Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-02-13
ARMY CORRESPONDENTS.

CAMr DUNCAN, KY, Jan. 30, o.


FRfENbs EsrILL--As I predicted In my last
forward movement was on the tapis, but for
want Of a supply Of provisions VIC did not
start until the 10th inst. On tho morning Of
that day We left tho gay city Of Lexington
with all its pleasures and pleasant associations
behind. For the kindness and hospitality Of
the loyal men, and the kindness and smiles Of
tho fair ladies', Lexington will ever bc cher.
ishcd in the memory Of the 10th.
Our first days march was slow, and pleas
ami until about O'Clock, when it became very
windy and cold, aud we halted to cncamp for
the night. To cap tho climax Of our misery
it commenced a violent snowstorm, but it all
goes in as the incidents Of soldiers life. On
the morning Of the next day We started early,
passed through the town Of Nicholasvillc, and
had got clcverly under way when it commen-
ccd to rain. and away VIC went through mud
and rain Most of the boys came to the con-
clusion that we were ''soldiering." That night
we encamped near Lancaster. Wednesday
morning we started again, and again it rained
and continued to rain all day. That night we
day morning we again started, and of course
it rained, and that, too, all day and night
with fair prospect Of itturning into settled
shower, lasting for all time TO come. During
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday we march
cd through the finest country 1 ever beheld;
well watered and timbered; each farm house
was palace fit for king. In fact tho coun.
try was paradise. Tho slaves were well
clothed and looked as though they enjoyed
life about as well as the re st o. mankind. But
on Thursday we reached the mountains and
encamped that night at the base Of a huge
range; called the back bone. Where we camp
ed was designated as Halls Gap. On Friday
we rested all day, and that was the only cleal
day we had during the march. On Saturday
we started through torrents of rain, and com
menced the ascension of the mountains; pass
ed through the Gap, found that we had lef
| the Pike road and struck the mud road. and
meaner road could not be imagined; but
through it we plodded, tired, wet and weary.
until we reached the little town Of Waynes-
burgh, where we quarcred. The town cou-
/ Il
dation of mud, and each having splendid
water course round il. | counted four window
glass in ten houses--the rest had none to
count; they would make cool summer houses.
BIT there was nary house for us. We, poor
devils, to shelter ourselves from the rain had
to take delapidated old stable, and it was a
perfect mudholc. To pass from one end to
the other we had to lay down fence rails
Tired as we were there were few who liked
the prospect before them. We had, however,
to make the best of it, Some got in tho hay
ricks, some in the feed troughs, and others
laid rails from the troughs to the'ground, stuck
their feet in the mud and laid at an angle of
forty.iye degrees, some got in an ice house,
others in an old corn crib, and two poor lel-
lows were actually mean enough to run lot
of pigs out of their pen and crawl into their
warm straw beds. We in the stable soon dis
covered that there were other occupants than
soldiers in our nests, and they seemed deter
mined to let us know that they were about.
The place was alive with fleas of immense di-
mensions and strength, and there was a con
inued siirmish all night. We were all glad
to retreat in the mernng, but the tleas insin-
uated themselves into the warm folds of on
blankets and we were still fighting them OF
Sunday morning. We started again and camp
ed four miles from Somerset. We arrived il
time to hear the loud toned thunder of on
brothers guns as they poppcred Old Zollicol
fcr's rebel al rmy. We pitched our tents, bu
expected to march in the night to the battle
field. The next morning we learned of delea
and route Of the enemy, with many particular
Of the battle, but these you have learned.
Since then we have been working ON the
roads. Just now the order has come to pre-
pare to march in the morning. Our destina
tion is near the Cumberland Gap; but suppose
we will stop some days at place called Lon
don, forty miles distant from here and fifty
nine miles from the Gap. The Gap is in pos
session of the rebels and well fortified. W
oXpcct to get nearer than four miles to th
fight this time. Some, however, think w
will never get nearer than four miles to fight
but you can look for 4 hard fought battle a
that point. l have no idea of it taking plac
in less than two weeks, because of the road
being so bad that provisions cannot be trans
ported in sufficient quantities to admit of tn
advance Of II large body of troops This
unfortunate, as it gives the rebels time to re
inlorce. Yours Truly,
NJ. 3. DcS.