SUMMIT CAVE MOUNTAIN,
FRANKLIN, VA., May 24, '62

DEAR NEWS: -- On the eve of another march, I drop you a line. We have been living for the last five days on short rations -- one day half rations, next quarter rations, and again one-fifth rations; to-day nothing until this evening about 8, when we received 3 days full rations of beef and crackers; coffee and sugar not yet arrived. The fault lies in the great want of transportation. The teams that brought in these provisions to-day have been on the road from New Creek since last Sunday.

We have orders to be ready [by] tomorrow morning at six o'clock to march without knapsacks or baggage, but with three days' cooked rations. Such are some of the beauties of a soldier's life.

Our company has been on picket at the out-posts for now six days, two days of which was spent scouting on quarter rations. The second day we came in sight of some ten or twelve rebel cavalry, but they skedaddled so fast that we could not get a shot. We followed them some three miles, but discovered no further signs and so retraced our steps to camp, wading the South Branch (Potomac) and supping on coffee and half a cracker. But we enjoy the fun of it. But provisions are not the only things that are scarce. P. O. envelopes and stamps have run short and command a premium. Ed S., anticipating a run on those holding "government securities" of this kind, and being well aware that his good nature would never refuse an application for a "stamp," hit upon a happy expedient for retaining enough "pictures" for his own use. -- He procured a package of envelopes of the P. M. at New Creek, and sitting down immediately directed the entire lot. Of course they are of no use to any but himself.

Our Regiment has met with a sad loss in the death of Lieut. F. C. Ankenny, of Co. C., from Fayette County. He was a young man highly respected by both officers and men, as a man and as an officer, and no one held a higher position in the esteem and confidence of his fellow soldiers. He died of fever, after a short illness, and was buried on a hill overlooking the town of Franklin. He leaves an only brother, younger than himself, a member of the same company, and an affectionate mother at home, to mourn his early death. Our beloved Chaplain, Rev. Wm. M. McReynolds, was with him during his illness and death.

The paymaster has been around again -- left $2,800 for Co. A, $2,100 of which they sent home through the State agent, to be paid by the Treasurers of the different counties, to those to whom it has been sent. The other companies in the regiment have sent home $1,700 to $2,300 each.

Some kind friend sent our boys a copy of the News of May 15th, the first we've seen since the first of May. Do send us a paper once in a while. -- We're almost out of the world in this forsaken country.

More anon.

A.

"Letter from the 60th Ohio." The Highland Weekly News: Hillsborough, Highland, County, Ohio; June 5, 1862.

Microfilmed article contributed by Theodore E. Lewis.

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