Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1862-04-24
LETTER FROM TENNESSEE.
Serg't E. B. POWELL.
SIEANEE BALTIC, Savannah, Tenn, I
Marsh Il 1852

DEAR FATHER We received marching or
ders from Paducah last Thursday, and embark
ed on the steamer Baltic that night, and start.
ed the morning Of the 7tb, aud passed Fort
Henry about noon. 1t is an cart hTork
of batteries but nothing very strong
There was a large encampmelt OF our
troops there. The secesh had very good quar-
tiers there, as there was any quantity of log
huls. We landed about FIVE miles above the
Fort there were a large quantity of troops
that came from Fort DOnelsOn, 10 miles across
from the Cumberland river, waiting for boats
to take them up the river. | visited some OF
the Regiments that were in the fight at DON
lson-they gave a good account Of the hight.
They had very hard battle and very sue
ceSsful one.
We lay at that place until Sunday afternoon
and then came up the river Is miles to where
the boats were collecting for the expedition
We started again Monday afternoon, and ar
rived at Savannah at p NJ, on Tuesday
/ have counted about 80 boat loads of troops,
from one to two Regiments aboard. suppose
this is the largest expedition in the campaign.
II is under the command Of Gems. Smith aud
Sherman Oar brigade is composed of the
72d, 10th and 48th Ohio, under the eonaand
of Col Bucklaod. and is the lst division. We
have Just received orders to cook two days ra-
tions and be i1 readiness to march tomorrow.
| expect it will be q hard battle, from the se'
counts, 50 far. The guuboats went up the riF-
er and shelIed Fort and returned yesterday
with the report that there was large battery
there
Mach live are ready for more Rhea-
ever the order is given, but do not know
when tha. VII be. We have force Of about
5000 There is any quantity of Union peo-
pie here and they have suffered great deal
from the secessiOHisis. | have heard several
of them talk, they say they dared not express
their sentiments until now, aud about l00 Of
them have enlisted in our regiment, and more
would come in if they had an opportunity.
MARCH 20-We are now eHcamDed at Pitts
burg Landing, about forty or ffty miles froa
the Mississippi line. We vent up toe river to
the Mississippi line, and did not ind good
place 10 land, 50 We came back TO this place
There was battle fought here the lst Of
March. Our garboats came Cd and shelled
them-they sent the shells 1yiug ab0gt here
PRETTY lively, for about two hours, aud the
trees show tbs effect Of them. They killed sew
eral rebels aud they are buried on their camp
ground They had commeUced f0rtifcatioa,
but the gunboats came 10 time 70 stop then.
There was about Regiment Of then eDcaup-
Ell here
There are not any settlements here, only
once il a while farm b0ase, and whenever
we fad them Occapied they claim 70 be UUioa.
The country here IS uneven asd tia6ered with
scrub oak
NAECH 26-We are nov e0camped about
four miles from the Tennessee river, where we
have been since the Goth, aud witt probably
remain for q few daTs Logger, when we expect
20 march 90 10 C0rioth
/ viii TT 10 give yos description Of the
c11utEy. Ao0at here il "a aaeFen-the soil
Is thin and poor they use plo~ Ike oar
small corn p.Ows, drawn by oR- horse. They
cnly loosen Up the top Of the groand-the soil
IS sandy elay. TIE timber IS oak, hickory,
dc, or mostly hickory. The Inhabitants are
regular soa.herBers, aud those abogt here are
poor aud are oppressed more than the poor in
the uOrth-they eABnot get land Of The poor
esi kild as reasonable IS 10 The north, ss the
la13 S mostly in the hands Of monopoiistS
GEo ". CAMP