55th
Regiment - Militia of 1863
PARKERSBURG, VA.
July 17th, 1863.
DEAR DURBAN: - The second regiment of Pennsylvania
Volunteer Militia left Pittsburgh for this point on
Saturday night last, about 11 o’clock, and arrived at
Bridgeport, opposite Wheeling, shortly after daybreak,
Sunday morning. We lay here on an island, which we had to
cross, until about three o’clock, P. M., when we
embarked on the steamer Eagle, and daybreak next morning
found us moored at the Parkersburg wharf, in the mouth of
the little Kanawa. We shortly disembarked and moved out to
camp about a mile from the wharf and just on the outskirts
of town. The camp is located in a fine grove and in a very
pleasant situation. The health of the boys is very good,
their being but little sickness. – Capt.
Christy has been unwell for some days, but is
getting better.
To-morrow morning at six o’clock, four companies of
the regiment, viz: Co E, Captain
Christy, Co I, Captain
Vincent, Co F, Capt.
Johnston, (Mercer county.) and Co. A, commanded by
your humble correspondent, leave this camp to go to
Clarksburg, about eighty-five miles up the Little Kanawha
to do the same kind of duty which we are doing here, viz:
lying in camp and eating hard tack and pork, washing them
down with black coffee. We drill every day, in addition to
the above named exercises, and the boys are improving very
fast. This detachment we understand, will not be required
to remain there any great length of time. It goes under
command of Lieut. Colonel Samuel
Graham.
The regiment, so far as I can learn, are very well
satisfied with their trip to Western Virginia and their
experience since coming here. Parkersburg is a pleasant
town, of considerable importance, situated immediately
above the junction of the Kanawha with the Ohio river. I
have noticed this peculiarity about the place, that more
than one half of the various places in the town are either
hotels, taverns or drinking saloons. They are of all
grades, from the tastefully fitted salon in a first class
hotel to the lowest, meanest doggery. Fortunately,
however, their keepers are forbidden to sell liquors to
the ranks and file of the soldiers except under certain
restrictions. An officer can get drunk as often as he
pleases though.
The organization of our regiment is as follows: Colonel
r. B. McComb, Lieut. Col., Samuel
Graham; Major, N. R. Hays;
Adjutant, Thomas McBride, C. M.,
Samuel Miller, Editor of Mercer Dispatch;
Sergeant Major, J. A. Euwer; Commissary
Sergeant, John McMichael; Quartermaster
Sergeant, J. B. White.
When the regiment was organized it was unanimously
agreed by the line officers of the regiment to be
organized, that of the field and staff officers Lawrence
county should furnish the Colonel and Adjutant, while
Mercer county should be allowed the remaining three. The
non-commissioned staff were appointed by the Colonel
without reference
To majority of companies.
When we consider that the Mercer county companies with
whom we organized amounted to seven while we had but
three, it will be seen that the division of officers was
very fair. The companies are organized as follows: Co. A, Capt.
Morehead, Lawrence county, company B, Captain
Fruit, Mercer county; company C, Cap.
M’Mienael, Mercer County; Co. D, Captain
Coulter, Mercer county; Co. E, Captain
Christy, Lawrence county; compay F, Captain
Johnston, Mercer county; company H, Captain
Stinson, Mercer county; company I, Captain
Vincent, Lawrence county; company K, Capt.
Jeffries, Mercer county.
Company g, commanded by Capt. W.
W. Risher, of West Middlesex, Mercer county,
utterly refused to come along with us down here. We now
have vague rumors of their having to give up their arms
and uniforms and return home. As to the truth of these
reports, I cannot decide. But I must close. More anon.
Yours Respectfully,
JOS. MOREHEAD.
P. S. Since I finished the above, an hour ago, the
report has come, officially, that the rebel guerilla
Morgan is coming towards this point. Preparations are
making to meet him, and if he comes here, he is expected
by to-morrow evening at latest. We may not leaver here
now, to go to Clarkesburgh.
J. M.
