6th Ohio Cav soldier letter

Sulphure Springs Va

Oct 22nd [1863]

Diana

Once again we of the O.V.C. have the Priveledge of writing to our friends and loved ones at home.  It has been now 14 dayes since we have had one dayes Rest and during that time we onley had 2 Nights sleep.  the most of the time in our saddles nodding and chewing “hard tack” as we march.  Meads Retreat was a splendid thing  every thing was conducted in good order and the Johneys wer beaten every where they attacked us  Some no doubt will censure Mead for falling back but they know nothing of war  his lines wer so situated that the Rebes could move around his Right flank and cumpell him to fall back or be cut off from his supplies  No General can prevent a flank movement by Lee in this country with as small an army as Mead has got now or ever had.   But the Rebes have nothing to Brag of this time  he thought to get our wagon train, But they did not have “Pope” to deal with this time and so got Badley whiped at Bristol and at Kettle Run  Our Regt. had its hotest time at Kettle Run.  we came in and encamped at Kettle Run in the night about 12 oclock with orders to be Ready to move in the morning at 6 oclock.  the Col had just Routed us up and told us to saddle up which we had just finished when Pop, Pop, Whiz, Whiz came the Reb bullets Right into our camp  “We lit out” and met them  gave them the compliments of the morning and went to work with a will  we drove them back twice but they got to thick for us so we dismounted and sent our horses to the Rear  took our carbines a gave one Rousing cheer and Rushed up to a crest of a line of hills which we took and held against a whole Brigade of Reb Infantry untill we wer orderd away and then the Col had to coax, scold, and almost drive the boys away.  He told the boys to Rush for their [lives?] the Rebes wer forming to charge our line  Some of the boys asked him afterwards what he he [sic] said that for  he answered that he wanted to scare the boys but they would not scare worth a dam

the casualties in the skirmish line wer 2 killed  Capt Bowe Mortaley wounded but was still a live the last I heard from him  the ball Passed through his arm and in to his body and could not be got out  he had his arm amputated 4 inches from his elbow  Lieut Bingham severely wounded  Co H had a man shot through the neck  several others wer wounded but I do not think of the names now  during the day we wer obliged to stand under heavy cross fire from the Rebes Artillery  twice we wer cut off from the line of Retreat and surrounded, but we made a hole through in short order  Our loss in horses killed wounded and played out is One Hundred and Thirty Six, and the Rest are in poor condition to go in to a fight just now  But we hope to rest a day or two now.  our boys are tired and worn down but feel in good cheer, and will fight just as soon as Gen Gregg call on his Best Regt to take the fiend where he always puts the 6th in case of a fight and says where the 6th cant go there is no use to send a Brigade…..

Albinus R. Fell of the Ohio Volunteer Cavalary 6th Regiment Company D.

Source: eBay item# 250216383087 (Feb 2008)

6th Ohio Cav soldier letter

Centerville Va Oct 12th / 62

Affectionate Wife

I received your letter yestarday of Sept 30, also, a line in Bobs letter (from Jeff)  I would have written yestarday But it was so cold and winday that I could not.  But to day I got a chance to write in a covered wagon  You say you get no letters from me.  What the cause is more than I know as I write often enough for you to get a letter almost every week.  But this winter you must not expect letters very often unless we get in to winter quarters (which I doubt) for we have no tents and to write out doores in cold weather is imposible.  we have had the very best fall wather here untill yestarday  it was cold and rainy, and cold last night — I liked to froze.  But we must expect to see a great deal colder weather before next spring.  I have been in the service 10 months and 3 days to day and what has been accomplished can hardley be seen  the Rebes are more determined to day then ever and unless our armey is conducted over different principle we never will conquer  they know they are weak and they take advantage of every thing they can to accomplish their ends as did our armey in the Revolutionary war.  But the Federal Armey know they have men enough for all emergencyes and so they leave as it wer the hog holes all open and do not take precautions which should be taken to keep the Rebes from getting the advantage of us through hog holes.  for example the Rebes have succeded the second time in getting Mc Clellan’s rear and making a raide into Pennsylvania  I tell the Boys that I wish our armey was reduced to equal numbers with the Rebes and then we might whip whip [sic] them.  Our armey has to many straglers and Bummers (as I call the dutch Officers) to do any good  it is not an uncommon occurrence to get talking with soldiers about the time have been in the service and fights they have been in and have them tell you thay have been in 9 months or a year and never been under fire yet.  I know the half of our Regt has never been fired at by a sesh yet or have they shot at a live sesh.  There by god, Homer and Lieut Wood caused me spill the ink all over my letter.  By God, The HS Regt. Pa. V. wer musterd into the U.S.  received one year ago yestarday and they had a grand polification yestarday and last night  the dutch officers wer drunk as Hell (such is war)  O yes when we come to taking about Officers getting drunk we must mention our Bully Col. (he is now acting Brigade Gen.)  he got so dam drunk the other day, Between here and Fairfax that he fell off his horse and his Orderlies carried him in to the woods where they kept him a while and come on to camp  He could not sit up strait in his saddle when he came in  Bully  According to orders ishued from the war department, all men enlisted as buglers are to be discharged   also all the noncommissioned staff.  to day it is put in force in our Regt.  all the above men leave this morning for Washington  they are as tickled as a boy with a pair of new boots  in all there is 23 of them musterd out  Well if I had been there and picked out the men to draft I could not have been any better suited than now onley I would have neal Hall in for one  the rest are all right, but Harasson Barnes I feel sorry for him.  I wish they would not allow substitutes then it would be Bully  19 days more and it will be 6 months since we got any pay and then they cant hold any longer without paying us  a good many will bolt and go home for they want a chance but dont want to desert…..[incomplete]

Albinus R. Fell of the Ohio Volunteer Cavalary 6th Regiment Company D.

eBay item # 250217843299   (Feb 2008)