The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1862-03-08
ARMY CORRESPONDENCE
OK BOARD THE g SALLIE LIST"
42ND REGIMENT INDIANA VOLUNTEERS,
February 25th. 1862.

teDruarY Zotn, 1867.
Mr.. EDITOR :-On the 23d inst, at Q
O'Clock L. NJ, we left Paducah with our
whole feet, and at Ii A. NJ, the same day,
we entered the mouth of the Cumberland
river. am happy to inform you that the
left wing Of the 42nd was never more hap
py than since we entered this river.
The water is very high-all the low lands
are completely inundated, and in many
places we have seen houses half under the
water. The weather being fine, we have
had glorious chance 10 see all we have
passed. The scenery along this river is
really beautiful and romantic. High ledg |
es Of rock, covered with evergreens, over
hang the water, and we are continually |
feasting the sight upon some object of at
traction, either in the way of towering |
rocks, magnificent forests, or small villages; |
but, in fact, anything is truly great re-
lief after having spent winter in the
Green river country. 4r
At II M, precisely, the oath inst, our
good boat hove in sight of the now histori-
cally interesting Fort Donelson. 1t would
seem to one that if the rebels failed with
&c, 900 troops to hold that place, they had
just as well "give up the ghost" for from
the river, the Notifications looked as if they
ought to have been formidable to almost
any force. If yeu stop on this river, you
find the people very anxious to convince
| you that they are for the Union, and all
the way up, until we reach Fort Donelson,
| the ladies' were continually waving their
/ * r. ~ Saa 1a1r hate
our boys. The boys cheered the ladies,
but invariably invited the men to 'fshoulder
their muskets" and come with us. But
alas, they were not in for " marry shoulder"
but would at this invitation very coOlly put
on their hats and look as sneaking as a
| whipped hound. The truth of the matter
is this Hundreds of those who now below
for the Union along this river, have been
vile rebels, but will huzza for anybody to
save their own scalps.
A little above Evans Landing, were two
large rolling mills, owned by a Mr.. Hill
mon, on Hindmon, who is very wealthy and
is a rebel He was the owner of five
hundred negroes, but in an early day of
our troubles, he "skedaddled South with
his cargo of human flesh, for fear the
I" Yankees" might come and confiscate EN- !;
but he soon got sick of it, and returned to
look after his property left behind. / was
informed by Union lady, who happened to
be born in Ohio, that our rolling mill man
said, on his return fsd-n the Southern
Conlederacy; l wish had taken the other
side; but by Cd it is too late now" So
many of them win say before long-the
Lord being willing.
The celebrated rolling mill just above
Fort Donelson, from which Buckner got his
shot, shell, &C., will give US no more trou-
BILE. That place is most delightful spot,
and I really doubt the propriety of burning
the mill, but perhaps it was best, as we
could make no use of it.
} am told by the rebels along the river
here that they ore submissionists now !;
/ that they give up the cause, and are will
ing now to come back into the Union and
t behave themselves. The plea now is that
/ they were deceived that the Ignorance and
credulity of the people were worked upon,
? and that they are surprised that We don't
J take their niggers.
am told that this Cumberland river
country is almost entirely destitute of any
> literary culture; that schools are decidedly
! like angels visits. One citizen told me,
: that in the country, near where the two
: States ioin-Kentucky and Tennessee
y forty-five fftieths of the people there could
: neither read nor write. / could hardly be-
: Iieve it, but when | inquired of some other
: persons how far it was to Fort Donelson,
Smithland, and other points on the river,
= and learned that they never had heard oil
places not more than five miles away, was
: forced to believe them either excessively
ignorant, or inveterate fools. II ever there
was place "where ignorance was bliss, y
e the country joining Kentucky and Tennes-
n see must be the place if the people them
selves tell the truth. ! do not think there
is any further danger from this Cumber-
land river country, for all who will fight
have already gone into the rebel army, and
d those left are glad to be on either side, SC
) they don't have to fight they are a great
e deal like some folks we left behind US
''non- combatants and submissionists"
The federal army and the high water are
doing wonders for this Countrywide one
whipping secession out of the rebels, and
, the other washing their sins away-that i:
it if that element has not lost its cleansing
"a properties. A terrible reverse of the rebel
arms and an unusual overflow of water are
. severe visitations from Providence for tht
e crime OF rebellion.