken home. they then buried him in Grafton he was shot in the head & Died instantly an other of our men was shot through the cap the ball cut out a lock of his haire The next day their was an axident happened in the company one of our men by the name of Zarr was getting redy to go on guard he picked up his gun & pulled back the hammer to examine it the gun went of it was loded with a bulet & 3 bulle buck shot one of the shot took effect in the sholder of a man by the name of rick he suffers a greateal but it is thought he will get along with care There is but two companies now in Rowlsburg Our company & captain badens we have plenty of guarding to do I have to stand on guard as offten as evry other knight Our pay master was here the other day and gave us $11.00 a piece which was verry axceptable I do not / know as I can give you much more news about the war There is a battle expected at philippi or 12 miles from there there is several thousand Union men encamped theire & also a large body of cecessh it it is said that they are so neare each other that theire picket guardes are in sight of of other & there has been an attacked expected about 3 or 4 miles from Rowlsburgh iff that goes of befor our time is out & we are here it is likely that we will be there Our time is up I believe the 27^th of this month no more at present but remains your friend

wright soon & let me know how you are getting along

                                    S. Chace to H. Coldwell.

 

Direct to Grafton Va

                        Taylor Co.

 

            15^th Regt O.V.M. care of cap Miller

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