Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-01-29

AOuuu III dDl Souhtl y bul HOAbhlSoS Oh "N
count of its location This face of countr
e extended ten miles, and terminated by.al
abrupt hill. where we descended for half
mile down a steep rocky slope. The differ
ent stratas of hard lime rock outcropplne
leaving the. hill slightly terraced il
many places the rocky slope falling from {
foot to eighteen inches. In fact thinl
that General Putnam rode down at thu
Horse neck with less difficulty than oul
heavy laden four horse wagons came down
this hill. The roads were extremely mRd-
Edy and difficult, especially for our wagon
train, they having to double teams at
nearly every hill, Consequently falling fast
behind us. At II o'clock, while we were
at halt, Lieut. Col HOllingsworth made
his appearance, having been absent on bus
iness for the Regiment, for some weeks
Our boys gave hearty cheer, giving evi-
dence of their respect to this officer. 1t
soon commenced raining hard; we then
travelled on for three miles, when we came
to Renix Creek, at the foot of the hill above
named. Here we filed up the hillside,
stacked aims, and placed our backs to the
storm, and awaited the arrival of our train,
which arrived at late hour The wagons
of Companies c, and G, turned over, dam
aging their traps. The tents that arrived
during the night, were set up to the best
advantage, filed with brush, which made
US quite comfortable-while some broke
guard and slept in a neighboring barn.
But few of the boys hung their under
lip, while now and then you would hear
them shout 6. Who sCould not be a soldier
Thursday morning the 9th, on account
of the heavy rain, and the swollen condi-
ton Of the stream we did not start until
IL o'clock. The distance to our proposed
camp. was about eight miles-the whole
distance was along deep valley, with high
rocky bluffs rising to the hight of 200 feet
or more on the right bank of the stream.
while on the left was a narrow and fertile
valley which was under q good state of cul-
tiyatiOn, with some very comfortable frame
houses, deep defles running from the right
and left at right angles with the stream,
made the appearance of the country very
rough, being a succession of high bluffs
and knobs, covered with stuntcd oaks and
cedars or Overhanging cliffs of limestone
Our path was in the bed of the stream, or
winding along its rocky shore and through
fields, while our wagon train had to follow
for miles the channel of the creek. Many
places our troops had to wade the streams,
yet you would hear them sing" Here I
M IKE nag stand is Dries land" The
bed of the stream was rich with spec
linens that would be a treat to the geolo-
gists. We arrived on the bank of the
Cumberland river at 3 o'clock, P. H.,
where We encamped on the bank of the
stream, at the mouth of Runix Creek in a
beautiful location, some 40 feet above the
water. Just in our rear is an elevated
bluff, some so feet high that commands the
river for some distance above and below.
With battery of guns this point would
be hard to be taken. The Kentucky Sd
Regiment are on the opposite side of the
creek, and have in charge a steam Touring
mill belonging to some secessionist, and
grind for our men. The scenery is beau
tiful, high bluffs along the bank, an ele-
waited knob to the right and rear of our
camp, 500 feet high, running up like a su-
gar loaf covered with oak and cedars.-I
along the right bank of the river are bluffs
rising Ike wall with its bold stony front,
sloping back from the river, gradually
sinking down, forming beautiful valley,
that leads to the village of Berksville,
three miles distant, which is the county
seat Of Cumberland county. In this val
ley is salt mandatory, for which, at
the present, there is quite a demand
The women from Tennessee come a great
distance to these works for salt; the men
dare not leave for fear of the Confederate
cavalry that are marching over the country.
This section is said to be rich in oil lands
it was at this place that some years ago, 1
while boring for salt, that strong vein of
oil was struck, which rose in such quanti-
ties, that it covered the esurface of the earth |
for miles,. and actually taking fire, the
whole stream for that distance was in
blaze AT this point we are further
South than any other inland Federal troops,
md for what object we are stationed here,
s not definitely known; or what point :
will be our future destination, is only
Known to those who have the plnning of
he strategic movements of our forces; yet
is apparent that the presence of Fede.
al troops are needed here to protect as
veil asencourage the Union men of this
md the adjoining counties who are sorely
by secession troops.
The rich bottom of the Cumberland. af
ord fine f'raging country which will supply
'ur troops with means of subsistence. and :
which are the great source from which ZOl-
icOfer must depend upon to supply his az
ny. In fact he has, at the present time
possession Of mills only IS miles distant,