Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-11-22


Ing In the immense cavalcads. Ammunition trains and
batteries Of captured artillery had preceded. Then follow.
cd trains Of goods, wares and merchandise provision
trains Of army stores, trains Of captured muskets, be-
tween which were escorts Of c~ivary-artilery drawn
By oxen. Then cam private trains Of reiuges families,
flying with their negroes for ~safety-lades aad children
in carriages, stage coaches, express wagons, onnibuscs,
buEgies, ambulances, jersey wagons, ald every c%onceiv-
able vehicle imaginable, aud following, came the wsg.
ons. of the different brigades Of General Smiths army,
with infantry, cavalry and artillery in the rear. Inter
mixed with the throDs were Thousands Of head Of cat.
To, horses and mules.
Our portion Of ths train reached Lancaster about one
p. N. The extent Of the train Of Gen. Smith was thirty
miles long. Gen. Bags's train and Amy followed
~, but separated at Lancaster, where he took the Grab
Orchard road TO the right, and We continued on the pike
towards Richmond for eight miles, and turned Of to the
right, taking the Dicks river road, and csmped for the
night. We had made = scan;y supper, and we're soundly
sleeping On our blsi kets, when, NJ 10 P. n, orders
came to "hitch up" and saddle up" Immediately. The
night was very dark and hszJ-oar road lay along the
bed Of Dicks river, . miserable rocky branch. which
you cross and recross for sx miles. Scenes Ct terrible
confusion AZ delay occurred along this road. Wagons
broke down, were overturned, aud frequently stalled,
AMI in the former case were often abandoned. Tbs
bawlipg of the teamsters to their mules, the cracking Of
thtir WHIPS the tanest specimen Of " cussin" 10 the most
o~slandsh sibbsrist, which none but the mules could
understand, with the nsvsr-sndns "git, you" at the
end Of every volcanic sbulidou Of oaths, ws kept up
al night. o. one occasion, when . wagon overturned
wagon being uppsrmost, l was amused at the tesmster
which had in il two or three soldiers, the bottom Of the
crying o1:, "Any more under thar-cems, hurry out and
b alive and ~kicking"l
rode on oil light, nearly chilled to the bone, and
towards u orping had an opportunity Of getting down to
warm BY the fires lighted along the road. The enemy
was in pursuit, and making a strong 'ffIr. to flank us, SO
- to cut Of our trains, aud il was neoeesny to urge on
The teams MI h. and day for fear OF ospture. There was
no chance for such = thing ss. breakfast, bu. = friend,
who know the country well, proposed to me to ride Of
the road some four miles, and visit the magnificent farm
and mansion OF the great hearted William White, ~h ch
I acceded 10. We arrived at carly breakfast, j ist in
tims-wss introduced TO the host, who received W with
the greatest cordially, and . more excellent breakfast
I never enjoyed, even at " Vicsors" in New Orleans.
Mr.. Whites mansion 10 perhaps the finest private resi-
derce in Kentucky, and most s~plsndidly furnished with
all the modern improvements. 1t is built Of brick on
the Romano. que order with q tower on The South sid,
at cos. only Of SIS. 900. After a nap, being all bu.
dead for a sleep, We pashsd on, highly r~sfrsshed, and
soon overlook the train that day, TUESDAY l4th,) at
Mr.. jones, at tho foot Of Big Hill, where our wagons
eau ped for the night.
Ga the l5.h we comm,ncsd ascending Big Hill, al
ready described in my previous letters, aud BY nigh: We
had crossed to the other sds of the hill, and crossed
Rock Castle river, having sg,in travelled all night
Skirmishing had been going on constantly in our rear
since We commenced our retreat. A severe fight is re.
ported to have taken plsc, at lancaster, in which the
enemy was driven back, and heavy artillery firing was
heard on the Grab Orchard road on Bragg's line.
o. the l6ih we were still Advancing steadily-riding
on without breakfast except q little parched corn, until
We arrived at Pltman's Gross roads, where the Grab
Orchard and r chnoadr roads mse> 8 miles from London,
and where both armies again met.
The enemy had followed US up to Rack Castle when
they sbaadons d the pursuit, and thark, to General Polk
we we're now slfe, the whole train Of stores being up,
and not even q wagon lost, except those abandoned on
account Of breaking down, when their contents we're al
WAYS transferred. Il va, Q beautiful day. The foliage
of the forest trees and brushwood enl.ysned the way
side With thei, rich hue, Of dark maroon ~splendour TO
brilliant crimson. We enOimpsd for the night at our
old camp ground, on Llurel creek, 10 miles from Bar.
louisville.
must here close this already too long letter, and 6n-
ish in my mex. TIE whole K ,ntucky wagon train has ar.
rived safe. Morgan is reported aving returned towards
Louisville, 10 hArrss and impede Buell's advance to
Nashville. SIxPRr.