Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-10-18
Cur Army Correspondence.
LETTER PROM KENTuCKY.
CAMp GoeerN. Ky. October IA, 1876.

Having an anxiety to know for myself the
condition Of affairs in this part of the late
neutral kingdom of Kentucky, | left our
goodly Queen City on the llth inst, pre-
pared to make reconnaissance in force"
reached Nicholasville about eight clock the
same evening. That noble specimen of God 8
handiwork, Ex-Governor Andy johnson,
with Hon. VIM. Maynard another brave
spirjtfrom Tennessee, went on the same train.
At Nicholasville | found q young officer
going direct to Camp Dick Robinson with
horse and buggy, and secured seat with
him. We reached the camp about midnight,
and found comfortable quarters on the floor
in one of the rooms of Mr.. Robinson's fine
residence. When ] saw how completely this
establishment was overrun, | began to feel
an instructive sympathy for these friends of
the Union cause who we're so heavily bur
dened. But when was told that Mr. Robin
son received from the Government $1,000
per week for the use of his property, con-
TESS to little of the skepticism of a very an
cient and much abused individual, who is re-
ported to have said on one occasion, "Doth
job serve God for naught" &c. | will here
narIate an incident which occurred on my
way from Nicholasville to the camp, for the
special benefit Of those who have charge of
the police regulations along our borders.
My travelling companion had told me that he
was in the employ of the Government as q
scout-that this was the very position above
all others which he had desired-thst he now
had plenty of money and could go when and
where he pleased. He told how much trouble
he bad in crossing Buckner and Zolliccffer's
lines-once being detained three days, aud
finally succeeding by forging letters-whils
be had no difficulty in crossing our lines any
where. AS we approached the Kentucky
River Bridge, which is strongly guarded, he
wished me to observe bow easily he would
pass the guards. We were brought to halt,
and the scout told his story-plausible
enough-but the officer of the guard was in
exorable, no one could pass after nine o'clock
tanned till morning. We wrapped up" aud
laid back in the buggy-the scout all the
time complaining that an officer in the army
SO we'll known should be treated in such a
manner.
Finally bethinking himself that it was a
mighty cold night and that he had bottle
of the very best old Bourbon in his pocket, it
would be good notion to water, he did so,
and thinking that it would do the aforesaid
officer good on such a cold night offered it
to him. The officer drank, and his heart
softened, drank again and talked freely,
drank again and offered to let US pass but
our scout was an officer and would not see
the service injured by the violation Of an
army regulation; so light was brought and
a great variety of written passes were ex-
amined, and we passed, with the guard all
present. When | reached this fa,- off re zion,
l learned that the said scout was suspected,
with a fair show of reason, Of being en-
| ployed and paid on both sides Of the lines.
At the camp there is considerable sickness,
| being mostly cases of measles and typhoid
fever. The Tennessee Regiments have lost
eleven men, and all other regiments four
since the camp has been organized.
l left camp on the morning of the 18th, and
went to Grab Orchard, q distance of twenty
miles over an excellent road. l am told thai
a large majority of the citizens along this
route are Union men. The few SeceSsionists
however, are very rabid; one of them, mar
by the name of Ousley, not long since free
upon the Home Guard at Grab Orchard from
window, and as he put his arm out of thu
| window to fire q second time, the bone o.
said arm was instantly shattered with rift
ball. Had it been his head it would havt
shared the same fate.
From Crab Orchard to Somerset, in Pu'
| laski County, a distance Of twenty eigh
| miles, / Travelled over q rough mountain
country. There is better road by way o.
Sanford, but the distance is greater. All
along my route over the mountains the citi.
a wild and almost hopeless look. / met foul
men from Tennessee, with no clothing but
their pants, shirts and hats, inquiring theil
way to Camp Robinson. Another young
man, well dressed, on horseback, was on his
way to camp from Rockcsstle County. He
told me that his father, who was one of the
richest men in the county, had been robbed
of every thing he had by Zollicoffer's men,
and with his family had been turned out
of doors. The rebels took their horses into
the house and fed them corn out OF the
bureau drawers.
This camp is on the banks Of the Cumber-
land River, five and half miles from Som
erset and about half mile from Waitesboro.
1t is on the best and principal route, where
stock has heretofore been driven from Ken
lucky through Tennessee to all parts of the
South. A bold bluff, three hundred feet
above the river, commands two ferries, there
being no other place where an army train
can pass for distance Of thirty miles above
this point. 1t seems to me one of the best
points for camp in all the State. 1t is a
much easier road for forward Southern
movement than through Cumberland Gap.
| pray you to use your influence with the
powers that be to have the place occupied in
strong force without a moments delay. Pro
visions are abundant and cheap, and it is in
a strong Union neghborhood.
AS to the force already here, do not
| think it prudent to speak, only to say that il
| is increasing. | saw one company marching
in with band of music composed OF .fddl,
and snare-drum, and very good music it was
The men are nearly all good marksmen, and
are begging for rifles. By scores they begged
of me to see ifI could not get the authorities
to send them some rifles. As | can not bC
home ior some days, / commit this trust Il
| you.
Citizens of Cincinnati; These hardy ant
brave good men are not only fighting to de
fend their own fresides, but yours. If th,
rebels once possess themselves of such
strong pass as this, would not be answer
| ab1a fOP tho cafatv nf Cincipnafi