Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1861-10-17

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DEAR RErrBLlcAS:-I promised you a
weekly correspondence. but in the outset
| fear l have been, compelled by circum-
stances to break my pledge. and that at
least one Issue of your paper will go out
without any thing from Co. D.. 9th Reg't.
Our Regiment and the 18th Indiana.
were ordered to this place last Wednesday
afternoon. Our company had been out for
IS hours previous on picket guard. and we
were anticipating good rest in our cosy
tents for at least the next "a hours. But
when it was made known that there was
fight ahead. the boys forgot their fatigue,
and with three hearty cheers commenced
the preparations for marching. 1t was
late when we started. and we encamped
over night at the foot Of Cheat Mountain,
about s miles from Camp Kimball where
we were to await reinforcements. In the
morning we commenced the ascent and for
eight miles we followed the tortuous,
winding way before the summit was gain
ed. We had started at daylight. before
breakfast. and had nothing to eat en- the
road but some dry crackers. which up!or-
tunately turned out to be musty aud totally
unfit for food. To add to our discomfort
the wagons which contained our camp
equippage and tho provision train did not
eight miles ard tie bracing mountain air
had sharPened om appetites and we soon
began to experience the pangs of hunger
in righ; down earnest. A little establish
ment in which some enterprising individ-
ual boarded few officers and others who
were determined not to "come down" to
salt pork snd hard bread as long as their
money lasted. was besieged by set o.
hungry fellows who implored the landlord
/ in the name Of humanity and his love O.
money to give them something to eat: but
he was deaf to their appeals, declaring
that he had not enough for his regular
boarders. But at last the wagons came
and lost time was soon made up in tn,
consumption of rations.
And here may be said to have commen
ced the "winter of our discomfort" Nigh
set in with cold. penetrating rain. driv
en- by most wintry blast. Fires had beer
built. but SO heavy was the storm tha
they only male our wet clothing smok,
without affording any warmth whatever
Tired out and sleepy many sought vainly
for sheltered places in which to court th
drowsy god. l have neglected TO say oe
fore that the spot was one Of the mos
cheerless and uninviting that ever cas-
my eyes upon. Huge rocks of All man
ner of shapes covered the entire surface
and they in turn were covered by a spongy
mass which absorbed the water, and rem
dered dampness doubly damp. A few
found shelter in the tents of the 14th Indi
ana. which did all in its power to accom-
modate us and alleviate our sufferings. bu
the great majority were exposed to the pit
Hess storm without any shelter whatever
Morning dawned at last. but with no i'm
provement in the weather; indeed. Friday
Sept. 9th. viii be remembered by many
brave fellows as the date OF, the creates
suffering OF their lives. o Well may it b,
said that the powers of human endurance
were tasked to their utmost. The Surgeon
advised that whiskey rations be issued I,
the regiment, at the rate of about two gal
I Ions to each Company, About one thirt
of the men were off in the camp of tn
l4th. trying to get ont of the rain. som'
were afflicted with rigorous temperance no
Ftions, consequently not few secured dou
BILE rations, which was just about enough
to make them feel like they owned 18t
acres of land with pretty little wife t.
adorn the cottage on the aforesaid cultiva
ted farm. Merry shouts asd Songs ti!let
the air, end With awakened euergy shaptie'