Spencer VA July 13, 1861

My dear Pet.

I suppose you are very anxious to hear from me and of our trip over the mouantains (sic). Well we left Parkersburg Tuesday morning at daylight and after a severe march of 23 miles through the rain reached Elizabeth the county seat of Wirt Co. Here we found Col. Gilmore of the Ohio 22nd with 4 companies who was supposed to be cut off but who had seen no troops except Federal ones. We camped there two days when we were ordered to march upon Spencer where we now are. Our whole force amounted to six hundred men of which 380 were under my command.

Of these I took 160 (leaving the balance with Col. G. to come up the main road) and started on a march over the mountains to get in the rear of this place which was supposed to be defended by from four to six hundred cecession (sic) troops. Well we came over mountains where there was no road except a path or trail for miles, up and down which my horse could go with great difficulty but we finally got in the vally (sic) of spring creek- where we expected some warm work as the people were all cecessionists (sic). We surprised them completely capturing five prisoners and three horses, one of the horses a fine grey stallion belonging to a Capt. Rector of their army. I caught him (the horse) myself. One of our men from Company K got shot through the thigh but is now doing very well. Our boys killed one of the ceceshers (sic) and wounded another as we tracked him by the blood. The villians (sic) did not dare to fight us fairly, but kept in the brush and on the hills, the route was very difficult, as the road wound through ravines and over mountains and around points where they would lay in wait for us, but we kept flanking parties out ahead that came in behind them when they would run to some other point. The brush being so thick that our boys could not get a fair chance at them, we had this kind of work for about 9 miles when they cleared out and we came on, and met Col. Gilmores party just at the town when we got here there was only a few women and children left. The men having fled to the mountains, we are now quartered in the Court house yard. I have taken possession of a Lawyers office in the court house and have first rate Quarters. I don’t know how long we will remain here. We are farther out in their country than any other party and if they make any stand at all, we will probably have a fight soon. They have at least three times our number within 18 miles of us, but if they attack us I think we can whip them. Henry A. Wise is reported to have at least six thousand troops at Charleston and is nearer to us than any of our forces. Col. Hascall is still at Parkersburg. Company A is with him. I have only Jim Anderson and John Foley with me, of the boys from Decatur. John Foley is wagoner (sic) and came up the road with Col. Gilmore’s party, and Anderson came with me. He is a brave, noble hearted boy and rendered me valuable assistance, he is cool in danger, and is a credit to Decatur County. I have a chance to send this by a party who are going out to take a report of our arrival here. I would like to get a letter from home. Do write to me at Parkersburg, and if possible it will be forwarded on to me. Good bye dearest,

Good bye dearest- Your ever faithful husband, J.T. Wilder

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J. T. Wilder

J.T. Wilder