Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-03-13
From Ark ansas.
CAMP AT RED RIDGE, BENTON Co., ARK,
ours, Truly,
CHARLES HAY

CAMP AT RED RIDGE, Benton Co., ARK
February 10, 1862.
MEssRs EsTiLL:-As military matters in Mis-.
souri, are again assuming considerable magnitude
and interest, thought, pei haps, few items from
even as unworthy and inexperienced Il cOrrespOn-
dent as myself might not be wholly unntcrcsting
to your numerous readers at this important time
Our division under command of Gen. jeff. e.
Davis left Camp Lamine, in the South east corIer
Of Pettis county on the 25th ult and after long,
fntiguing aud eventtul trip Of two weeks, through
Cooper, Morgan, Camden and LaClCere counties,
Il distance Of 100 miles, we at length arrived at
Lebanon. We had all kinds of weather to en-.
cumbersome times bitter cold, at other times
snow, and again rain, with mud almost rnfathom
able We crossed over the Usage and Ozark
mountains and cncampcd one night on the highest
peak of the latter. Some nights we slept on corn
stalks, some on dead grass gathered on the noun
tain side and others ON leaves and brush Some
may think these would make rough and uncom.
Portable BEDS but we were truly glad to get even
these to keep us off the cold ground. Had wenot
been detained by aim st impossible roads, swollen
streams, waiting on our provision trains, &c, we
would have made the trip in half the time. We
crossed the Usage river ut Erie, the county seat
Of Camden county. The county North of Versailles
is beautiful, consisting of rolling and fertile pgai.
Iies that South oft to the Osage and tor 30 miles
South of it, surpasscs any | have ever seen for
rytLinr, bot il oIcnlotcd to veto the oGnratio,
Of thc traveller. When we arrived at Lebanon il
was the advance post of our army 1t is situated
GO miles from Rolla, and 80 from Springfield
where Price and his combined forces were cncamp.
cd ot that tip,c Our forces were concentr atcd
there, consisting of / regiments of Infantry, or
4 of Cavalry and ten batteries of Artillery con-
itin,, of G6 ricro.. making fatal force or IL Gao
nndnr cnrnnn,rh or Con Cnrtis II was renerally
rt.nnrtpl om1uu tho soldiers for II time that Gen.
Sriocl was To Command the expeditiop, whicl, was
ioyinl hews TO Them. They seemed TO cxclaim
win one voice: Give us Seiqel for our leader.
vc will fnIlow him ony nlace. and if Price will
stand and frht victory will soon be cmblaz1ncd on
our banners" Gen. Curtis NAV be A good man.
hut thn sold ,ers nave NOT the confidence In him
that thcv have in Gen. ScilcL This large force
left Lebanon for Springfield on the 10Th inst. The
third day about 10 O'Clock we drove in the enc
Iny's pickcts. ID miles from Splingfcd Wewcut
ON and cncunpcd miles lromS :. that night, Til t
afternoon and evening our cavalry and the enc.
my had several skirmishes. Just after breaking
ranks that evening we heard the report of the
pieces in saarn skirmish. Our orders were to be
ready to march at A moments warning Not
withstanding the fatigue Of our men their orders
we're received with unbounded enthusiasm. We
left early the next morning. When within four
miles of ofSprn,fcld news came that the place was
taken. fine soldiers cheercI yociGrou,ly uuder the
immcssion lhat Price vas also taken: but when
they learned that lie and his army had cscaped
thcy wore ihe most INDIGNANT, disanpoiptrd and
choplaleu set of men YOU ever saw. We passed
throuuh Spriurield about 10 o'clock. II /, nearly
ns LARGO a.; Wooster, situated in a beautiful and
l;rt lie district. romoactlv AMI regularly huilt con
tnins many fine residences and seem, to have been
,,locr nf cnnsiIcr,hlc husiun.s 'rh,t ,irht vn
o,ii,',,,,oI nro ,iIo fran, ihn tnun picr md