Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1861-12-14
ARMY NEWS.
cAAD oaouAnD, Nov. ls lse

cRAD ORCHARD, Nov. 16, 1ssi
Mr.. Enron: ll
Our arrival here yesterday, was after one
of the hardest marches that has ever been
my lot to take part in We left Camp Cal
vert at 8 p. m. on the 18th, ard at / a. m.
Of the next day we had succeeded in reach
ing Wildcat Hill Here ouf patience was
somewhat tried. The horses were unable
to drag the guns up the ascent, and for
four long dreary hours we toiled and work
ed, when finally success crowned our efforts,
and we had the satisfaction of seeing the,
last cannon pass the Summit and begin the
descent on the other side The baggage
wagon, however, did not succeed SO well.
The number of horses allowed to each wag-
on being insufficient to perform the task re-
quired of them, gave out before they reach
ed Wild Cat, consequently the infantry aud
artillery moved on without them. We had
expected to camp at Wild Cat, at least for
few hours but on went Recommending
officer, and we followed. Splash went the
mud at every foot fall, while the painting
of the horses, aud the moody silence OF the
men testified to the complete WEAKNESS OF
both man aud beast. At the base Of the
Hill runs the Rock Castle River, aud at its
banks our passage for time was stayed.
! The river was so swollen by the recent rains
that its passage was deemed unadviSable I'M
til the light of day should aid us in fnd-
ing safe place TO cross. Our guns were
parked in the stable yard of one of the ma.
tives' of that region and our teams unhitch-
ed aud fastened to the fence, while the men
lay down, some on the gronnd, some in the
stable with the horses and cattle, and some
on the portico of the house, TO obtain II
possible, something of that rest which We
all stood SO much in need Of IS
AT length day broke, but il brought no
comfort A hard rain had set in, and gave
little promise anything better that dag.
The bugle sounded, our tired and hungry
horses were hitched up by tired and hungry
soldiers, and the fording of the river begun.
The horses, as we'll as the men, were dispr-
| tied, and il was some two hours before the
crossing was effected. The correut was
very strong, and in some instances the hoF-
ses lost their footing. and IL required the
utmost exertion TO keep them from go
ing down stream. Some, after getting into
the middle of The stream, refused to pull,
reauiring an addition of four to six horses
TO get them out of trouble. The danger
was not iriAing, as the river was rising rap
idly, and every minutes delay only render
ed the crossing more doubtful and danger'
ous sad
But there must be an end to the great
est undertakings, aud SO there was 10 our
fording. The cannon aud the caissons were
all over safely and on We went, no one
knowing how long we we're to travel. or
when or where We were TO fetch up. The
roads, which all along had been very mud
dy aud disAgreeable, now grew worse, 50
that 10 addition to the mad. which plaster
ed man and beast at every step, rocks and
stones Of all descriptions impeded our pro-
gress, and over which our cannon jumped
and jolted until lhe riders we're forced TO
walk though faint from excessive labor and
want of food. No cessation. no hating Of
any length, but on, still on, up and down
bills that fud no comparison 10 Ohio, and
, on whose SUBMITS the Turkey Bnzzards
build their nests, as instinct teaches then,
} that there they are safe from the Intrusion
| Of man. The sick in ambulanees--.pFopef-
" named the sick mans terror-~weEe JOLT
ed until each bone and muscle seemed