On picket near Danville

Aug 7^th 1863.

 

Dear Ina,

                        Yours of July 26^th came to hand. I came in camp yesterday from a tour throughout the state. I wrote you while at Lexington, but for the particulars, on July 26^th we were orderd to saddle immediately. it was nearly night we marched all night arrived at Richmond. on monday in the forenoon we stoped in a field that was timberd. a considerable excitement prevaled during the night and early on tuesday the alarm was given that the rebel Pegram and force was raiding Kentucky Our picket were fighting. we were soon on the ground. skermishers were thrown out our force / was 450 under Col Sanders, and without a battery. the Rebs were supposed to be 2000 or 2500 under General Scott, the noted Cavalry General we held the rebs one hour until they had thrown a large no of shells close to us then we plainly saw it was shear nonsence to lay there and all be shelled our guns would not reach him. Co A. was sent to the west of the town to cut off a flank movement being made soon after we were at our post our forces commenced a retreat and by this time the rebs had mad a flank move on the east side of town and had arrived cloce to the Lexington pike while our men rushed throu town the rebs had a fair fire at them

 

                        [diagram showing flank, Lexington pike, by road that Co. A

                        escaped in, Richmond, Lancaster Pike, flank move, and listing:

                        A rebel battery

                        B rebel forces

                        C rebel skermishers

                        D union skermishers

                        E part of the skermishers

                        F Co A position]         /

 

Co A. did not know that our forces were retreating until we herd fireing and shouts of the rebs on the Lexington pike. Co A. was the last to leave Richmond, 10 minutes more time spent in our position I think would have been sertain capture a few were killed and wounded and a few prisonors taken the citizens sed that they beauried 18 and but 4 had Union clothes on. I think but 2 were killed from the 112^th but down the by road we went and through the country we traveled until we came to Hickman bridge on the Ky river. we arrived there at about 4 Oclock and the part of the 112^th that were left in camp passed by at dark and we tired as we were and had but one meal that day and was hurried to eat that so that the regiment would not get in the advance to far. we arrived at Lexington / at about 2 Oclock at night we spread our blankets and laid down slept until morning stoped until about 2 Oclock then an order was given to march we soon found that something was to be done. we arrived at Winchester at dark as our advance guard entered Winchester the rebs left. Our forces captured 10 in the streets. fireing was herd a short distance from town as we passed we saw but one horse that was shot. This is tuesday evening we marched all night early wednesday fighting was herd ahead and by the time we came up the rebs left a few prisonors were taken. Skermishing was very frequent evry night and day. we were in our saddles 3 days and 3 whole nights and until 2 Oclock the fourth night without stoping to sleep usualy stoped once a day to pee eat a little and mount. I slept a nomber of hours while riding. I can sleep while riding to a charm. At Erwin quite a fight occurred also at Stanford and Lancaster at the latter place I witnessed a Cavalry charge a nomber of heavy skermishes occurred between those places. at one place an advance guard during the night charged on a battery that was moving and took 2 cannon. In fact it was one battle field from Winchester to Erwin on the Ky River. Stanford, Lancaster, Somerset and Smithe ford on the Cumberland. It sums up as follows as near as we can / assertain. We kept the Rebs on the retreat all the time. the rebs lost 1 Lieut Col. about 500 prisonors 40 killed and 100 wounded we lost a few in killed and wounded they lost 2 cannon a small train and many horses and muels. it was a frequent thing to find horses laying in our way. We lost some trains that happened to be in the rebs cource were destroyed. The cannons were used nearly evry day the 112 deploied as Skermishers at one time to charge on a battery we marched about ½ mile as soon as the rebs saw our move they broke and run. The prisonors sed that they were sent to reinforce Morgan and did not hear of his capture until they arrived at Winchester. also that they did not make much / this time. The rebs attacted us on Tuesday morning. we left them on the banks of the Cumberland Saturday evening and started like a pack of as tired hungry, and sleepy men as you ever saw for Danville. Some of our horses gave out It seemed to be most a mericle how the union forces escaped as well as they did. Shels that would fall in a few feet of us and explode seemed to be harmless. I am very well and thankful. How much does Charles think the peace is worth if you should take $300.00 it will bring the place at less that $15. pr acre. it is a mistery to me why the place has decreased value so much at this time a few years ago Charles thought that the place was worth $25. pr acre now after the place has been ditched sistern dug, hedge large enough to turn out also a young orchard growing are we able should

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