The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-12-12
From Our Army COrrespomdeslf-s-Lett er
from the Est Regiment.


CAMP NEGLEY KY, Dec 5, '61. |
The month of December commenced with a
regular Northern storm ofwlnd, rain and snow.
The mud was about 8 inches in depth. and had it
not been for the stoves in our tents, our posi-
ton would have been exceedingly uncomt"rta-
BILE As it was, we were looking forwal d with
anxiety to the time when we might bid ad'eu to
the muddy banks of the Ohio. and its hardly
less muddy waters, for dryer spot Towards
night of the same day it began 10 freeze pretty
smartly, and we had the satisfaction OF seeing
our streets " dry up" That night when we
went to bed the frost had collected on the inside
of our tents, and we began to fear that our hopes
of passing a winter without seeing any cold
weather were not to be realized. Next morn
ing, whom we turned out AS usual to roll cail,we
had our first view of winter The ground was
white with snow and the wind would have done
credit to Canadian January. About O'Clock
the word was given cut that we would strike
our tents and prepare for a march. After the
usual confusion of packing orr knapsacks, stri
king our tents and preparing our ra;lons, rem
dered still worse by the cold and wet,we started
on the mecadamized road leading from Louis
Vile to Nashville. We started about noon, the
sun shining brightly; the travelling was good and
the scenery the most mountainous we had yet
passed, and we were in excellent spirits. But
we soon met with an accident which cast shad-
ow over every countenance, andf rom which we
did not recover.during the entire day. A member
of Co. C had stopped beside the road to drink
from small creek, when he was accidentally
shot by the gun of another man who had laid
it down to drink. The ball entered his mouth
and came out at his right eye, tearing out the
ball. 1t was tie most horrible sight ever wit
pessed. He was alive the last l heard OF him,
but it is impossible for him to live. l under
stand his name was Fisher.
We travelled 10 miles, when we halted be-
side the road tired and hungry, for refreshment
and rest, in piece of woods. 1t was freezing
fast, and if the wood and rails in that vicinity
didn't suffer, it's caution. We rested here o
couple of hours, when we again took up our
march. The night was severely cold, but we
I kept warm with little exertion until we reach
ed Elizabethtown, where we were compelled to
stand in the street while they were selecting
| spot for us to encamp We finally marched
about half mile farther, stacked our gnns, and
were told to make ourselves comfortable. This
was hard thing for soldiers to do who had
marched IS miles without any rest worth men
| tioning. They seated themselves on their KNAPP
sacks, too tired to build a fire. Some were left,
however, who could muster sufficient courage
| to 60 to the neighboring fence and procure
wood. Soon the side hill on which we were, re
sembed a clearing from the number of fires
But we We're completely tired out. A few tents
were pitched, but they were too cold to sleep
in comfortably, though great many did so.-
The majority, however sat around the fire do
ling and nodding, resting as fast as possible. In
! this manner spent the time till noon. We
could not lie down, as the snow had melted and
| left the whole ground covered with water. We
| then started for the track Of the Louisville and
! Nashville L. r., where we embarked for this
place. We rode about fifteen miles and by the
time we had our tents pitched and coffee made,
it was time to turn in. We had procured corn
stalks and unthreshed rye from the adjoining
fields. which made the most agreeable bed We
| had found for some time. Those Of US who
were hot too tired slept soundly that night, but
we felt rather old the next morning. To-day
we were reviewed by the General, with the rest
of the Brigade. What regiments they are do
not know, but you will probably learn before
this reaches you. The Brigade is composed of
regiments of infantry and Z pieces of artillery
under Gen Negley.
We are encamped in field winch appears to
have been seeded last spring, hence the turf Is
not very strong. The country here is gently
rolling, and the timber is mostly oak. 1t is
the best part Of the State through which we
have yet passed. There are several regiments
within sight of US, and indefinite numbers in
this vicinity. We have to go some distance for
water, but it IS better than we have usually
had. Our camp ground is SAID to have been
occupied by Buckners army, hence we are be-
ginning to realize that there is such thing as
q Southern army.
The weather since the storm has been delight
full, and no frost even at night. 1t seems strange
to US to have 10 lie in our tents to keep away
from the sun in the month Of December; but so
it is. If this land could be rid of Slavery,
it would be the most delightful place on earth,
really believe. We have not seen church
or school house since we left Louisville, except
few dilapidated ones at Elizabethtown. The
residences, with few exceptions, misera-
BILE log huts, and the inhabitants generally rag
ged nd ignorant and appear as if their chief
living was whiskey. SO much for what man
has done Nature has been lavish with her
bountess The orchards, where there are any,
grow as if it was their natural home the woods
are filled with grape vines and the ground in
some places is covered with nuts rapid, run
ming BROOKS are frequent, filled with clear, cold
water. Let few Northern men with North
ern industry and enterprise settle in this place
after the land has been freed from its great curse
and it would be more prosperous than any
Northern State can be.
On our journey here, we were greeted with
sight of the Domestic Institution as it is, and
its resemblance TO what l had before pictured
was SO StflhlhS llidt couIu hot heiP IeHidihlls
| it. There was the beautiful mansion-more
perhaps by contrast than by actual vaue-bc-
fore it paced the corpulent owner, in the rear
were numbers of rude log huts, out of which
peeped heads of various sizes aud coIors, deter
mining at once the use of the buildings. A lit
tie farther on we see the orchard filled with enor-
nous trees, still! farther on was the corn field !;
here we saw four or five negroes husking corn
from the standing stalks into wagon bcx; seat
ed on the fence was the overseer, and on his
brow an air of naughty sternness. Minus the
whip, he was just the picture one would draw
from reading Unc lie Toms Cabin.
Those having letters to send will please d.
rect them to Camp Negley, Ella Louisville, Ky