THE TROOPS IN WESTERN VIRGINIA.;
INTERESTING STATEMENT FROM GEN. ROSECRANS. THE GREAT REBELLION.
Published: November 10, 1861
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT WESTERN VA., TOMPKINS' FARM, Oct. 29,
1861.
His Excellency W. Dennison, Governor of Ohio:
SIR: The sympathies of the people of Ohio and Indiana have been
deeply excited by accounts of the destitution and suffering of
our troops in this Department. Moved by these sympathies, they
have been making laudable exertions to procure the means of
supplying our wants and alleviating our distress. Not only so,
they have appointed committees to trace through popular rumor
and exaggeration the true causes of our difficulty. Observing
that committees have been appointed for that purpose by the
citizens of the State, I have thought proper to address you a
note which may assist them in their labors and possibly aid them
in giving proper direction to the charities tendered to the
suffering defenders of the Republic. As to the causes of want of
clothing, they are chiefly due: first, to the fact that no
troops have been sent to this Department who have not been
called suddenly here to meet pressing emergencies, before they
had been fully equipped. Second, after arriving here they have
been compelled to scatter over a mountainous and comparatively
wilderness country, having a frontier of near three hundred
miles, and a breadth of over one hundred and fifty miles,
intersected by a few narrow roads, and inhabited by a timid or
lukewarm population, alternately domineered over by secession
violence or ruled by disaflection.
Over these narrow mountainous roads our troops have been
obliged to march from one point to another as they were
threatened; carrying only the most absolate necessaries, in
order not to endanger their safety by cumbrous wagon trains.
The clothing that began to arrive from the East early in
September, for want of transportation, and on account of the
uncertainty of the results of movements towards the rebels,
could not be permitted to follow our troops in the march from
the railroad southward, nor, except cautiously, to Cheat
Mountain, while there was doubt of the ability of our troops to
sustain themselves against the fearful odds reported to exist
against them. When the battle of Carnifax and the repulse of the
rebels at Cheat Mountain had settled the question of safety,
orders were immediately dispatched to send forward clothing with
the greatest possible dispatch. Meanwhile, terrible rains came on, the roads became so bad that
teams could not haul over half their usual load, and took a third
longer to go the same distance. Hence three times as many wagons
were necessary to perform the same amount of transportation.
Provisions and ammunition were the first necessities, and clothing
was obliged to follow as it could be sent. But our troops having
been four or five months in the field, in rain and wet, over
mountains and through forests, had worn out their clothes and shoes,
and the cold rains made them feel their condition, and caused the
sudden cry of suffering to be raised. The orders for forwarding
clothing were duly attended to, as well as the obstacles from want
of transportion would admit. The troops in this line fell back some
twenty-four miles to increase the case of getting clothing and
supplies, and are already pretty well provided.
As to the sickness among our troops. It has been by no means as
great as might be supposed, varying from one to twelve per cent.,
and averaging less than four per cent. of the entire force. But the
causes of the sudden and surprising increase of sickness are,
doubtless.
First -- The great change in habits of life. Men accustomed to
regular homes, good cooking and good beds, are suddenly subjected to
exactly the reverse. Thrown into a forest country, exposed to rain,
cold, heat, and night watchings, and toilsome marches, their
strength became gradually impaired, and when the Autumnal weather
set in, the feeble constitution began to yield.
The second cause is the want of proper attention to cleanliness
and cooking in camp, due to inexperience and negligence of officers.
Comparatively easy on the score of clothing, and, except in a few
instances, with improving health, we now await the proper time to
strike a blow for our country.
Meanwhile what shall be done with contributions generously made
for our relief and comfort. My advice is, that clothing and other
things should be collected and safely stored until we go into Winter
quarters or call for them to increase the comforts of our hospitals.
To make these collections available, invoices of them should be
sent to the State Quartermaster-General, who will thereby become
aware of what is to be had, and when informed of our wants draw on
these stores for supplies.
Were clothing sent now to the troops, I fear most of it would be
lost or cause other articles to be thrown or traded away for want of
room in the knapsacks.
With high esteem, I have the honor be, very respectfully, your
obedient servant.
W.S. ROSECRANS,
Brigadier-General U.S.A. |