Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-07-03
/ FROM qH.E 18Th REqfMsNT.
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FhSh 1tt.D 20 II hB'f M MI
coHo.p5ndence o. the Bei,non, chrcnicI. = -
/ Our Boyso The march 10 East Tennessee
q OIL Hickory - TIE Health cf fhe kesi
ment. islaa a1aI
lWy ~ CAnp AT, JAcKsoN'sf FORD, I
| NEAR FLoRENcR,, AIk., June'2l.
= sDEAR CHRONICLE: Since my last letter
the 18th Ohio has been engaged in no ex-
! ploits. that are likely TO become historical,
have entounteiad 10 'tnoving accidents by
adod orifeld, y stinit may Iig Of some inter.
est to our friends in Old Belmont to know
! what we have Been about.
After remaining in the vicinity Of Corinth
until the 10th Of, the, present month, we re-
ceived an'order to Hstrike tents and march
with six days rations." We commenced
our march on the evening of the 10th, and
pitched tents in our present Camp on Sun.
day, the 18th, laying over one day::at luks.
lWe)are heartily thapkful 10 tho powers
that be for the change. We are out of
the swamps around Corinth, and here have
pure air, good water, and nice rolling
country McCook's, Woods, and Critten-
den's Divisions arc here aud at Tuscumbia,
nye miles from Florence,) Nelson's ,Divi-
sion is fifteen miles back, CONSTRUCTING A
,hailrosd bridge On the Charleston and
Memphis Railroad
sWhere we are 10 20 TO, or what we are to
40, we, OF course, know nothing about /
thlnk 1t has been pretty clearly ascertained
by thls time that there is nc large rebel army
at any point in the Southwest. When
,Besuregard's army left Corinth it left there
demoralized aud broken rabble, and where
they lave gone tosseens still to be q aues.
ton of some doubt. We think here that
the war is over in the Mississippi Valley
and if the rebels are soundly thrasbed at
Richmond the rebellion about at an end,
aud everything here seems at kind oil
stand still, awaiting the fate at Richmond,
Unnecessary, however, for Gen. Buell's army
to be again concentrated, Chattanooga seems
to be the point most likely to be selected
and to tins point, or somewhere in South
eastern Tennessee, the greater part. of his
army will most likely be moved, as speedily
as transportation can be obtained. From
that point a Railroad penetrstes Georgia
aud South Carolina, sincerely hope that
this little trip may not be necessary to the
subiugation of the rebelious spirits OF the
South, but it necessary, may the 18th Ohio
be along.
There will be some troops left here, and /
suppose all along the road | believe our
boys would vote to stay at Florence until !
the. hosts begin to gather for battle again. |
Florenceis good substantial booking old |
town, in healthy location, with plenty of
good water. and, more, and better still, a |
goodly number Of loyal citizens. The town
was connected with the Memphis and
Charleston Railroad at Tuscuinbia by
branch road, five miles long; bat the rebel
Yahdals burned the bridges across the
Tennessee, and destroyed the Railroad and |
wagon road connection The citizens feel |
Justly indignant at this outrage, ss their
bridges and Railroad was private enter
prise, the road terminating at Florence. -
There could have been no military necessity, |
OF, even ercuse for this outrage, but punish
ment inflicted upon the loyal citizens who
dared to welcome our flag, when the gun
boats ran up here alter the fall of Fort
Henry; but such is secession---a demon
spirit, seeking to destroy whatever it cannot
possess. 1870 aqs 1lf q -ssa
We are encamped at present on the South
side of the river and some distapae. below
the town. The men have made landing, |
aud tug boat and two barges are busy
crossing our transportation, No troops have
yet crossed, except some cavalry and provost |
guards. presume the regiments will be
crossed in a day OF two. Our crossing is at
the same point that Gen jackson crossed I
bis Kentuckians and Tennesseeans when
he went to the defense OF New Orleans -
Ihe old road was out of use, and had to be
H.. II