The national Republican., 1861-11-25
KENTUCKY-THE RETREAT FROM WILD
CAT CAMP

CAT CAMP.
Some brief (and not altogether intelligible)
accounts have zen published, of the retreat Of
our forces from Wildcat Camp, aud Of the ds-
satisfaction of the Tennessee Union men.
Fuller accounts are given In the annexed cor
respondeucs.
Correspondence OF the Cincinnati Commercial.
CRAB ORCHARD, KY, Nov. II.
My last letter was written from from Camp
Cnburn, near Crab Orchard The Wild.ca,
brigade, or sorrowful fragments of 1t, had but
just staggered into camp after its disastrou.
retreat from London, aud its ,attered remain.
were still struggling up the rugged road miles
in the rear, animated by hope OF finally reach.
ing haven Of rest. As that wretchcd struggle
with the elements, over ey"crable roads, will
be remembered by s 900 abused volunteers as
long as they retain their faculty of memory, 1t
deserves description.
You will remember that Wedn, sday after
noon, November 18Th, General Schoepf issued
an order requiring all the troop, to be ready
t. march at 8 o'clock that evening. Com.
mtnders Of corps were directed to carry will
them all their sick, leaving such baggage
ahd stores as could not be transported. Pre-
viously there had been rumors of an ad-
vance, and when the order 10 prepare to
move was issued to the troops, II was received
with exultation. The Tennesseeans were espc-
cislly delighted. and prepared with alac .ity to
return to their fresides. It had been currently
reported that letters had been r, ceived by
prominent Tennesseeans f ON friends at Louis
vile and Washington assuring them that the
Cumber and Gap expedition would soon be
pushed to an issue. This order, therefore, con.
Hrmed the report, and am told that Hon
nd Johpsnn Gaparol Hortar Nolnoo ol d.. .,
a ID others, were elated at the prospect of an
immediate fruition of their hopes
They did not seem to comprehend that the
order concerning the sick implied retrograde
movement. But when informed OF the fact
they were overwhelmed with sorrow and indig
nation. Mr. johnson turned from bis informan,
and entered bis hotel without one word, In
utter despair.
The information was withheld from the troops
until they were moving, when the fact flashed
upon them, and they denounced 1t with the We
hemence of disappointed soldiers. Many Of
the Tennesseans displayed strong mutinoui
spirit. Some swore they would not recede q
foot Of the ground which had been conquered
others expressed termination to desert and
return to Tennessee at all hazards, and many
went with vexation and despair The oficeri
appealed earnestly to their patriotism, au
nouncing to them that General Thomas had
ordered them 10 countermarch in order tc
meet the rebels, who were reported moving TO
ward Grab Orchard in strong force, to GU
them of, and that retrograde movement wa:
necessary to save the expedition. 1t was alsc
stated, by officers of various regiments, tha
Zollicoffer was reported marching up from Ten
nessee with strong column, to form a junc
tion with Buckner, TO penetrate the Blue Grass
country. Such were the facts and statements
prior to the hour of marching,
The amount of physical suffering caused BY
this march cannot be computed. None can tel
how many sturdy frames will bend under dis
case contracted from this ruthless exposure
The mortality list of the regiments will shortly
begin to make record. Many OF the sick wht
were dragged out of their beds in the Londor
hospitals, to be tortured on the rugged roads
saturated with rain, and chilled with cold, mus
die. Many of the well must fall i'll. All, well
there are only 250 sick in the Thirty third In
diana only couple Of hundred or so sick ir
the Fourteenth Ohio only a hundred or sc
sick in the Thirty-eighth Ohio only severa
scores sick In the Seventeenth Ohio only q
few hundred altogether. If they die-recruit
the regiments.
The loss of property is nothing The Gov
eminent is rich Only 80 horses, belonging tc
the Seventeenth Ohio. were knocked up and
rcndred unfit for service and one died one
wagon was lost and 10000 pounds of ammuni
ti)n about the same report is made by the
Fourteenth Ohio Z; so with each of the regi
mrnis But the moral effect of the counter
march il one tf its worst fratur,s The noun
taineers OF Kentucky regard 1t as retreat, ant
the prestige Of the vic Tory at Wildcat is turnet
against us And so ended the great Cum Her
land Gap expedition.