The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1862-02-27
From the First Ohio Cavalry.
CAxV SEkR BARpsfowH, KT..
Fsbruafy l6. 1869,

WIEN "o ieSei'tu uaICnluy CtueIs ~
Camp Chase. Ohio, we saddled our horses
struck our tents. DO, and rode to CUlum.
bus. aud that evening took the cars for
Cincinnati; we arrived at that place about
two o'clock The same night. We slept
till daylight and then we're ordered to
saddle our horses. We were soon ready,
d pa.aded the streets OF that beautiful city
for about two houis aud then started for
the river to take the boats for Louisville.
All was hubbub and hustle, until we 90.
our horses aboard; then we we're soon on
our way for "tbe Old Kentucky shore" I"
We had nothing to eat except hard crac.
kers. and have no teeth 10 eat them but
when we got TO Louisville l laid in din.
ner enough for six men. We had 20
place on the boats to sleep. only the floor.
and those that lay there were run over by
a lot Of boys who were cornsd 10 aconsid
cradle extent.
We arrived at Louisville at 9 A. NJ,
one man less than we started with, he
having fallen overheard go miles below
Cincinnati. As soon as we landed and
could get our horses.,ready We were march
ed two miles and half north Of the city
and camped in clover field. We fed all
Of the hay aud grain on the farm, and
then marched about two miles east OF
the town.on the plank road ,and we camp.
ed in nice poplar grove. We got our
mule teams exchanged ;poor horses for bet
ter ones; and we all felt refreshed over
our long journey, we were all spelling for
fight. We were there about five weeks
when we received orders 10 march; We
started about noon and camped about Eve
miles from town on a secesh farm. We
fed 3 stacks of oats, captured all the
chickens within two miles of camp, and
had glorious night. Next morning by
daybreak we we're on our journey. We
travelled &c miles that day through hea.
w rain and csnped by creek. Two
companies were quartered by the creek
and The rest on q hill about hundred
yards off. The heavy rain caused the
creek TO rise and it also caused the two
companies TO leave for higher ground
1t continued raining all night and the
next morning We were off by daylight, as
usual through rain and mud, We travelled
80 miles that day; raining all the time
we camped l2 miles south of Bardstown
by the side Of another creek. We pick
eted all our horses by the creek, and 8
companies pitched their tents there also
But the rest quartered on the hill, it still
raining. The creek rose very fast and by
II o'clock the water vas only two fee
deep in the tents, and before the boy
could take their tents down, i. was 81
high that they had to swim or DROWN
The horses were cut loose and got GU
safe; but tents. blankets, ssbres, pistols
carbines, and little Of everything wa
washed away. that on the hill Jared bu
little betler;we drove forks in the grouu,
and laid rails across and got on them lik
chickens going to roost. The next morn
we got an early start and reached Lcban
ON a, s o'clock that evening. it still rain
ing. We pitched our tents in a mic
rolling meadow; carried straw and mad
our beds: and what a luscious sleep W
had, although were wet and had wet blan
keis. We stayed there two or three week
bringing secesh every day. We had bee
there about one week when we were to
that party OF rebels under John G. Nor
gan, from Lexington. had crossed Gree
river and came within 8 miles OF us, an
burned church and captured s telegrap
operators with their wagon and all theI
implements. Four companies were 500
in pursuit; but the rebels having fast hor
ses and good start reached the river 10
soon for our boys. AS soon as they GO
across they cut the Jerry boat loose an
that rendered their captHre impossible, a
there were no bridge or boat within /
miles. The boys come back dissatisfe
because they could not cross. The ne1
day 3 more companies were detached I
60 in pursuit and procure a boat. W
started about 2 o'clock in the afternoo
and by 8 O'Clock next morning We lsnde
on the banks Of the river, the boat wa
sent Tor and found about 10 miles below
and by the time the boat reached US Ma
Smith had come down from camp an
would not let them cross; we could sc
spies on tho opposite side. Captain Cup
of Company f tried very hard to eros,
and felt mortified because the Major fol
bid it. There is no lack of spunk sbol
The Captain, for he is the kind Fairiel
turns out. We came back unsuccessful
We learned afterwards that Breckin ric
ges Brigade was only 25 miles from IL
river. We therefore saved our bacon b
not crossing.
5 We moved our camp abou. one-ha
Q mile from where We were and expected
= stay some time but in few days we r
s ceived orders to 60 to Louisville, v
9 Springfield and Bardstown; we were sor
oil our journey. This was on Fridl
morning. on Thursday night previous