Charles Cyphers had finally “seen the elephant.”

After months of drilling at Camp Slifer outside Chambersburg, pushing south through Greencastle, and crossing the Potomac at Williamsport, Maryland, the 8th Pennsylvania and the rest of General Robert Patterson’s Army of the Shenandoah had crossed into Virginia and fought a battle.

Writing his sixth letter to the editors of the Pittston Gazette from Martinsburg, Virginia on July 7, 1861, Cyphers reported what he had witnessed: an army pushing down the road toward Martinsburg, a Confederate line waiting for them five miles out, and a half-hour engagement – the Battle of Hoke’s Run – that ended with Union troops in possession of the town and Confederate forces retreating to the south.

Readers of the Gazette had been following Cyphers since April, when the young Pittston printer mustered into service at Camp Curtin in Harrisburg and wrote home still dazzled by the sight of 5,000 volunteers at the military encampment in the state capital. The letters that followed traced the slow grind of military life – the May snowstorm at Camp Slifer, the drilling, the rumors of movement, the cautious march south.

This letter has a different quality – Cyphers is writing fast, in the field, with momentous events to report.

From the Pittston Gazette, July 18, 1861

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Letter from Mr. Cyphers.– No. 6. 

MARTINGBURG, Va., 

July 7, 1861. 

MESSRS.EDITORS – 

The advance of Gen. Patterson’s command crossed the Potomac on Tuesday last. Several companies of cavalry, and Doubleday’s, Perkins’ and the Rhode Island batteries, with two regiments of infantry led the van. 

Then followed the train of wagons, some three miles long, and 18,000 men. About five miles from the town of Martinsburg the advance encountered the enemy, who were drawn up in line of battle ready to receive and give us a warm reception.

They opened fire upon us from two small field pieces – 6-pounders, I think – but which did no execution. These field pieces were planted upon a hill commanding the road up which our men were advancing. The Rhode Island battery opened fire upon the rebels, and the 11th Pennsylvania and 1st Wisconsin Regiments came up on a double quick, carrying the position held by the enemy and putting them to flight. 

The battle lasted half an hour, and resulted in the victory of the Union troops and the complete possession of Martinsburg. Three of our men were killed and five wounded.

The loss of the enemy is not known, but some of our men while out scouting discovered in the vicinity of the battle field, 60 newly filled graves, reported to have been dug by the rebels. The people of Martinsburg say they saw two wagon loads of wounded pass through town with the retreating foe. The rebels have entrenched themselves at Bunker Hill, six miles distant from this place, where they will probably make a desperate stand. 

I visited town this morning and saw the remains of the property destroyed by the secessionists on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.

The track has been torn up between this and Harper’s Ferry, and the bridges and other property destroyed to the amount of over $1 million. I counted, near the Company’s shops, 53 locomotives burned by the rebels two or three weeks ago. 60 freight and baggage cars were also burned. 

We are receiving reinforcements every day. The general health of the men is good. I have not seen a sick man in our camp since leaving the State of Maryland. 

We live outdoors now altogether, having left our tents behind at Williamsport. We are encamped on a hill which overlooks the town and a large extent of the surrounding country; and in every direction and may be seen camp fires of our men, and the white canvass of the wagons. 

Here you can see a regiment drawn up in line of battle, or a company of men drilling on the parade ground; and there a General riding with his staff from camp to camp inspecting the troops and giving orders – still farther on a company of cavalry and two or three batteries stand out in bold relief; and in the vicinity of the town is collected 600 hundred wagons, each of them drawn by four horses, at the present writing awaiting orders from headquarters.

Many other things might be noted here but my time is limited. The above I have written in haste, that you might know of the whereabouts of the Luzerne volunteers. 

Yours, etc., 

C. M. CYPHERS.

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Read the previous letter from the Letters from War: 1861 series.

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This is part of an ongoing series called “Letters from War: 1861” that will share correspondence written on the front lines during the turbulent first year of the Civil War.

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