Ross Family Letters, RG
149
Sang[sters] + Roads Va.
Oct 10, 1861
Dear Bro
As I have not written to you for a week or
two past I now seat my self to write you a few lines I am well at present and have enjoyed fine health since my
recovery of the measels. I have nothing
of much importance to write to you but I will drop you a few scribbles any way
just to let you know how we are thriving on Old Virginia's war like stage.
Times here are tolerably quiet [but] it is
quietness [for] One day then all noise and bluster the next. Sometimes We are
perfectly calm & still then in our camp only hearing the word war
mentioned. Then all in a moment The scene is changed by some trooper coming up
at full Speed, with a dispatch to our Col. to send a company or perhaps the
whole Regiment out, some eight ten or twelve miles distant as the case may be
to meet or watch The movements of the enemy.
On the 29th of September our Regiment received orders to move out near
Springfield, there to stand picket as twas said and has since been found to be
true that the enemy were in possession of that place. When our Regiment was
first ordered out Capt. Kennedy left in camps about 25 or 30 sick men, whose
names were carried on the sick report up to the Surgeons tent every morning,
G.W.R. unfortunately being one of The Squad., and on the night of the 30th
orders were sent to camps by Capt. Kennedy that Springfield Would be attacked
on the next morning and he would be glad for every man who was able to march to
join his company by sun up next day. So
by day-break fifteen (15) of us had our guns in good order and marched right
ahead to join our company. We arrived
at our mens camp in due Time and remained There long enough to be well rested
before the command was given for us to march on as we thought to the scene of
action. We moved on in the direction of
Springfield, traveling mostly on the rail-road for about five miles (Miles
Slaughter was in our company) We were then halted and Gen. Ewell directed our
Regiment (the 6th Ala) to move up on the right of the 24th Va. Regiment which
was with us to advance on the left of the Rail Road we proceeded in This way
until we arrived in about one 1/4 of a mile of our destination Then all of our
Companies except two or four I do not know which were thrown out as Scouting
parties. The Loa Rifles & Independent Rifles of Montgomery were not thrown
out as Skirmishes but were Thrown into line of battle on the Left of the Rail
Road and whether two other companies were ordered to do likewise on the
opposite Side of the R.R. I do not know, This accounts for me not knowing
whether two others comp, besides ours were left or not.
In about 10 or fifteen minutes after these
scouting parties left us we heard their guns bang bang for a minute or longer,
we Thought we were into it then sure. We
were then marched double quick Through some of the Thickest woods I ever saw
right up to Springfield. When we got
there behold no Yankees were to be seen, our men had Fired only on the enemys
pickets, wounding one, getting his gun & Spy-glass. The proceeds of our
days work was the capturing a gun Spy-glass & Telegraph., it was taken down
and wound up as far as fair-fax Station.
If you
should chance to see Miles Slaughter he can give you a verbal statement as he
was an anxious participant in The whole affair. I do not think, there will be a
battle here of much counsequence Soon.
I think both parties are working for the same Thing, my opinion is the
enemy has been trying to draw us out as far as Alexandria or Fort Ellworth
where they have two Brigades Stationed without the Fort Which we think are out
for us to attack, then they will fight us like wild fire for a little while,
then feign a stampede and get us to pursue them if possible near enough to the
Fort for them to bombshell us, While Beauregard & Johnson are trying to get
them to follow Us as far as Fair-Fax Station, not farther than Bull Runn no
how. If we can ever get them to Bull
Run we are quite confident, that we can drive them back to Washington at the rates
of 140 degrees over double quick, but I have no Idea we can ever induce them to
advance on the Southern army that far again.
I am well satisfied that as long as both
parties work like they are at present there will be no battle of much
note. For instance we place pickets at
Springfield The yankees will run them
in--they place pickets at the same place and we run them in; so here it goes,
It reminds me more of playing baste than any thing else. For both Parties take care to stop at their
respective posts.
I saw on the 4th of October a balloon in
the direction of Alexandria I suppose it asseended from that place. I guess it was professor Low, I believe that
is his name, trying to make observations for Old uncle Abe. It went up about five in the evning and came
down about Sun down, it did not appear larger from here than the size of a
water Bucket. While it was passing
through a cloud it had very much the appearance of a bright Star. The Health of our Regiment is only tolerably
good, I Suppose in all we have some 350 or 400 Sick men. William Rowe & T. Rowe are both sick
they have The billious fever, both of them are improving. We have had a great many cases of billious
in our company since I arrived here, but they are all well now but about five
or Six. I saw Poss Prather on the 3rd
inst at Manasas Junction, he had just arrived there going on to the 19th
Mississippi Regiment. If you recollect
he went to Miss some time ago to join a company. He is not well, he Said that he had been a little sick for some
time. Bro Green write as often as you
can conveniently & tell Rolly that I would be glad to hear from him. I neglected to mention at the beginning of
my letter that I had received yours of the 17th of Sept., it came to hand about
of week ago, the contents of your letter gave me much pleasure, and I was glad
to learn that it left you all well.
Give my best respects to all our relatives & accept for yourself
& family the best wishes
your most obedient
Bro
G.W. Ross.