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CHAPTER XI.

THE EXPRESS COURIER LINE AND THE BUSHWHACKERS.

IN consequence of the stoppage of the mails west of Clarksburg, it became necessary to establish an Express Courier Line to Headquarters, to convey to the officers of General Rosecrans' column their letters and official documents from the Headquarters of the Army at Washington.

Procuring the best men we could, we put the line into operation, but it was some time before it worked to our entire satisfaction. The superintendent proved inefficient; but, for the want of a better, we were obliged to retain him for a time. The General grumbled; his staff grumbled, and there was a general grumbling time at Headquarters, at the irregularity with which the mail arrived.

Horses and riders were stationed about eight miles apart, a time-table prepared, and the couriers were ordered to push forward as rapidly as possible. They were also directed to watch the military telegraph line, and to report to the nearest officer, when the line was out of order. Becoming

impatient with the slow movements and little. energy displayed by the Superintendent, we telegraphed him:

A. F. NEWMAN, CHIEF OF EXPRESS,

BULLTOWN:

What is required to perfect the line. You have had plenty of time to do so. Every facility has been afforded you, and yet nothing has been done. Unless you get the line in good working order at once, I must make a change. reported your stations to me.

You have not yet Answer at once.

CHAS. LEIB,

Captain and A. Q. M.

This dispatch set him to work in earnest. He felt that his official head was in danger, and, after a time, we had for a while uninterrupted communication with Headquarters. The body of the rebels had been driven from the country lying between Harrison County and Gauley River. It was not deemed necessary to retain a large force there, and, by degrees, the troops were withdrawn, only part of the Thirty-sixth Ohio Regiment having been left to protect the Union citizens, and to keep open the roads.

This fact becoming known to the rebels, a number of parties of guerrillas, or bushwhackers, returned, shot down Union men, cut the telegraph wire, stole the horses of the couriers, and occa

sionally took one a prisoner, and sent him to Richmond.

The bushwhackers are composed of a class of men who are noted for their ignorance, indolence, duplicity, and dishonesty; whose vices and passions peculiarly fit them for the warfare in which they are engaged, and upon which the civilized world looks with horror. Imagine a stolid, viciouslooking countenance, an ungainly figure, and an awkward if not graceful, spinal curve in the dorsal region, acquired by laziness and indifference to maintaining an erect posture; a garb of the coarsest texture of homespun linen or linsey-woolsey, tattered and torn, and so covered with dirt as not to enable one to guess its original color; a dilapidated, rimless hat or cap of some wild animal covering his head, which has not been combed for months; his feet covered with moccassins, and a rifle by his side, a powder-horn and shot-pouch slung around his neck, and you have the beau ideal of a Western Virginia bushwhacker. Thus equipped, he sallies forth with the stealth of the panther, and lies in wait for a straggling soldier, courier, or loyal citizen, to whom the only warning given of his presence, is the sharp click of his deadly rifle. He kills for the sake of killing, and plunders for the love of gain. Parties of these ferocious beasts, under cover of darkness, frequently steal into a neighborhood, burn the residences of loyal citizens, rob stores, tan-yards, and farm-houses

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