Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-12-30
INDIANAPOLIS, IND. MONDAY, DECEMBER 80, 1861

our Army corrcspessence-The 5 is, In
Kentucky. So
HEADQUARTERS 5lsr REefxEsr TxplAsA VoLs.,l
Camp Ben spooner. near Bards,own,
December %. 1861
EDIroR SENTINEL: According 70 promise, when
I saw you last, wiz now proceed to give you
a short sketch of our journey frop indianapolis
to this place, which, BY the way. is forty-one
miles south east from Louisville.
We left the Madison Depot aboss O'Clock p
NJ. One train carried the baggage, horses and
wagons, and two trains carried the rsen Nothing
Of importance occurred on the route. and all
arrived at North Madison about II o'clock. where
the men disembarked from the cars and proceeded
on foot 70 Madison The moon shoae bright and
the weather was most beautiful Mr. : Bran
ham. the gentIemanly Superintenden of the Rail
road, conducted us from the top Of tie bill to the
wharf, where the splendid steamers City of Madi-
son and Lancaster awaited us. In the meantime
the baggage train had been run 5dosn the in
clned plane. at once ordered detail of ten
men from each company to move the horses,
wagons and all other property belonging to the
regiment from che cars to the boats, and marched
the battalion on the decks Of the above named
steamers. The left wing of the battalion oceu-
pied the latter, and the right wing occupied the
former The men once on board, then com
menced the reshipping of the baggage train This
may seem at first to be a small job, but when you
come to learn that we had about thirty FIVE
wagon loads of goods besides sixty-five horses
YOU will at once see that it was no small jcb 20
accomplish, and what added to my perplexity
Lieut.. Col. Spooner absent and Major Cole
scott was quite unwell. However, at O'Clock
we were ready and at once started for Louisville
We had gone but short distance down the river
before the fog became thick that OBJ
liged 70 lay TO until near O'Clock in the morn
ing. when it cleared away. and we moved down
the river at good speed and arrived At Louisville
at half past IL o'clock.
at once reported to Gen Buell. in person, who
ordered me 10 encamp near the Nashville depot
We at once commenced unloading the boats, and
preparing for march through the city. The
boys were in good spirits, and prompt in obeying
all orders; but by this time the Major was con-
fined to his bed, which left me without field of
iicer to assist me; but in about three hours we
were prepared for march. BY this time there
was not less than FIVE thousand people gathered
together for the purpose of welcoming the Hoo
sers to their city. Many were the invitations
from prominent citizens to march through diff
ferent parts of the city, but preferred to take
the shortest roaa to the camping ground, in or
der to fatigue the boys as little as possible. How
ever, we marched through near the center of the
city for about two miles, during which there was
one perfect ovation, and the only difficulty we
had TO contend with, was TO get room TO crowd
through the living mass of spectators that rushed
i'll from all sides, cheering and waving handker-
chiefs, an evidence of our welcome.
Il must not forget to remark here, that some of
the company officers were especially serviceable
in assisting me in the difficult task of shipping
aud reshipping new regiment, together with
the baggage train attached thereto. Capt. Nc
Guire, Capt. McHolland, Capt. Fleece, Capt
Brown, Lieut. Russell, Lieut.. Chambers, and
Lieut. Reeves, are amongst those that were fore
most in any duty, however arduous it might be,
and take this opportunity TO express to them
my highest esteem for their energy and prompt
ness in performing whatever they undertook; and,
in truth, can say, that the whole regiment be
haved in a manner most becoming soldiers and
gentlemen-not a drunken man amongst them
from the time we struck tents at Indianapolis
until the present.
We encamped above, and remained the next
day and night, when we were ordered to march
TO this place. Before starting. however, the Ma
jor and Lieutenant Colonel had both Joined me,
which at once relieved me OF much arduOus la
Dor. The truth is. they are both A No. men,
and withal good social, companionable gentle
men. had almost forgot to mention Adjutant
/ .
place, and at the right time.
We proceeded from Louisville by the Bards
town pike through one of the most beautiful
countries the eye ever beheld, and encamped ten
miles from the city. The night was warm and
pleasant; consequently We did not pitch tents, but
rolled up in our blankets and slept soundly. The
next day we marched twenty one miles, and
pitched our tents about 4 o'clock p N. The
weather had changed so that it was freezing con-
siderably. The next morning (Saturrlay)
rived at Our present camp, which had been Sc
lected for ns before our arrival. The locality is
not good one, and since il has commenced rain
ing it is very muddy.
We are at present under the command of Gen.
Dumont, who, by the way, is the right man in
the right place. He takes hold of matters in a
business way. and wlthal is ready and willing to
render any assistance in his power. earnestly
wish that more of the commanders we're like
him.
The weather day has been very disagree
able. and tonight there is signs that winter is
upon We shall move from here soon, per
haps to morrow, to a more favorable locality, and
at once begin TO prepare OURSELVES for the contest
I before u.s. We haer much about secessionists but
| have not had the pleasure Of seeing one that
would own that there any such traitorous
blood flowing in his veins We as yet have none
sick excepting those who have the measles, but
of them we have some fifty or sixty or the sick
list, all of whom well cared for i'm comfortable
quarters and the most of them will be fit for duty
| in few days. The Rev. E. Gaskins, our Chap
lain, is untiring in his efforts to make them com
Portable, and by the way be is of the most
useful men in the whole regiment. Long may
! he wave, &c Yours truly,
A. d. SrREIeHr,