Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-12-05
From Camp Dick Robinson.

We are permitted, by gentleman Of this
city, to publish the following private letter
from the rear of the left wing of the Army
in Kentucky, written by his brother and
dated Camp Dick Robinson, Garrard County,
KY, December 3, 1861:
Ny DEAR BRoTHER: have failed of late
to post you, ard now expand relative TO
movements at Camp Dick. You will recol-
lect it in history, however, as being the
rendezvous of sundry regiments prior to the
Wildcat demonstration on one Zollicotfer.
The Thirty. first Ohio Regiment, Colonel NJ
b Walker, was the first to enter this far into
the bowels Of the dark and bloody ground.
II is a gallant regiment, and would have
done honor TO the State it represents had it
maintained its advanced position; but the
officers and men are loud in their complaints
for the manner in which their valiant
Colonel didn't urge his claims to lead the
column. When the advance was made the
Tbirty.first were left behind 10 do post duty;
families were sent for, and divers of the field
officers have been enjoying such kind of
infantry amusements as are seldom found in
times of broil ar d battle. The chief duty of
a thirty onester for the two months past has
been TO break mules and stand guard on alter
nate days. 50 the poor fellows are in such
condition that to meet q body Of murderous
rebels would be aluxury compared with duty
at Camp Dick. They have abolished Hdrdee,
and now are going it on the tactics, a Ia
mulee. They are known as the mule-break.
ers-this, however, has no reference to the
initials of the Colonels name.
Our regiment, the Thirty fifth Ohio, Colo
mel Vandervier, left Paris on Sunday last and
arrived here to day, about three o'clock. We
marched through from Nicholasville, sixteen
miles, in aboat six hours-long marching, in
short time, over a rough pike, covered with
snow. Our boys stood it finely, though, and
could easily have kept on to Dapville, seven
and half miles further, but our gallant com.
mRnder said "No;" and we caDed on some
fat pork and the omnipresent cracker, to
digest which will require a short walk of
about twenty miles a day for a week to come.
We leave to morrow morning. but hither,
Of course, am not allowed to say. We were
ordered to Lebanon, thirty.fiv miles dis
tspt, ard, between you and |, confidentiaIy,
| there has been no countermand that know
Of. Our regiment is only little over eight
hundred strong, and we have laid in camp so
long at Paris that our sick list is enormously
large. With the good nursing aud kind at
tention paid us by our surgeons the boys will
be ready for fight by the time we reach the
| left wing.
may not have correct strategical ideas,
but it strikes me that 10000 or $4,000 more
/ troops IN lulS ulreCJlOu mlRnJ distress very
beautiful flank movement of Messrs. Hardee
and Zollicoffer, who are reported in the di
rection of Columbia, near the Tennessee line
But then you know none of our relations are
"gIeat guns" so we must stand aside for the
mountain howiizers. Speaking of this latter
implement, what do you think of Genera
Thomas? Amt he some on long range with
forced charges? Why, he's worse than Crat
Orchard Salts. His march from London, a few
weeks since, has forever blasted him in the
confidence of his troops.
This is going to he terrible night or
soldiers; none such has been experienced il
the army since the war of 1912 God pre-
serve our army and give us life and health tt
wipe out this reasonable plot from our ma
tion's history.
WEDNESDAY, December 4, 1861.
Fresh orders arrived per messenger thi
morning, ordering the Thirty-fi to Somer
sett, where it is said force of 10000 rebels
under zollicoffer and Hardee, had repulse,
our forces.
We leave this morning in that direction
and the Thirty. first will follow to morrow
1t is wheeling time the boys are going t
have; but look out for squalls when we NEE
the Secesh.
Write often. Ever yours. P.