Chenango Telegraph, Norwich, NY, February 5, 1862
Letter from Gideon Evans
Friend W---: Things are very quiet here in camp. It has rained for two days, and the mud is about three inches deep. We have just returned from picketing, wet to the skin, cold and hungry, having been out for two days and nights, and we had a very exciting time. Probably Friend Frink has described it to you, but it won't spoil by telling again. It was Jan. 20th that we started for our picket lines some ten miles from camp. We were full of glee, and went along cracking jokes, not dreaming of the horrible scene that was about to be enacted, or that we Plymouth boys should be the principal actors. We arrived at headquarters about ten o'clock A.M., and were immediately stationed on our posts. Frink and I were on one post, and King and T. Crumb on the next post. There were no signs of "secesh" through the day, and when night came over us, dark and dreary, nothing could be heard, save the moaning of the winds and the gentle meandering of the silvery brook that winds its way to the Potomac. Frink seemed sterner than usual, not saying a word except in way of caution, but kept steadily pacing up and down his beat, stopping now and then to peer into the darkness, or laying his ear close to the ground. Then he would resume his walk shaking his head and saying that there would be trouble. I sat quietly in our "pen" laughing at his uneasiness. Things went on in this way until about one o'clock, when I was startled by Frink's stern voice, "Halt!". I sprang to my feet when I saw a body of horsemen close upon us. I immediatly fired, and I saw the blaze of Frink's gun at the same time. We heard one terrific yell, and a horse bounded by us without a rider. I jumped behind our "pen," supposing that Frink would follow; but there I was mistaken, for he went on showing them his skill in the bayonet exercise, and by close examination we found that he gave them several ugly wounds. But finally he made a thrust, and his bayonet sticking through the saddle, he was unable to extricate it. Quick as lightning he was seized and bound. I drew my revolver and fired; one of them fell and I took aim for another. But one stroke of a secesh saber sent my revolver whirling to the ground.
Of course I was seized and put with Frink, who lay foaming and swearing to have revenge. But they paid no attention to our threats, hurried us on to their horses and started off on a gallop for the rebel camp. Crumb and King, had started to our assistance and had fired their piece when we were first attacked. They fought the rebels for ten minutes, but they were finally overpowered and placed with us.
You can imagine our feelings at this point, each of riding in front of a rebel horseman with our arms tied behind us jolting along at a rough gait. We were going along at a rapid pace, when we neared a piece of woods. Lo! the woods seemed bound with a girdle of fire, and we were instantly surrounded. Frink yelled three cheers for the Union. We were all made to dismount and found to our joy that we were surrounded by Union soldiers. We were immediately set free and the rebels were bound as we had been.
Your Friend, Gideon Evans.
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