Henry Wilson Storey's History of Cambria County, V.II, p.157

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History of Cambria County, V.2

HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. 157


Near Strasburg, Va., May 19, 1864.
    * * * Through the kindness of some good soul who ran the gauntlet from Martinsburg, I received your letter yesterday and perused it last night by the glare of a rail fire. This morning I understand the Lieut. Col. (Linton) is going home. I take the opportunity of answering, provided I can sent it to camp before he leaves, as I am some miles out on picket line. * * * My time is much occupied just now by active duty, but I have somehow plenty of time to devote to thinking of my friends. * * * There is at present no news of importance other than what you have probably heard. Last Sunday we had a very bloody engagement with the enemy at Newmarket. We had but a small infantry force engaged and through some mismanagement our regiment had to contend alone against the onslaught of nearly a whole division. Our loss in the command will be about a thousand, and five pieces of cannon: the loss of the enemy is about the same and very probably heavier. Our regiment and a Massachusetts regiment, being nearly surrounded, having to fight their way out is where we lost most heavily. I think we will try it over in a day or two when sufficient reinforcements arrive.
    We have no mail communication with the rear and have to depend upon sutlers, couriers, etc. * * *
    After a retrograde march of 215 miles without intermission, we arrived within the cool shades of this valley about a week ago, and lay down to pant and rest in a condition not much calculated to injure an enemy. There is a military maxim and a true one that says a garrison can't starve until they have eaten their boots. We must have been pretty far on the way, for I do not know of a whole boot or shoe in the command.
    After crossing the Greenbrier, the last point the enemy followed us to, after which “Gen'l Starvation” took up the pursuit and pressed hard on flank and rear. So long as powder was to be burnt hunger was not much minded: after that ceased the desire to get something to eat almost took precedence of discipline. The nearest point where provisions were to be had are almost one hundred miles; there was no regular time or order for marching after that. The head of the column pressed on hard day and night, all that were able to march, while the rear looked like the tail of the comet, and still keep coming in every day.
    There are many who died on the roadside from actual starvation and exhaustion, and some roaming the woods raving mad, eating roots and bark of trees. As for the military appearance of the command when it reached here, Falstaff's shirtless brigade will scarcely bear a comparison. The line of retreat from Lynchburg to this point is well marked and can never be mistaken during this or the next campaign.
    The destruction of property and injury done the Rebel Gov-

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	HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.	157
Near Strasburg, Va., May 19, 1864. * * * Through the kindness of some good soul who ran the gauntlet from Martinsburg, I received your letter yesterday and perused it last night by the glare of a rail fire. This morning I understand the Lieut. Col. (Linton) is going home. I take the opportunity of answering, provided I can sent it to camp before he leaves, as I am some miles out on picket line. * * * My time is much occupied just now by active duty, but I have somehow plenty of time to devote to thinking of my friends. * * * There is at present no news of importance other than what you have probably heard. Last Sunday we had a very bloody engagement with the enemy at Newmarket. We had but a small infantry force engaged and through some mismanagement our regiment had to contend alone against the onslaught of nearly a whole division. Our loss in the command will be about a thousand, and five pieces of cannon: the loss of the enemy is about the same and very probably heavier. Our regiment and a Massachusetts regiment, being nearly surrounded, having to fight their way out is where we lost most heavily. I think we will try it over in a day or two when sufficient reinforcements arrive. We have no mail communication with the rear and have to depend upon sutlers, couriers, etc. * * * After a retrograde march of 215 miles without intermission, we arrived within the cool shades of this valley about a week ago, and lay down to pant and rest in a condition not much calculated to injure an enemy. There is a military maxim and a true one that says a garrison can't starve until they have eaten their boots. We must have been pretty far on the way, for I do not know of a whole boot or shoe in the command. After crossing the Greenbrier, the last point the enemy followed us to, after which “Gen'l Starvation” took up the pursuit and pressed hard on flank and rear. So long as powder was to be burnt hunger was not much minded: after that ceased the desire to get something to eat almost took precedence of discipline. The nearest point where provisions were to be had are almost one hundred miles; there was no regular time or order for marching after that. The head of the column pressed on hard day and night, all that were able to march, while the rear looked like the tail of the comet, and still keep coming in every day. There are many who died on the roadside from actual starvation and exhaustion, and some roaming the woods raving mad, eating roots and bark of trees. As for the military appearance of the command when it reached here, Falstaff's shirtless brigade will scarcely bear a comparison. The line of retreat from Lynchburg to this point is well marked and can never be mistaken during this or the next campaign. The destruction of property and injury done the Rebel Gov-