Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1861-10-03
FROM col. FULTOE's REGIMENT
Mo. XXI.
Written fsr the favsttswzs Observer.


Mo. XXI.
Written 5s~ the Fayetteville Observer.
BIC SpRINGs, Va, Sept. Is, 1861
M. ~ O. Waqace,- 81
Though fully satisfied that it re-
quires pen more gifted in descrip-4
ton than my own, yet as no one,
else has undertaken it, ! viii, for
the satisfaction OF those anxious
friends at home who were all APP
prised that we were expecting a
fight, try to give You a brief. de-
tail Of our travels, fights, &c.
You must know that men kept
SO long in suspense. as we have
been, are ready to obey any march
ing orders, and when on the 9Th
inst, we were ordered to take up
the march for the enelny's line,
there went up perfect shout of
Joy. Few there were that ac-
knowledged themselves unable to
take the trip; all, all were eager to
show their prowess as Tennessee
soldiers. Twas 5 o'clock P. NJ.
before we took up the line OF
march. We struck camps that
night at the Head Quarters oil
Gen. Loring-distant about 3
miles from Big Spring. Next
morning early Il will not say be-
fore the birds began to sing-there
8 is but one species here Of the feath-
cred tribe-which my. old friend
1t. Freeman calls id black
republican,; it is the raven) we
were thrown into line, and after
"a detail of 100 men with axes
and spades to act as an advanced
guard whose duty it to was cut Oh
dig out path for us, we sat out
across the mountains.
+ To give you a minute detail Of
every thing that occurred on that
day or the 4 consecutive days would
take more time and paper than ]
have to spare. Let me say, how.
ever, that Napoleon's trip across the
Alps, must sink into insignifcance
when the faithful historian dc.
Iscribes the trip of Gen. Donelson's
Brigade across the Allegllanies.
Napoleon,s men looked upon him
,revcrential awe, with degree
Of confidence never eoualled, be.
sides they were clothed, well fed,
land had all the stimulating drinks
that the viands of France afford,
pressed forward in hope Of glory
and wealth, while we, unacquain-
ted with the military skill of cur
General, knowing be had no ex-
perience, without food and our bare
feet making crimson the rough
pebbles over which they trod,
iclinging now to some shrab till We
could secure our footing in the
crevice below which if you miss
would tumble headlong down, un-
less some large rock or tree, should
present an obstacle sufficient to
check the double-quick-step move
ment, OF 'scaping this would fall
from rock to rock, til we would
be but a disfgured corpse or liv-
ing a mangled object Of pity, with
no hope of a reward save to free
our country of the "Goths and
Vandals," yet with a determina-
ton rarely equafled, never sur
passed, pushing forward without
murmur til the madly rushing
stream below cooled our parch-
ing lips. Then casting our eyes
heavenward, for the steepness of
the mountain SO directed them,
we commence our slow and wea-
risome march upward, upward I'M
til natures self refuses longer to
perform her functions and we sink
down into forgetfulness. AZ
Thus we travelled on the 2nd
day without being relieved by the
sight of a Yankee. Resting as hest
we could, without fire, with beef
unsalted, without bread, with no.
covering but lowering clouds which
which ever and anon, let loose up
on our devoted heads in perfect
torrents their waters, we slept as
only exhausted men can sleep. i
: At daylight next morning wei
again lifted our weary limbs from
mother earth, and again struck out
across the mountains. q will not
give you the names Of the differ
ent peaks over which ere passed
they are all spurs of the Alleghe-
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