Henry Wilson Storey's History of Cambria County, V.II, p.156

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History of Cambria County, V.2

156 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

    This morning an old African of American descent came to the ranche to see Mr. Sogerman and lay in a doleful complaint about old Marse' kicking and beating her daughter (who had no shoes) because she would not go out and curry and feed the horses. It was the first case for the day. Horace Greeley could not have disposed of it better under the fugitive slave law. My advice to Aunty was that is she did not like working in the snow without shoes they had better fill their haversacks and present themselves to the picket at the river who would start them over Jordan and take care of Marse and I just learn they have taken my advice. Now I am not an agent for the Underground railway unless it is forced upon me like this was, in which case if they do not know enough, why they ought to be told the poor dumb irrepressible conflicts. What do you think?

* * * *
    I send you a picture of three members of our aggregation – two of them I hope some day to be able to present to you, they are gentlemen and soldiers. Capt. Greenfield commands the Battalion of Ringgold Cavalry in our Division and is the bravest man in West Virginia. Capt. Hibler belongs to the 54th Regt. He is full of wit and fun. We have made it up to take a tour next fall, subject, of course, to future events. * *

South Branch, West Va., Feb'y 13, 1864.
    * * * The war is still going on here, and we are still marching on to Richmond by Staunton, and we have been “a marchin',” like John Brown's soul, since the chapter commenced and we are still in a fair way to continue so. The last raid has overrun the country and taken almost every horse and wagon from the department. The company above me a few miles was surprised about a week ago, defeated and captured, and poor Hibler booked for Richmond. He was partly to blame but did the best he could. Greenfield with his cavalry has been doing all the fighting for the past ten days, and has been compelled to come back for want of support, there being no other cavalry, and I am looking for a general smashing up of things along this Railroad, and the sooner it comes the better. The Government has been duped and swindled by this benevolent institution too long. They have use for their soldiers at other points from where they have been withheld by false representation. If they had been or would ever be allowed to fight here, their services would have been felt, but there is but one fighting man in the Department and he is but a Captain (Jack Greenfield). * * *
    The weather here for the past month has been delightful; a succession of the most lovely days but more auspicious for raids than picnics. Had things been more settled I think I might have got a leave of absence for a few days to go home.
    The following letter was sent home with Col. Linton;

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156	HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
This morning an old African of American descent came to the ranche to see Mr. Sogerman and lay in a doleful complaint about old Marse' kicking and beating her daughter (who had no shoes) because she would not go out and curry and feed the horses. It was the first case for the day. Horace Greeley could not have disposed of it better under the fugitive slave law. My advice to Aunty was that is she did not like working in the snow without shoes they had better fill their haversacks and present themselves to the picket at the river who would start them over Jordan and take care of Marse and I just learn they have taken my advice. Now I am not an agent for the Underground railway unless it is forced upon me like this was, in which case if they do not know enough, why they ought to be told the poor dumb irrepressible conflicts. What do you think? * * * * I send you a picture of three members of our aggregation – two of them I hope some day to be able to present to you, they are gentlemen and soldiers. Capt. Greenfield commands the Battalion of Ringgold Cavalry in our Division and is the bravest man in West Virginia. Capt. Hibler belongs to the 54th Regt. He is full of wit and fun. We have made it up to take a tour next fall, subject, of course, to future events. * * South Branch, West Va., Feb'y 13, 1864. * * * The war is still going on here, and we are still marching on to Richmond by Staunton, and we have been “a marchin',” like John Brown's soul, since the chapter commenced and we are still in a fair way to continue so. The last raid has overrun the country and taken almost every horse and wagon from the department. The company above me a few miles was surprised about a week ago, defeated and captured, and poor Hibler booked for Richmond. He was partly to blame but did the best he could. Greenfield with his cavalry has been doing all the fighting for the past ten days, and has been compelled to come back for want of support, there being no other cavalry, and I am looking for a general smashing up of things along this Railroad, and the sooner it comes the better. The Government has been duped and swindled by this benevolent institution too long. They have use for their soldiers at other points from where they have been withheld by false representation. If they had been or would ever be allowed to fight here, their services would have been felt, but there is but one fighting man in the Department and he is but a Captain (Jack Greenfield). * * * The weather here for the past month has been delightful; a succession of the most lovely days but more auspicious for raids than picnics. Had things been more settled I think I might have got a leave of absence for a few days to go home. The following letter was sent home with Col. Linton;