Montera
Highland county va July the 23rd, 1861

Dear Brother & friend we avail the opportunite this Evening of addressing a few Lines to you to let you know that we are still in the land Among the living giving thanks to our Benign benefactor Hopeing these lines may find you & all your charge Enjoying Good health which is the greatest luxury that Life can afford our health is tolerable Good with the Exception of of Bad colds & severe cough created By Extreme Exposure we regret to have to try to tell you of what we have went through since you wrote To us. on the 7th of the month the Enemy attacked our Pickets below Laurel hill & the fireing became very rapid About night there was sever of them & some few of our Men killed that day it continued pretty much that way till wednesday Evening also still throwing Bumbs & Balls into our Encampment on thirsday they ceased there cannon aiding & measureably there small arms also late in the Evening on thirsday we received orders to retreat the scouts Give information that they was about to cut us off some Time in the night we got the waggons loaded with the sick it a Rainging all the while the measles was at there worst in our camp there was near 30 cases some very bad so much so that we had to leave all of our provisions we started the waggons & garded the place till the waggons got some miles then we set out about midnight & traveled Till some time after day & found the road well Blockaded

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24th we will now procede we turned Back from the Blockading and went some little distance & took a left hand road that lead a different direction from that we wished to go we retreated on through the day with only one resting spel that without any refreshment But water then we resumed our march till night & Encampt at cheat river were we Staid till morning without anything to Eat the general Delayed giveing orders to march for some time in the morning at length Fulkersons & Jacksons Regiments was put in front of the train & Tolivers and ramseys in the rear The road was very bad down cheat river & of corse the train was Long Before the rear had marched fair the Enemy fired on them about then thousand strong & cut off a great many of the waggons the Battle raged for some time killing both men And horses our men repulsed them wonce with great slauter But at the chusing of our men they rallyed again with Redoubled vigor then the Battle raged a new our artilery moved Them down by scores till at last they captured the most officient Peace of our artilery when General Garnett give orders to retreat He was shot off of his horse instantaineously all of the forces retreated Rapidly throwing out of the waggons tents trunks Boxes Blankets remaining clothes of all discriptions leaveing waggons & gearing all of our clothing only that on our Backs was lost also All our cook vessels was thrown away we would reasonably suppose there was over one hundred thousand dollars worth

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Evening that Evening which was Sunday Evening there was Beef killed for us which we scoudered over the fire & Eat with out Bread which was the best meat we Ever Eat it Being the first a great many had got from 12 oclock the thirsday before you know there must of Been great suffering But the suffering not done yet more Then one hundred 25 miles yet to travel through country of foes mostly and But little to Eat sometimes a little Bread & some Times none one half of the men completely Broke down so we made our way marching day & night with some few hours rest that mostly in the day for those that give out through the night to ketchup some have not come up yet on the 9th day we reached this place & are trying to recruit up again But a great many are very poorly among the numbers our Old Capt keeps his Bed almost all the time now Dear Friend we have given you an out line of our retreat & suffering in our Awkward & imperfect manner which you must Excuse Also Excuse Bad writing we have not room to say anything More on this this sheet & we hear so many fals statements that we do nont like to write anything that we are not Eye witnesses of nor that which we are unless it was Better on our side then what we have been writing we will say in conclusion from the best information the Enemys forces are large & well armed In front of us & have had Entirely the advantage in friends For the union men new the country & would conduct them to any point we must close give our compliments to your family the old genteel man His family & all the friends accept of our Best wishes yourself we wish you well if we never see you again Farewell.

To John S Smyth & family

E Ferrell
Hiram Howard
Wm H Howard