James Gribben to his parents, July 17, 1861 letter

              [Page 1]
In Camp Va [Virginia]
July 17th, 1861
Dear Brother Father + Mother
I write to you
once more to let you
know how I am +
where I am at

I am now in camp
within 2 1/2 miles of the enemy.
We have been under a con-
tinual fire of the secessionist
picket for the last 36 hours
On the 15 inst [15th] our Colonel 
with 3 companies left the camp and came
up to a little town called
Scerry Town [Scary Creek, West Virginia] where the 
enemy opened the cannon on 
him.  He retreated back within 
3 miles of our camp where
we met him that night

[page 2]
about midnight where we
all slept on our army on this
bare ground the balance of the
night + early the next morning
we marched up to where we
are now within 2 1/2 miles of the devils.  We have the 2 [2nd OVI] reg-
iment + 1/2 of the first [1st} Kentucky
boys with us also 1/2 the 11 [11th OVI] + all 
the 12 Ohio Regiments [12th OVI] with
us + 4 cannon.  We have 
had several men killed
while scouting + the secessionists
have had several of theirs killed
+ some horses.  We are
preparing to march on
to the secessionists.  We will
start in about one hour
and in two hours from this
time if they don't run + leave
their forts we will have a fight.
We intend to march right on

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to Charleston which is about
15 miles from here.
We will have to take about
3 places between +
there.  We are to be at Charleston 
by tomorrow noon.
We will be exposed 
to a constant fire from
scouts until we get through.
A number of bullets
have already whisted over my
head.  The day before yesterday
I was setting by the river
washing my feet and a
darnd [sic] scoundrel shot and
the bullet whistled by my
head + went on by and struck(?)
near another of our boys.
The other night when we
was marching to the Kentucky 
Regiment thought that they
was on the enemy + comenced [sic] firing

[page 4]

at nothing but as there was
a bend in the  road in which
we had got particularly round 
the bullets whsed [whizzed] over our
heads as thick as hail falling.
They shot 2 of their own men
+ a horse ran off + ran through 
our ranks + hurt 3 or four. That
was all the damage done.
I received Maggie's letter
yesterday.  Write soon + direct
as before.  I will write in a few days again.
Give my love to
all my friends keeping a good
portion yourselves.
I remain as ever
your affectionate son
James C. Gribben