Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1861-09-04
LETTER FROM MISSOURI.

HILOT hNOB Mo Aug. I'D 1861,
Friend Todd,-As have few leisure mo
ments this morning, l concluded that 1 would
give you slight description of my travels since
l left Chicago for the seat of war. The Zouave
Regiment left Chicago Sunday evening April
the 2Ist for Cairo. We arrived at Centralia at
two O'Clock, Monday P. NJ where we par:ook of
some breakfast it being the first refreshments we
had tasted since our departure fIom Chicago
After halt of one and half hours, we procee-
ded Southwark until we reached point 81 miles
North of Cairo, where the Illinois Central Rail
road crosses the '' Big Mudiy.". Company 4.
Capt. Hayden. was left here IN charge of the
% Big Muddy Bridge" which was in danger Of
an attack from the SecessiOn!sts Of jackson Co.
The rest of the troops proceeded on to Cairo
where we arrived at z. NJ, of the same night,
everything appeared very quiet. Cairo is a town
of great importance in our present trouble. is
built in the evee of the Ohio river, and contains
some 8 or 10 900 inhabitants. At the lower end
of town the Ohio and Mississippi rivers unite and
form the great Father of waters. About two
o'clock we were called out of the cars. where we
intended stopping for the night, by the sentrys-
| They thought we were to be attacked. One tall
fellow who. perhaps, was an associate of old
- Abe's," )" whilst navigating the Wabash, ordered
the few byslanders to fall ill., and route the Union
soldiers. They fell into line and marched off,
but to our sorrow did not return. We stood on
guard all night. At a NJ Of Tuesday morn
ing, we partOok Of our dinner at the St Charles
Hotel, there took our artillery off the cars,
and took up our position alurg side of the Hotel.
At noon a soldier came from :. Big Muddy sta
ting, THAT they were threatened at nlghtiail by a
force of &c men. Forty of our best shots wele
sent to their relief out of company X. supported
by one piece of artillery. We arrived at - Big
Muddy at twilight, brought our artillery 10 COM
mand the bridge, removed some rubbish. AMI at
haa- "A
we all retired to our virtuous couch, which was
nothing more or less than TO stretch ourselves on
the ground. and wrap ourselves up in a single
/ blanket alongside Of a large camp fire. We did
Eot have a shelter of any kind for more than two
weeks. The first night of our sojourn in this
place among the worst have ever experien-
ced. Though we were not as yet baptiSed in
blood. we were pientifully immersed in water
while the whole park of heavens artillery seem
cd 10 be directed against Us, shot after shot broke
throughout the invaded soil every fe@ moments
would 4 shot greet our ears The drum beat to
arms. aud thrice throughout that long and drea-
/ ry night, were we drawn up IN battle array, but
nary" enemy came. Some of the sentry's had
! great imaginative powers, and more than once
! had Nlr Stump to pay the debt of not answering
/ the challenge, 50 who goes there" No person
| can doubt but there are good shots in our ranks
| if they should pass this direction and see black
! stump close to the bridge, which bears the marks
| of l5 bullets. During my stay at camp Hayden
! the steamboat Hillman was brought to her senses
and feelings, by six pound shot being thrown
| across her bow. She hove to and was found to
| have a valu Ible cargo aboard, in the shape of
war missils. consisting of cannon balls, ball car
| tridges revu!verS, (tbe latter were in square
wooden boxes. and marked I" Stomach Bittcrs, ,')
wooden shirts shoes and woolen hose, valued at
| s. 900. From camp Hayden were ordered
to Springfield, and were sworn in for 80 days at
the expiration of which time came back to
Chicago in time to be present at the funeral ser
vices of the late S. A. Douglas. We then en-
| camped al Cottage Grove. for two weeks. Cot
tage Grove is three miles from the centre Of the
city, the city horse-way terminating at this place.
SO we had plenty of female visitors well as
male. But as it is mail time will close
STrNSNTETT