The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-04-26
Correspondence Of the Free Trader.
Letter from sns BoyS or me sSd.

Correspondence Of the Free Trader.
Letter nom sns Boys sf me .sSd.
PIrrssuRc, Tenn, April 10th 1892
FRIEND OsxAx: Macy Of your readers
have relations OF friends in the SD, and
70 such, if to mono other, anything con.
corning the Regiment, will doubtless be
of interest. You all know by this time,
that we were q half hour too late to par
ticipate in the desperate and bloody battle
which was fought hcre-the only reason
why we were not "in' was because trans
portation could not be furnished IA All
day Sunday we heard the roar of the bat
tie. On Monday also till after We got
within FIVE miles of this place. the same
terrific sounds greeted our ears. From
the first we were ready and anxious to
move. but the same answer was always re-
turned; mo transportation At last,
about noon, . boat was furnished us and
on arriving we were Immediately ordered
to the extreme front and directed to
"pitch in"-(the Gen. supposing there
was still lighting to be done)-as best we
could, but on arriving at the place as
signed US we found that the rebels had
already been thoroughly whipped, and
had left The most of the men were for.
tunate enough to get quartered in bullet
riddled tents which partially protected
them from the heavy cold rain which fell
that night and the next morning: On the
alarm being given that the enemy had at.
tackled us, we were drawn up in line Of
battle ana SO remained all day nearly
anxiously expecting an order to advance
But no forward movement was made by
the infantry, and we remained there till
the next evening at 6 o'clock, when We
were ordered back again and encamped
within a short distance of the landing
where we still remain. Every one thinks
that another great battle will soon be
| fought near here, and in that case, We
shall undoubtedly be placed in the front
when you will hear good account OF US
The health of the Regiment is not very
good at present-diarrhea and dysentery
the bane of the army, prevails extensively
among us, and the worst of it is, that the
surgeons have not and cannot obtain suit
able medicins. As l understand that
something has recently been written you
on this point, will not enlarge upon it,
and will only add, that il less number OF
committees and Doctors were sent to US,
and more medicins, a greater amount OF
good would be done.
When the order to move was first given
Col. Cushman was really too i'll to attend
to his duties. but l notice tonight. that
Notwithstanding the hardship and expos
ure he has endured, he looks full as well
Hit. Maj Gibson, Serg Maj Rush, and
Hospital Stuart Miller, have all been un.
fit for duty; they are better tonight and
will, presume, be on duty to morrow.
Much of the illness which prevails re
suits in great measure from the sudden
change of climate, Of diet, aud from un
accustomed exposure but we shall doubt
less soon become Injured to these things
and then our rough mode Of life will pro
badly benefit the most OF US.
As great q degree of harmony prevail.
a. could possibly be expected; the officer.
are generally we'll liked by the men, and
their attention to their duties are appre
ciated by those in command
1
Our Chaplin has arrived and the hearty
greetings he received, showed that he was
highly appreciated by both officers and
| men.
hours Hastily,