The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1862-10-23
Army Correspondence.
CAMP NEAR DANvILLR
Oct. 18th, 1863. (

CAMP NEAR DANvILLE
Oct. 18th, 1869.
Dear Gazette;-I snatch this opportu.
nifty Of writing of the doings Of the Goth
Ohio as time is too precious to be lost,
TO inform your readers where we are, and
how We got here. A. my las, writing
we were still at Louisville if l mistake
not. Since then our experience as sold
iers in the army of the Union has been
Of varied character. We are now up
on the war path eager and anxious for
the fray. We have been following the
track Of the invader Of Kentucky for two
weeks, and exciting has been the chase
Every muscle has bad full play. Every
energy has been put in requisitiou for the
race, and now. nearly worn out. exhaust
ed and foot sore. ye. with ardor and the
indomitable spirit which chsracterizes an
American soldier unabated, we have got
the enemy at bay in position on the cliff
Of Dick river, in close proximity to
"Camp Dick Robinson" so much heard
Of during last winter when 1t was the
abiding place Of the gallan. 17lh Ohio.
When the "ior ward movement" was COM
menced at Louisville tie whole army
was reorganized. The new regiments
were placed in brigades side by side with
the old ones. New brigades consequent.
Iy had TO be formed, and commanders
had to be assigned. Our brigade was
broken up and the Goth placed iu the 99d
Brigade, General Cruft comman ding, and
4th Division. Brig. General Smith. TIE
general opinion among officers and men
was that Bragg would make desperate
stand at Bardstown, and il defeated there
would fall back on Lebanon. On our
march our front was continually harrassed
by the enemy's cavalry and light artil
lery. Every effort was made By them to
re,ard our advance. Skirmishing was
kept up continually. Bridges were burn.
ed 10 prevent the passage Of our !rains,
tu, all their efforts we've in vain. We
moved slowly but surely-not moving
far but continually going. The men
were all in good spirits, and believed
themselves to be fully able to cope with
the veterans Of Bragg's army. The mer
suffered some from thirst, water being
very hard TO get, and also from heat anC
dust. But We had provisions plenty
while using only our ratiops, but usec
the fresh meat which the boys woult
manage to con6scate without The
knowledge OF our superiors. we Jared ex
ceedingly well. As we nearsd Bards
town We were kept on the alert. Th'
rebels were reported to be there, by th'
scouts, in force, and we moved with tb,
utmost caution. On Saturday, the AL
inst, we were within three miles OF tn,
towp, when we learned the rebels hat
"skedaddled," TO the chagrin of the men
Buell. is considered sharp. but Bragg
pulled the wool over his eyes" o.
Sunday, 4th inst, we started once more il
quest Of the enemy. rs we were goinl
into Bards,own we passed the vacate,
encampment Of the rebels, Our cavalr,
brought in some prisoners. Quite squa
passedsus while on the march. A sorry
detected looking Set of men they were
! I have read many descriptions of lhei
utterly destitute condition and woful al
pearance, but never credited them: bu
| am now satisfied Of their truthfulnesl
What power KEEPS their army together
cannot tell. Desperation alone can do j
How they can fight l am not able
understand. l was struck with the az
g pearance Of their clothing more than any
: Il ing else; uniforms it cannot be calle,
!, Garments tsttered and torn of every hu
e and color, reminding one of the story {
Joseph's coat of old. The wistiul loo
with which they gazed upon the blu
t. coats showed that no moral suaSiO
4 would BIZ necessary to induce them to re
!. dead man for such suit.
J. We passed through Bardsto an, plac
g of considerable notorety. bu, not ofmuC
consequence, being small town. Suf
ering from thirst hitherto, here we ha
an abundance Of water, cool and refeesl
6 ing. running from the rocky sides Of tt
immense hills surrounding the town.
certainly is situated in the roughest po
o tion oi The State. We camped on the h
south east Of the town on Sunday nigh
IS On Monday we had the sorest time of Il
march. We left the Bardstown pike ar
!. struck across the country for the Da
}, vile and Lexington pike. The roi
h travelled over vas country bYfoa
'f which the builders Of, (not recognizil
n n the old maxim "that the length Of h
= :, bail" to use homely expression, sis Il
d same lying or standing.") had made ov
a the steepest hills and toughest hollo,
of that could be found. OF all the roa