The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-10-11

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been good men enough sacrificed already.
4, God grant that this ho-rid sanguinary war
| may soon end. ~ REvIELLE.
CAMP NEAR SHELBYvILLE, XVI
October 9th: 1862.
| To the Free Tradcr-Since writing to you
from Louisville, we have ha6 two hard
marches We have been placed in the
18th Division, Gen. Dumont commanding
and in Col Limbergs Brigade. We lett
Louisville the afternoon of the I'd inst,
after marching for two or three hours
through the city to get the brigade to-
gether. The brigade is composed of the
l04th, l05th, l33d Ill. Regis, the 18th
Ohio, and the Board of Trade Battery
The Division consists Of 8 brigades, but
have not yet been able to ascertain the
names of all the commanders. After the
whole body was together, We marched ID
miles out on the Lexington turnpike. We
encamped about l2 o'clock at night, pretty
badly worn out Next day we marched
to this place-l5 miles. AS this was the
first real marching We have done, many of
the men gave out and laid down by the
wayside. There was much discomfort in
the ranks, on account Of the Biggardly
policy of the commanding Generals in re-
gard to transportation. The men were
obliged to pack 3 days provisions, with
their ammunition and clothin. All this
is done, it is said, 10 enable the army 10
move quick. A more ridiculous notion
was never conceived, and 1t is evident
that no General who ever learned soldiery
in the ranks would make such an order.
Any old woman, who ever back ed eggs to
market, knows that no man can 90 As tar
or as fast with a heavy pack Oh his back
as he can without. Take men, loaded as
this army Is, and 20 miles Is the utmost
they can make in day If transporta-
ton were provided for the mems clothing.
% or 80 miles could be made with less
fatigue
We are now encamped in field, half
mile wes of Shelbyville. Our tents are
still back at Louisville, and probably will
remain there until Bragg gets through
Cumberland Gap and we are taught by
practical demonstration, what every ID
fool knows, that We cannot catch HIM We
are now said TO be on a forced march
That means The men are loaded with
about 90 lbs apiece, and then crowded
along as far they can possibly travel
each day. The teams to our regiment are
loaded follows The Colonies tent.
cooking stove, mess chest trunks, valieces,
carpet sacks O: the field officers, under
strappers, and negroes generally The I'd
team Is loaded with ammunitian. Tents
and provisions are not deemed of sufficient
! Importance TO be brought along Hard
crackers and pond water are considered
healthy, and sufficiently inyigorating for
the rank aud tile OF the lVith r-gt while
sleeping around in the fields without shell
Ter /. sad TO he a very healthy practice. II
a man can survive getting used 10 IT 10
this condition our grand army can make
the prodIgious distance o. 50 miles in four
days, and not Xiii over a dozen men at
that
For the past week we have been short
OF provisions. Sven DAYS rations were
served the men the day before we left
Louisville. Three days of this WAS put IN
the haver-sCk-, aud the rest pa X Ell in the
Co wagons. hauled > mills. and there
dumped aHd left Our . II stopped in
the city, attending TO business connected
with hi- otficia. station. and the army
moved of Ia this condition we took the
geld But you can starre soldiers The
men never lived better Poultry, mutton,
veal, fresh bee, and pork, seemed 10 rain
down al! .iIong the way. The salt meats
IN the haversacks sunk below par, and
with general consent it was agreed that
q NJ. are sinecures, and should be dis
pensed with
The general orders in reference to
plundering have their force. Our me n all
regard these orders They buv all they
B apf-int they I,ava
making bargains. One of our Rev. Cap
taias and a Lieutenant, however, Qess cute
than some of their privates) got them.
selves into scrape yesterday. They were
caught stealing sheep, (severe on this
pious regiment) They were arrested and
brought up before General Limberg, who,
after explaining 10 them the wickeduess
of sheep stealing. sentenced them to eat
what sheep they had, except one quarter,
and to send that to the Colonel. AS proof
of the act. and then report for further
punishment Notwithstanding this severe
punishment, however, mutton is more
abundant than ever
Yesterday, every man constituted him.
self Q. NJ, and new subsistence depart
ment Was organized. The arduous duties
of this department which have kept our
regularly appointed @ NJ so busy, have
now been distributed among the whole
regiment. The effect of this new system
is hugely beneficial In less than hours. |
every company had a first rate team to
haul their luggage. The men are in fine
cheer now. Plenty to eat, contrabands to |
cook, and no knapsacks to carry.
political movement was started in |
camp this morning by some of the leading |
abolitionists. Capt Misner, took the Press |
dents Emancipation Proclamation and !
went to all the companies read it and then |
took tho vote upon it all, of course, who |
voted at all, voted aye" Co A, refused to |
vote. But declared to pursue the follow
ing policy. They would abide by the con- |
stitution and lawes of the U. S obey the
orders of all superior officers. Hire what
contr; bands they needed Draw their |
regular rations when they could get them
from q. NJ. d. and when not take where
ever else they could find them. Discoun-
tenances all marauding and jayhawking, |
but whenever necessity compelled us to |
prey upon the country for subsistence, the |
officers of the company will make detail !
of men to seize what they what they want |
the officers assuming all the response |
6iHty. Thus far Co. 4 has maintained |
spotiess character Not a man has been |
arrested for plundering or theft-for ne |
gro stealing or any other disorderly or |
unsoldlerly conduct. Let other companies |
claim the same good name if they can.
The camp has been in perfect commo
ton all forenoon. Negro owners have been !;
in camp after their slaves The aboli |
tionists at once we're in c0mmotIon, and |
mob gathered around the men who |
claimed to be in camp under verbal |
order from Gen Dumont OF course the |
negroes stayed and the men claiming the |
darkies returned empty. l expect, how
ever, to see some fun here yet on this |
negro question. But l must wait for fur |