The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-08-12

2lst inst. Our preparations were made
accordingly, and at the appointed hour
we were ready, but for some unaccount-
able reason we did not get away till
about nine o'clock. The force consisted
of two brigades-nine regiments and two
Notwithstanding the first division
of the Army Of the Mississippi" The
weather was exceedingly warm, and the
delay in starting threw our march into
the heat Of the day. The consequence
was the loss, from the 10Th and 18th
Michigan regiments, of six men, who
were overcome by heat before one o'clock
p. m. At that hour we had maze eight
miles, and were all ready to "give out"
Hating I'LL five o'clock, we proceeded
four miles further, and camped for the
night. 1t was the veriest folly to COM
mence the march so late in the morning
Had we started at the hour indicated in
the order, all would have been we'll We
would have marched till nine o'clock
and rested till five, completing the day s
work in the cool Of the evening.
On the second day we marched very
slowly, resting during the heat Of the
day, and reaching Juka, a pleasant sum
mer resort four miles west of the Ala.
bama line, before dark. There was no
suffering this day or the following. We
were becoming rapidly accustomed to the
heat, so that on the cath we made TWEEN
ty-two miles much easier than we had
the first eight OF the march. We were
now four miles from Tuscumbia, a fine
town on the Memphis & Charleston rail
road. We had passed from a Mlssiss-
ippi wilderness into the beautiful valley
spurs of the Cumberlands formed long
blue line, rising here and there to the
dignity Of mountain heights, oftener
sinking into low ranges of abrupt hills,
covered everywhere with dense forests Of
oak and pine. Around us was a beauti-
full undulating country, ornamented with
the elegant residences of rich planters
Evidences of former prosperity were ev.
erywhere visible but how sadly has wal
changed the face of nature Immense
cotton fields on every hand this year lie
falow-corn has dethroned the old king
but he yields the scepter with a feeble
trembling hand.
The next day we entered Tuscumbia
Quite number OF troops were quartereC
here, and more were left from our divis
ion. Activity prevailed, but it was til,
activity of war. The village is quit,
well blu It, and will compare favorabl,
with Northern towns of similar charac
ter. About noon news came that bauC
Of guerrillas had torn up the railroad
track, and burned one Of the bridges be
tween Tuscumbia and Decatur, dispers
ing our small guard at the bridge. Th
non arrival of the eastern train confirmed
the rumor, and our regiment was pu
aboard train, and sent on to hold tn
doughty warriors in check. We pro
ceeded twelve miles and camped by tn
track. An additional force Of infantr
and cavalry was despatched at l2 o'cloc
J the same night, TO assist in scattering
, the guerilas, who were of course alread
scattered in the mountains, many mile
, from the scenes OF their raid. They &C
J complished their object in obstructin
communication, but did not choose [
/ remain 10 be picked up by the superio
t force they knew would soon be upo
+ them. 1t is their plan to attack and CAP
+ ture, but not to hold positions. The
D make brilliant dash, working perhap
immense injury, and are quickly off
their mountain retreats, where pursu
would only drive them little further OF
70 end this kind Of warfare we need
: vastly increased force, and vastly i'm
!. proved policy. We are altogether tc
5 amiable. Tho rebels laugh at US II
|, must make them fear as.
We are now stationed at the burr
i bridge near the village of Courtlan(
: twenty six miles east of Tuscumbia. tt
q force overcome here consisted of tw
Q companies of infantry aud two Of caya
!. ry. AT the time OF the attack they wei
Q mostly scattered through the countl
e hunting vegetables and poultry. entireI
n off their guard. The guerilas sdyar
o ced from every side through tho pick
II lines without being discovered, and ma
IF ing sudden dash. captured the nfantl
}. almost without resistance The cayal
3 hastily mounted, and in the confusion Q
3 capped with the loss of one man killed AZ
o two captured. The bridge was fred al
" the stores secured. Back again to Il
A. Al L 4 r.