The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1862-02-28
BowLiNe GRrts, Kentucky,)
tnrO

""'e PROMISED 10 write some particulars q
, our march when we should leave Dacor
Creek for warmer climate; butas | call VI
their names, find their number is so grea
that 1t will be impossible for me to writ,
them all, owing TO the limited time a, my
command. l have therefore determined, i
' they and yourself will indulge me, TO max,
= one letter, for the present, answer for all.
We have had hard matching and worse
lodging and fare for the past week. We
LETT Bfcon Creek, Monday, the 10th instant.
reached Green River in the afternoon, cross
ed and went into camp in one Of the pleas.
ATTEST spots we have yet occupied, where we
spent two days.
: On Thursday morning. we struck tents
and started with one days rations for the
i"Tunnel," a distance of eighteen miles,
which place We passed, and in the grey OF
the evening pitched our tents near "Belps
Tavern," in snow storm. The roads we
found obs,ruced ia every possible manner,
from Green River to this place. Every tree
that would reach the road was chopped into
IL, and even brush, rails and stones were re.
sorted 10, as u means 10 detan us on the
road; but our Pioneers made quick work Of
clearing away their cob.housc Instructions,
and we suffered but little delay therefrom -
The seoundrels had also poisoned ali the
woter along the road, by leaving CARTONS in
every spring or pond that contained buck
etful of water. In one small pond by the
roadside, counted the blooted corcasses Of
six horses aud mules that had been driven in
and shot. These horses aud mules were
mostly the property OF Union men, STOLEN
from their stables, and left as nuisances, no,
only 10 annoy tleir owners with the stencil
OF their purifying careases, bu! TO render
the waller unfit for the use of our soldiers,
whom they had not the manliness and cour.
age to stay and meet. The pollution of the
water was remedied, in a great measure, by
our being provided with cnnteens filled with
tie Green River water, which lasted all that
day; and for the next. we were able 10 sup
ply ourselves with an Indifferent al, Gle from
various sources. Long before daylight on
Friday morning, revcille was sounded, and
we set to work beating the snow and sleet
from our tents, and broke the stiTened can.
vass into bundles. loaded them on the wag
ons, and with limbs benumbed with the
breath Of the coolest morning we have yet
experienced in Kentucky, started on q rapid
march, which soon thawed us out and gave
us the use Of our limbs again. Gen. Mitch |
ell lad already advanced with FIVE regiments
of infantry and LoomiS' battery OF six Par.
rot guns, TO attempt to prevent the turning
of the bridges across the Big Barren River,
which dispatch Of the night before Lad told I
him the rebels were intending TO do. But n /
distance oftweriy.two miles, with obs,ruc,-
IONS more or less formidable all the way,
could not be overcome in time, and he ar
rived a few hours too late. Our orders wer-
to advance TO dripping Springs seven
miles aud there await further otders.-
There we arrived and waited four hours
standing in the snow and mud or sitting on
fences until nearly paralyz.l with the cold. .
when we received orders to move forward 10
Bowling Green, with all possible dispach .
The men were somewhat stimulated With
the news that Gen. Mitchell was shelhng
the city and needle ouf assistance, and we
started or al q round pace, in good spirits.
but steady march of freen mil without
a moments halt, found many stopping t.
rest their weary limbs by The wnysidc, and
all greatly exhausted, We arrived at the bank
OF the river in time to see tie cxpirInr
lanes Of the Grcs ,he van'nls hal light, d,
The smoke Of which had been visible to us all
the afternoon. Tired as was, | could no,
rest until had learned what had hOppen,d,
and On in JURY, learned that Gen. Mitchell, /
arriving here about noon, found the rebels
had retired across the rive. and destroyed
the bridges. anil those that remained IN IN.
city were busy At the railroad depot loa ling
cars, which they could be seen switching
about. a few shots were fred into them,
disabling locomotive anh doing other DAM
age. was told by citizen yesterday. who
was on the spot, that lindman aad iiardee
were standing IN COMPENSATION on the South
side Of the depot, whgn q she'll from one Of
Loomis's P0rrn,t guns introduced itself
through the wall from the other side, and
exploded with terrific noise inside. The
chlyalrous Generals Immediately gave or.
deIs TO set Ere 10 all the buildings contain.
ings public property, together with all the
depot buildings, machine shops, &C., while
they (ihe chivalrous Grnerals,) mounted
their horses and ned. l.
Saturday was spen, in momen,ary expect
alton Of something to do, but the day passed
without any orders.
Yesterday was Sunday, which spent not
altorelher IN accordance with my Puritan /
ical training. About II a. M, we were or
dered across the river. and there being NO
means OF crossing, except on a temporary
foot bridge, constructed OF the fallen timbers
of the railroad hrihge. our baggage all lad
TO be brought over on the shoulders OF the
men, where ii was packed on platform cars
and pushed up here, about mile, by hand,
when we unloaaenel and went into camp.
This morning we are wailiog for other re.
giments TO cross before proceeding, and may
not start before TO morrow. Wnen We march
the 2lst will have the advance, at least that
was the arrangement yesterday.
have been through the town little this
morning, and such a scene OF destruction
never witnessed. Whole blocks OF iine bus
mess houses are still smoking in their ashes.