The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1862-07-01
Correspondence Detroit Advertiser.
EXPEDITION TO CHATTANOOGA
Record OF the March of the Ninth
Mfchfgau.

We are all right aud safely back to our old
camping ground once more Since 1 wrote
you at Fayetteville we have had one of the
biggest tramps l ever heard of. Our regi
ment left Fayetteville on Monday morning
the I'd, and travelled 81 miles that day TO Tai
abama. 1t was the greatest days work 1 ev
er performed and i frequently wished myself
snugly ensconsed in my old offic in Detroit.
We marched from Murfreesbo'o, through Win.
chester and Jasper, and returned by The way
of Altamon, and Manchester making the
round trip Of 325 miles in 10 days.
Our whole force was under the command Of
General Negley, anil cons sted of 5000 Ir
f"ntry, large fnrce Of cavalry and consldsra
ble artillery. On the march our column ex
tended rom eight 10 len miles. The advance
had skirmish with four or five hundred reh
el cavalry in the Sequacha valley, and routed
them in short order, killing seventeen Of the
enemy and losing two Of our men. On Sat-
nrday afternoon SCOUT three O'Clock we reach
I'd the Tennessee river directly opposite the
city. The artillery was Immediately planted
on the side of The mounisin and eorn,uanded
the city and Qualifications, but there was not
much damage done to the city. At dark we
all drew eff and camped close together three
miles from the city. The next morning our
Regiment, the Ninth, was ordered at roll call
to prepare two days raiions in our hsversacks,
and be ready to march st 0 O'clock precisely.
We were all ready at the minute except TWEEN
" FIVE. We marched for Chattanooga. pass.
ing every soldier that came with us, and to k
the advance. When about one mile from the
city the artillery opened fire and began to
speak in an uumstakable voice, and every
man frightened up and looked five wears
younger. The head Of the Regiment filed TO
the right, leaving be road and marching thro'
small growth Of Timber, 70 lowing raviue at
the base OF the mountain until it arrived d.
rectly opposite the city, being hid all the way
from the view Of the enemy. Two comma
nies were thrown out as skirmishers, and the
balance Of the regiment was ordered to lay
down, in which position they remained for
about Two houIs. 1t was novelty COR US
The artillery was posted on the high ground
Just back Of us, and kept up continual fire
the bole time. Bang. bang, whiz, wbiz, all
kinds OF noise, shots flying and shells explol
ing ncrssantly.' Our cannonadng was only
answered by few shots from the rebel guns,
and random fire from, I suppose, old Bel
glan muskets, that would not half reach us.-l
should think that about every tenth shot
was from good piece; once in while ball
would go whizzug by. sounding about as ug
y as mimic. Our regiment was ordered 10
advance over the bill, which we did almost to
lhe river, when we gave them good old fire
by battalion.
just as we were expecting to cross the riv.
er, supposine that the city was ours, and we
were 10 take possession, as the houses were on
lire and 1t was rumorcd that the rebels were /
evacuatlng, the order came to retreat. After
we got on the road. learned that the whole |
column bad been moving three o. four hours,
md We were merely keeping up a show Of re
'lstance to cover their retrea' understood
hat the General ascertai, ed the night previ
'us that the rebels had concentrated 80 900 !
men, and were holding on TO entice us across
ha river, an1 make a clean job by bagging
he whole party. One thing is certain, we
made tall marching coming home-very much
Is though the General was little anxious To
,ain distance from the place we worked so
lard few days before to reach. | walked
very step of the way, and il any one had told
ne before that | could have done it, should
ave laughed at bin. Every man in the reg
nent was disappointed in himself, FOR no one
opposed he had The amount Of endurance all
'roved themselves to possess.