The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-07-24
Array Corre1pondenoe.
MARrINsRURe, Va, July =, /

EDITORS JOURNAL :--AIter IDaFcH VI
more than IS miles, the 18th Indiana regi-
ment arrived here about Il o'clock on
Thursday night, good deal worn out ply !
sically, but in fine spirits and with invinci- I
BILE determination. Crossing the Potomac
at williamsport, as did some %, 900 men a :
few days previous, By wRding it, we halted
for rest and cup OF coffee on the river bank
in an apple orchard which had lately been
occupied by rebel troops, where we remain
ed for couple of hours before beginning
our march across the fine region of country
on the way to Martinsburg. At Williams
port part Of the 4th Connecticut Regiment
was encamped, and on this side Of the river
q detachment of troops were quartered who
had charge Of the ferry, and whose duty il
was to receive and attend to Government
provision wagons. At 4 o'clock P. NJ we
resumed our tramp, and as we assembled the
hill leading from the river, on looking back,
we saw long line of soldiers fling down
towards the river on the Maryland side, and
knowing they, too, were bound for
Martinsburg, fresh impetus was given
us, and each one stepped brisker, determin-
ed that the Hoosier regiment should get in
several hours ahead. The troops following
in the rear afterwards proved to be two
Massachusetts regiments, and one from
Pennsylvania. At Falling Waters, and for
two or three miles this side, we saw strik-
ing evidences of the recent fight between
Patterson's troops and the rebels, in torn
down fences, trampled grain fields, bullet
and cannon ball marks, and burnt houses
and barns, besides the red traces of blood
| along the road side, where the dying and
] wounded had laid before their removal
( and within a short distance from Martins
burgh encountered horrible and sickening
| stencil, which we were astonished to learn,
1 after enquiring the cause, proceeded from
the dead bodies of the slain, who had been
buried to the number of upwards of hun
dred, and in such bungling manner as to
be afterwards rooted from the ground by
the hogs, the same evening that we passed
by. All the bodies that could be found
have since been decently inferred by the
Union troops. Arriving at the outskirts of
town, we marched through camp after
camp, until finally ordered to halt for the
hight in the street in the middle of town.
Instantly a rush was made for the wagons,
: and in q few minutes blankets and oil
cloths were spread on the pavements in the
streets, AID on every available space of
ground, where the Indiana boys slept
as soundly and as sweetly as if rest
ing in their Western homes. By
Eve o. clock the next morning the regiment
repaired to sloping hill Southeast of town,
where we are now encamped, but hourly sx-
pecting orders to strike tents and again
march forward, with the entire division
There is some military here and no mistake.
The entire fore ccl.; Gen Patterson en-
camped at this nbers over 5000
men, The trot - i.om the North, East,
, 4 and West, and to L.uOld such a concourse
of citizen soldiery, is sight seldom to be
seen in lifetime. In front of the Indiana
Regiment are three New York Regiments,
and flying artillery on the rights Massa-
sOR esPa s a H 6at st P the
But IN general equipments, the Eastern SOL
olers excel. From our position fine view
or perhaps half the entire force is to he had
and at night, especially between roll cali
and tattoo, the illuminated scene ia pecn-
Ilarly grand. Most every regiment has at
tached, fine brass band, and this, added to
the variety of other kinds of music, fur
nlsnes almost constantly, during waking
hours, grand concert, gratis. There are
/ oSsSAoA hHS SHuSylfanla Regiments here
and splendid one from Wisconsin. II Is
useless, however, to single out for praise
any one body composing the large mass, as
all look well, and must, in such cause as
they are now engaged in, conquer the rebel
lious foe.
Mariinsburgh is rather handsome town.
| not quite so large as Evansville, with rath.
er an antique and aristocratic appearance
Many OF the inhabitants left on the approach
OF Union troops, and excepting the great
numbers of soldiers to be seen on every
hand, the town appears deserted. Every
prominent house is guarded BY a sentinel
and rapid punishment inflicted upon everv
soldier who molests property. / learn that |
5000 men are detailed here fer guard dntv
Considering the large number of troops. the |
pest order and discipline prevails.
Alarms are frequent, but nothing of great
moment occurs, that you do not receive bV teI-
egraph- 1t is rumored that Gen. Patterson
with all his force, marches tonight in the
direction Of Winchester, and that General
Mcclellan has won a decisive victory. ana
Is rapidly advancing to the same point. If
true, the Eleventh viii be there too, az Col.
Wallace and his men have complimentary
ticket to the ball.
The Evansville boys are all well. and hona
70 return from the wars safe and sound.
Yours,