The monotony of the stay was somewhat relieved by the generosity of a gentleman who presented Co. C with a library of valuable books that had been damaged by the flood a few days previous. When the regiment moved for the East, a large box of these books, under disguise, accompanied it, which any officer of the commissary department was at liberty to suppose filled with cooking utensils.
Ned.
When Gen. Wise scoured the Kanawa Valley for men, he took with him Edward Morrison, a useful well-trained servant belonging to a gentleman of the city of Charleston. Ned, being of a different school of politics from the General, did not fancy the service, and, when in the midst of the Alleghany mountains, he made his escape. He arrived at last, at Charleston, and supposing the Emancipation Proclamation would soon be issued, he begged the protection of Col. Tyler. The Colonel thought he would risk the principles of Co. C, and accordingly, turned him over to them contraband, for secretion. After lying in their quarters two weeks, he was hired to act as their cook, which business he gladly entered. He faithfully served them more than a year, after which he came to Oberlin to be educated. But an attachment which has more than once turned a student from his interest, allured him to the vicinity of Gallipolis, Ohio, where he immediately wrote to Lieutenant Lincoln that he was to be married in ten days.
In the latter part of October, Gen. Floyd had established himself on Cotton Hill, thus being enabled to shell the camp of the Union Army at Gauley Bridge, and to threaten its communications. Gen. Benham was ordered to march around to the rear to induce him to desist from so rash operations. Two or three regiments hesitated to perform the dangerous movement. Finally he said, "Give me the Seventh and the Tenth Ohio and I can drive the rebels to" ——, a place beyond the confines of this lower world. This circumstance healed the old wound in the Tenth, which had been made at Camp Dennison when the Seventh was called out to suppress a riot among them.
On the 4th of November the Seventh set sail for Loop Creek, seven miles below Gauley Bridge. It marched up the Creek on the 6th, wading it seventeen times, and encamped on Taylor's Farm, within two miles of Floyd's Camp. The severe frost of that night did much mischief in the wet socks of the soldiers while sleeping in the open air. It was amusing, in the latter part of the night, to see the men racing about camp at more than double-quick to prevent their feet from freezing. The heavy rains rendered it impossible to convey bread to the army, and famine stared them in the face. When, at last, a few sacks of hard bread were brought through, and the very crumbs counted out to secure fair division, those crumbs were more delicious than the most costly preparations of food on royal tables.
Pursuit of Floyd.
After six days the regiment moved on a few miles farther to the rear of the rebel camp, passing over a high mountain in zigzag lines of single rank, which gave the appearance of "Bonaparte crossing the Alps." While this part of the army was sleeping, in the early part of the night of the 12th, Gen. Floyd quietly passed by on the Fayetteville pike, not more than four miles distant. As soon as he had securely accomplished this feat for himself, and defeat for Gen. Rosecrans, all the Union forces were put in pursuit. It was continued until the close of the following day, with no decided result but a skirmish, in which Col. Croghan of the Second Georgia Cavalry, was killed, with a few of his men, and a few prisoners were taken.
Being without blankets and bread, the soldiers gladly heard the sonorous voice of Adjutant DeForest, just after the terrific thunder shower at midnight, commanding them to "fall in," to return. They were then far out in the State towards Raleigh. Floyd has never since been seen in Western Virginia. The next thing heard of him was his stealing away from Fort Donelson.
It was at the close of the next day that the Seventh had a feast. Having marched back four miles past Fayetteville, the men found an abundant supper of boiled pigs, prepared by the blanket guards. After so many days of semi-fasting, this tender meat gave a relish which cannot be appreciated by those who are accustomed to sit at loaded tables. That night, too, was refreshing after two sleepless ones, though the heavens did let fall a sheet of snow four inches deep upon the shelterless men.
The 17th of November saw the Seventh Ohio again in its quarters at Charleston. The men found that a canvas tent was a palace.