John Lemon,

Quartermaster, 13^th Res.,

in: Raftman’s Journal.

Potomac River –

“To D.J. Denmark, Esq. – Dear Uncle:- Your letter in care of Lieut. Hartshorn was received, and found me well and glad to hear from you. I have so many things to say that I scarce know where to begin.

“Since I last wrote you we have moved twice. We were only three days at Cumberland, where we had a splendid Camp with every convenience we could desire. We had just succeeded in getting everything arranged to our satisfaction when we received orders to march. It was not long until the camp was vacated, and we were all on the march; and now were are in the enemies country, surrounded by foes of whose blood I have seen the first to-day.

“Yesterday the greater part of the Raftman’s Rangers and a number of the Buck Tails, under Capt. E.A. Irvin, were out on a scout a few miles distant from our camp. They came in contact with double their number of rebels, and immediately attacked them. Our boys did not lose a man, but gallantly repulsed and dispersed them, making eight of the villains bite the dust. First-Sergeant Patton Bard, shot the Rebel Lieutenant dead and captured his horse.

“Capt. Irvin is spoken of in the highest terms by all concerned for his coolness and bravery in the battle. He made a narrow escape, a musket ball having passed within inches of his head, and entered the wall of the house near which he was standing. The boys were in fine spirits when they returned, but presented a pretty rough appearance. Their faces were dark and flushed, and nearly every one had some little of the spoils. Capt. Irvin showed me a bunch [of] papers taken from the fallen Lieutenant, of whom he spoke as a brave man. The papers consisted of his commission, letters, orders, and other documents. They were all stained with his blood. One of the boys had a sword with which the secessionists killed a man named Kelly who came with us from Cumberland. It was a brutal murder. They killed him while he was sleeping on the porch of a house near where the fighting took place. The sword was stained with blood to the hilt.

“Three of the Raftman’s Rangers rode fine looking horses into camp to-night, that they had captured. One of our scouts who was in Mexican War, took the gold rings from the Lieutenant’s fingers and put them on his own. I don’t think any of our boys would have done it, but it is hard to tell, for war seems to change their whole nature.

“Our men are in great favor with Lieut. Col. Kane who is now commanding them in their scouting expeditions. He says they are just the boys for the work and he is going to keep them at it.

“Our camp is right on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, one mile from where the Bridge was burned a few days since. We have a train of freight cars and two engines, which we use in the Commissary department. I am writing this letter in a freight car in which I rode to Cumberland and back yesterday, where we went for army stores. I have been so busy since I have been employed here that I could scarce find time to write a single letter. We had to act for both regiments, but as John Bigler has been appointed Quarter Master of the other regiment, I think I will now be able to find time to keep you posted as to our movements. Our men received a month and a half’s pay before leaving Cumberland, which relieved them very much as they needed it badly.

“Yours truly,

John Lemon.”

[RJ: 7-24-1861].