The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-11-22
Army Correspondence.
r. CAMP ON LOST RIVER, KY,
.a - Nov. TIN, 1862.

-ae na Nov TIN, 1862.
To the Free Trader:
Well, here we are, jaded and worn out
feet sore, hungry, and almost barefooted
after ten days hard marching: As in
formed you in my last letter from Frank
fort, we lett there the morning Of the 26tt
nlt, for Bowling Green. 160 miles. Oul
Division consisted of thre brigades, com
posed of the following regiments and de
tachments The 3Sth Brigade, commanded
by Col. Ward, Of Ohio, the 102d and l05th
ILL.,, and 10Th Ohio; 39th Brigade, Col.
Moore, l04th Ill, and lO6th and 1Osth
Ohio; 10th, Col. Dustin, 9sth Ill, 7ath
Ind, 73d Ohio the 4th Ind. and Lilly'a
Ind Battery and Nicklin's Ohio Battery.
We left Frankfort about nine o'clock Sun
day a. m. The weather was quite cold
and the ground covered with inches OF
| snow, and marched three miles beyond
Lawrenceburg, distance of a little over
IS miles, and encamped ON the east branch
of Salt river, on the sunny side of q hill,
where the snow had nearly all disappeared.
Next day we made but miles The road
being exceedingly rough aud hiily we
had much difficulty in getting the teams
through, and it was after sundown before
we got in camp. The snow had pretty
nearly all disappeared by this time, but
the air WAS still cold. We had, however,
our tents with US and they afforded US a
good shelter at night.
The third day we passed through John-
sonyille and Chapin, two small villages.
1t was at this town the recent great battle
of Perryville commenced Crab Orchard
is three miles from here, and Perryyiiie
| nine. We discovered but few signs of the
engagement here, except that the fences
were destroyed and some of the houses
had their windows badly shattered.
At Chaplin We again struck the turnpike.
and after marching four miles further, en-
camped in beautiful beach and walnut
grove The weather had now become
quite pleasant, the roads dry, and the men
felt In good spirits We made IA miles
this day and got in camp at O'Clock p. M.
On the 4th day We reached Beardstown,
about clock We encamped miles on
this side Of the town, on the middle fork
Of Salt river, on a high bluff, making l6
miles. Here We entered what is called
the Barrens-a very rough and hilly coun-
try. These Barrens are regarded as the
great wheat and tobacco region of this
State; but the present appearance of the
country Is at]ect poverty. 1t has been
,raversed by both coutending armies, al,
various times, ever since the first Invasion
of this State by the rebels. The inhabi-
tants have mostly left heir farms. and th e
houses, barns and outbuildings all present
a most ilapidated appearance. The fences
all along the road have been consumed
by camp fires, and what little corn was
left In the fields has been appropriated by
,eamsters and cavalry men to feed their
half-starved horses and mules. Boards
town has been the theatre Of quite num-
Der of skirmishes between the Union and
rebel forces. As we approach the town on
the north side everything presents desc
/ late sppearance-the houses are ali torn
10 pieces, and fences scattered over the
fields. lt was from this direction tha. the
rebel Col. Scott, entered the town and
drove out our troops, last August Salt
river bridge, on the south, and Round Hill
on the east Of the town, were also scenes
Of mortal combat, and the graves OF the
dead are seen in every direction. Boards.
town is NOW garrisoned by Battalion of
L. 5, regulars.
Tie 9th day we went TO the Rolling
Fork of Salt river, two miles this side OF
New Haven, making ii miles At New
Haven We crossed the Louisville and
Nashville X. r. A long train, loaded with
troops, came up froiu Louisville simulta-
neous with the arrival of our column
This place is strongly garrisoned with
troops, it being a central poin. and is held
as a depot of army stores. The town is
small, and looks just like a northern rail-
road town. After leaving this place We
strike the Green river country, and every
thing looks more like thrift. The farm
houses are much better, and the soil graz
dually improves rs We approach Bowling
Green. Still there is much of the land so
rough and mountainous that it is unit for
cultivation:
The sixth day we marched Is miles,
mostly through timber The roads by
this time had become exceedingly dusty,
and the whole column could be traced for
miles ahead by the clouds of dust which
could be seen rising into the air. Our
brigade was in the rear, and cur regiment
to take double share Of the sacred soil.
The eth day we entered the great ca
vern region. The whole country seems
to be hollow. All along the road are i'm
mense basins or circular holes, some POO
yards in diameter, and 100 feet deep
These holes are caused by vast caverns
underneath giving way and the earth set
tling down. MANY of these basins are
filled with water, most Of it of excellent
quality. Some, however, is unfit for use.
In others there are fine springs at the
bottom, and 1 saw several which had
large caves running from them. About
o'clock we encamped at Bacon Creek Sta
ton. Here our teams were lightened OF
all heavy luggage, which was sent by rail
to this place. All along this days march,
We noticed troops encamped but as we
could not stop we had no means of ascer-
tanning to what commands they Belonged
or from what States they came. We made
l3 miles only-the roads were rough and
the men almost worn out
The Sth day We went l6 miles. 1t was
understood the day before that we would
rest at Mumfordrille, but an order came
from Gen. Rosencrans to hurry up, which
soon dissipsted all dreams of clean faces,
clean shirts, or blacked boots. About
noon we reached Mumferd vile, and cross
ed the battlefield where tho Indianans
and Braggs army had the skirnnish n be-
fore the surrender of that place to the
rebels, this summer Mumfordsville is a
small village-containing about 1000 in
haLitant-. The country around it is stony
and hilly, and one Of the protest places
for battle ever saw We stopped here
2 hours for dinner, and then pushed for
ward to miles beyond Horse Cave. One
mile this side of Mumfordsville we crossed
| Green liver. Here we found some three