Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-06-17
Our Army COrresPoudence-The 35tI
Indiana.
CANT DUFFIcY, South OF WrNcHEsTER.l
TENNESSEE. June 10th. ls62.

lENNEsSEk, June lUtn, lcOZ.
EDITOR OF SENTINEL-Sir: As YOU have not
heard from me for some time, perhaps a few lines
from the Irish Regiment will be acceptable to
you and the numerous readers of your sheet.
The camp of the United States forces, com
manded by Col. John C.. Walker, has been named
in honor of the gallant Captain commanding Co.
b, raised in the city OF Terre Haute.
The range of the Cumberland Mountains is in
sight OF Us. and the country in which We are
camped is picturesque and beautiful. Winchester
is "a very pleasant little town, containing about
$500 or 5000 inhabitants. Ii is within a few
miles of the dividing ridge of Eastern and West
ern Tennessee. and about ten miles of the Ala
bama line. Ii is celebrated for being the seat of
two very fourishing female academies. The
students represent some fifteen States of our
once happy, but how distracted Union. In the
midst of all this beauty, however, we are in an
enemy's country, and involved in the worst spe
cies OF wariare-the enemy having adopted the
guerrilla system.
Col. Walkers command, consisting of infan-
try and cavalry, after several hundred miles of
marching and counter marching. was ordered
from ROdgersville on the Tennessee river, in
Alabama, one hundred miles from here, to report
to General Negley at this place. On arriving at
Winchester, we found that General Negley had
proceeded to Chattanooga, which has left Col.
Walker in charge of this immediate country.
Our situation is precarious in the extreme.
" have no support nearer than Chattanooga or
Columbia, and our couriers sent towards the
former place have been regularly cut off, 80 that
we have no communication with Gen. Negley.
In fact our cOuriers seat TO the rear have To be
guarded by a strong escort. Our foraging par
ties, which we are obliged TO send TO the country
every day, have frequent skirmishing with guer-
rilla bands. Our pickets are almost nightly fired
upon. and scarcely a night passes that our whole
Ommand is not called out and formed in line OF
battle. The country, however, which abOundS
in hills and gorses, Is admirably adapted To
guerrilla warfare, and while the enemy, wh9 are
supposed in this vicinity to number two or three
thousand. can annoy US constantly, we have but
little opportunity, having but a small force OF
cavalry, to operate effectively against them. The
labors of our officers and men are incessant and
wearying. But as We expect either TO receive re
Inducements in a few days or to join General
Mitchell's division, we will look forward to Il day
of rest.
While the Irish regiment has been cruelty de
MED an opportunity which every officer and man
in il has prayed for, TO distinguish itself upon
som great battlefield. il has nevertheless rem
dered our country as much valuable service a
any other regiment that has been in the field
an equal length of time. 1t is with rea
pleasure that ! record the fact that wherever We
have been posted, the regiment has established a
reputation Tor good discipline and good order IN
surpassed by any other which we have been
brought in contact. The citizens OF Mt. Pleas.
ant expressed universal regret when We were
moved forward from that place, and although
we have been here but a short time, the people OF
OF Winchester are preparing to petition Genera
Negley 10 leave Col. Walker in command OF thi,
post. We all. however. prefer 10 be pressing
forward. and are anxious. and expect soon 10 be
engaged IN a pitched battle.
viii add that while we have had a great deal
Of skirmishing, We have lost but ten or twelve in
all--killed, wounded and prisoners. Col. Walk
er's headquarters are filled Utmost with trophies
Consisting OF shot guns. rifles. and every descrip-
ton OF pistols, rebel uniforms, &c, &c. Wetake
FROM ten - fifteen prisoners almost every day
the majority Of which are released upon their pa
role OF honor.
As this letter will be sent with many others by
courier, Who may be captured, aud as a conse
quence. may never reach Its destination. | shall
not write more ut this time, but viii write yOU
again at the first opportunity. Letters from our
friends. directed to Columbia. care of Gen Neg
ley's division. will eventually reach u.
ANIME"
PSI am sorry 10 add that. since writing
the above. We have lost three men from COMPANY
L. who were taken prisoners while guarding d
forage train, with Others. The boys tel a short
distance behind. and were snatched Up and carried
away before relief could reach them.