New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-12-30
NUMBER 254.
q From Kentucky.
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pss. ~ S.,ss, RgssssLyrLLE, Ky, Dec. il, l8di,g
sd -, I'ssee''t-i eiHer no excuse for troubling
orEase se thl5 since yop, do not choose to read
either bsrs a.s e, excuse my modesty,) you can
rno,, ~ fetqtn it. If the latter be resolved
se1 s5onid pos postage It viii be a. little as
- 80 41.a.Hk after all the hard labor
~ ps y myself in writing it, and the
'tolole y hunting thsepgh the dictionary "a End
and learn how to spell hasa vords Tbs tse. I. s''I
fear have caught the sestbbIfac ~
seems to have prevailed in an epidsrofc frrt A.,
ing the'present war. II has ragea essxtensfvaI, i,
with the measles, originating. doabtisss. from
similar cause or causes t6-wit: some peculiar ANA
inscratable conditions Incident to camp He. Never
having this maniacal disease before, accounts.
suppose, for my catching it 50 readily. W
As you are, perhaps already aware, a very higf
compliment has been paid to cur regiment, ant
more especially to the Colonel and officers com
manding it. Col Scott (uow acting as IBrigadier.
GeneraD has, by order Of Gen, Johnston, been
intrused with the full command at this important
post, together with the protection of the whole
line Of railroad from Bowling Green to CIarkes-
Vile, and Of an extensive range Of surrounding
country, stretching Indefinitely northward towards
the Ohio river. Six additional companies Of cav
airy and regiment Of infantry are attached to
and subordinate to his command. His orders from
Cen Johnston give bin a very large discretionary
power as to his military movements and opera
tons.
On the arrival Of our regiment at Bowling Green,
it was feared that it might be attached to and
form part, perhaps, of the slow machinery of
some dull and sluggish brigade The relief from
this fear, the comparatively independent position
in which we are placed, and above ALL the high
appreciation Of and confidence so sgnaIly mani
tested by the Commander.in. Chief of the Western
Department in our bold and chivalrous leader,
have made our whole troop buoyant and jubilant
over this auspicious opening Of their military
career. '.u" n " "+'
II. Lieut-Col Nixon is now our de facto Colonel.
A more urbane, generous and finished gentleman,
more brave and gallant soldier and officer is
not to be found in the Land of Dixie.r fs1's
EsThe weather here at this time is very fine. The
nights, to be sure, are little cold and frosty but
the days are bright and sunny. Some thirty OF
our boys, under Captains Keep and Taylor, the
first night after our arrival ia Rasselville, had
fine frolc. They were sent out by Col. Nixon on
little experimental scouting expedition rode
/ all night aud part of the next day, having ridden
some sixty odd miles, and ran down and brought
in to headquarters fou, or five obnoxious and very
mischeVous Kentucky Lincolnites. Three or four
Others of similar stripe ran into town ahead of
them and hurriedly took the oath. War! war
to the Lincolnites in this :. neck of the woods"
They full soon will not have "where to lay their
heads''
Russellvllle. is very pretty and thriving town.
1t is situated amidst beautifully undulating coui-
| fry cnyerad with nroductiva snI Mnat of
the Kentucky region that we have seen thus far
looks to be well worth lighting for. AS to the po-
ltical status of the Kentacky people so far as we
have been able to guess about it, the great majority
Of them seem divided into two grand classes, to-
wit: those who want the South to win, and those
who don't-rather more, perhaps, on the negative
than the affirmative side of the question. These
two grand classes seem very wise in their day
and generation" standing quietly aloof from the
big sArunneage, and taking no part therein. What
additional convulson in the political atmosphere is
yet required to arouse them from their strange
apathy remains yet to be seen. The small minority
outside the great quiescent mass above described,
are torn and rent into various wretched factions,
some fighting for us, some against us-some would
be actors in the great drama still strong through
the land, vomiting forth the stale demagogueism
the compass their impotent anathemasl These
seem to forget that the time for this windy warfare
is long since passed-tha the stern realities of life
and death hang upon each passing hour--that the
only convincing argument, the only. effective elo-
quence, is that which rolls from the deep-mouthed
cannon, aided by the kissing bullet and the flashing
steel. Others there are from this once gallant
State who creep forth from amidst surrounding
wreck and ruin, foul vermin that they are to spec
uate and prey, with Vulture like avidty, upon the
hard necessities of people and of our citizen
soldiers i'll this their time of trial. For these we
could almost invoke ct some secret curse, some
hidden thunder in the storms of heaven, red with
uncommon wrathi'
must not omit to mention, before concluding
this very rambling and desultory letter, the special
care and preparation taken by officers for the
comfort and we'll being of our sick, present and
prospective, at this post. Our enterprisng Sur
geon, DR.. H., was at once directed by the Colonel
to take possession of the college building here and
convert it Immediately into hospital. 1t is fine
spacious edifce, with all the requisite offices and
appurtenances, and surrounded by elegant and
extensive grounds, well walled in. There are
apartments sufficient to accommodate from one
hundred and fifty to two hundred inmates. 1t, with
the beautiful surroundings, looks as though it
might be made a fountain of health aud life to the
sick and weary soldier. Such, at least we humble
prVates trust it will prove to u.s. under the efficient
administration of our able medical staff
PRIVATE.
letter from Virginia.