Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-01-24
tIrpn lhe sersne cetulry.

ST.. LoUIs, No, Jan. Is,
EDrToRs LRADnR. The advance Of our req.
iment left Camp DsnnisOu on Wednesday,
Jan. 18th, at 8 A. NJ, and were followed
BY battaliOnH I'd and Sd SUCCESSFULLY. Ar
rived in Cincinnati at u A. NJ, having
travelled at the rate Of four miles per hour.
Our horses were literally "wet." At4P.
N. the frSt battalion moved on toward st.
Louis aboard the Ohio & Mississippi R. R.
The Second and Third battalions came on
in regular order with intervals sufficient 10
save danger Of collisions. The First battal-
ion breakfasted at 0lney, ILL.,, Jan. lelh, at
II A. NJ. Arrived at st. Louis, or rather
opposite, ct an Illinois town, the terminus
ofthe o. & N. R. R., at 10 P. N. the same
day, being twenty hours from Cincinnati.-
Have been lying here for as hours await
ing the Missii sippi river, it being closed
with ice 50 that ferry boats are prevented
from running. To-day We had orders 10
saddle and prepare to march. need not
tell you they were obeyed with alacrity.
Companies C and mounted and were soon
ct the ferry, but the Colonel who had order
ed "bridgs across the Mississippi river
to be built, after thoroughly examining
the structure, concluded that it would rot
be compatible with the public interest +"
to order an advance.
The bridge was simply this: Tho ferry
boats run about two-thirds Of the way
across, and are hindered by ice. On the
ice were layed thick plank, both to hinder
slipping and TO strengthen the ice. During
the progress of this work, the river rose on |
account Of slight thaw and submerged the |
plank few inches through, not to damage /
them, This, with the apparent fact that /
the ice was continually becoming weaker, /
probably induced the Colonel to counter /
mand his previous orders and we marched
back with saddened hearts-for we had |
longed TO place our feet upon "secessia"-
10 our quarters, which, by the way, arc in
The woods surrounding o. 4 NJ. R. R. de-
pot. We sleep in the cars of said road
nights, and take our fortunes among the
horses during the day. Until to-day we
have not drawn a ration having to either
furnish from our own pockets, or eat the
scanty rations brought, calculated for di-
-ect anu speedy marcn OF fOur days length. |
This is no fault of any one connected
with the Regiment, bat simply "our bad
uek, which we now hope soon to bid adisu
%, for the river is still rising and the ice is
moving down, which if not hindered by a
Iudden freeze, will clear the river by morn
ng, and we shall find comfortable quarters
n Benton Barracks, four miles from the
,ity, from whence We shall move up the
liver to St. Charles, about 80 miles and take
he Railroad thence 10 Ft. LeavenWorth,
Kansas. I notice in your announcement of
'ur departure you state that the "boys"
will probably be glad TO get into service
This is not true in one sense. They are snx-
Gus to see service, but not until they are
letter drilled than at present. We know
'ut little of the sabre diiil, nor are our
lorses too well disciplined. And it is the
lonest and determined wish of the men
0 have more drill, and they have confidence
nough in those that have command 70 as
ure them that their lives will not be jeop- D
ardized by being thrown into active service
without farther drill and discipline. The
It. Louis press has noticed our arrival and
iven us the compliment of being the finest
egiment in the service. E. he.