Friday June 21

The troops that passed down yesterday were the 17" Regiment O.V.M.  Col. Counel & Lieut. Pond of McConnelsville, George E. Cutler is in the Regiment.  He went to Mrs. Dawes to dinner, etc,, yesterday.  They were pleased with his good appearance and sensible conversation.  William Friesner and Henry Rose (a cousin of Kate's) & Perley Davis belong to the Seventeenth. The nineteenth, Col. _____ also was on the boats.  Today a fleet of six steamboats all together passed down with flags flying & covered with soldiers.  These are Indiana troops, eight and ninth regiments, in their gray uniforms.  They cheered heartily as they went by, giving a tiger.  It was a splendid sight, solemn too.  I could only pray for them.  God help us.  How many valuable lives are now exposed to the hazards of war.  
In Virginia the scouts, picked guards, sentinels & those who watch the railroads are constantly harrassed by concealed foes.  A number of steamboats have been going back and forth from Parkersburg and Marietta carrying horses, wagons & army stores to the former place.  Genl. McClellan has arrived at Parkersburg and it is said will command the movement from the west into Virginia in person.  There are many rumors of movements of rebel forces westward.  The Secessionist, Judge Jackson, of Parkersburg, is said to be in command of 3000 men, acting with Porterfield who fled from Philippi with so much haste.  Ex. Gov. H. A. Wise has command of the rebel forces against Western Virginia.  Warm work is expected.  We had three of Company B. here to breakfast & dinner and seven of them to supper.  Nancy & Marion went to town today.


Editor's comments:
George Cutler was a nephew of Julia's, the son of her half brother Charles.

The 8th and 9th Infantry from Indiana were two regiments that organized in April 1861 with a three-month term of service.  This seemed to be fairly common, with many regiments reorganizing after their initial terms were complete.

George McClellan was highly thought of--initially.

George McClellan in 1861 (portrait by Matthew Brady)