The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-10-04
Army Correspondence.
LOUISVILLE, Sept. 9th, 1862.

Army correspondence.
LOUISVILLE, Sept. 9th, 1862.
Editor Free 1rader-Since my last, we
have been brought from our position as
M outpost to very pleasant place within
Che limits of the city, about 200 yards
from the railroad depot, and on the banks
of the Bear Grass Creek. The country
around US is very uneven-broken up IN
hills and narrow passes. These hills the
army are now busily engaged in entrench.
log. In every direction from US we can
see regiments busily throwing up earth
works, and it would be weeks travel to
visit all the redoubts, breastworks, and
rifle pits which have been constructed
here within the last 8 days. Over 5000
negroes have been impressed into the
bitches; they are at work along the lower
part of the city, and on the bluffs south of
US We are now engaged in entrenching
our camp We commenced night before
last, and have completed over 300 yards,
besides making q road down the hill, on
the east side Of the camp, Is feet wide,
and building bridge across Bear Grass
Creek. Every preparation il being made
for desperate fight here and most Of the
citizens are sanguine we will have to en-
counter Gen. Braggs army in less than q
week. Our scouts frequently fall in with
small foraging parties of the rebel army.
On Tuesday last, the 9th Kentucky cav
airy fell in with quite heavy body Of
rebel cavalry at Taylorsville, 80 miles
from here. The rebels fired upou them
and then skedaddled. Tie Kentucky
boys, how ever, captured u prisoners and
20 horses, and brought them into camp
the next day. They were we'll mounted,
and all fine, large, healthy looking men,
Yesterday We got our tents, and this
morning it rains beautifully. 1t has been
| very dry here ever since our arrival
while we were at camp Joe Holt We
have been moving around from one posi-
ton to another, and the dust has been
very bad. This rain will add much to the
comfort of the men, and especially should
We get into q fight soon. Our men are
improving very rapidly in the drill In
| fact, l never saw set of men learn 20
fast. They make a fine appearance on
battalion drill, and on dress parade They
all seem anxious for fight, but have but
little hope Of seeing them gratified while
here My opinion is, that Bragg has given
! up all intentions of attacking this city.
| That . large portion Of his army is adyanc,
| ing this way there is no doubt; vet he
must be aware that the army now here,
with all the advantages of position, must
annihilate him, should he ever attempt to
invest the city. There are over 10000
men here Most Of Buelrs army arrived
this week. Gen. Buell. himself got here
night before last, and has ever since been
engaged inspecting the works. Grants
and Curtis armies are said to have arrived
all the new regiments of the Northwest
have centred in this vicinity. How Gen.
Bragg expects to gain anything by coming
here is a mystery to me, still the impres
sion is general that he will come
We are formed in line of battle every
morning at 3 o'clock, and required to lay
on our arms until daylight. All the pre-
| cautions of imminent danger are taken by
all the commander. of divisions. The
citizens of the surrounding country are
leaving by hundreds-some for Indiana,
and others for seeessia All persons sub
ject to military duty in the city have been
organized into companies and are drilling
daily. The women and children of Louis
vile have left-mostly gone to Jefferson
| vile and New Albany, where every house
/ is crowded A number Of gunboats have
been anchored Off the city in the river,
| and . pontoon bridge thrown across Just
above the rapids, and the government pro-
perty in Louisville moved over on the
Ind. side 1t would seem folly to go to all
this preparation, if it was not generally
believed, In high authority, that an en-.
gagenent was close at hand. Still, may
my Judgment is, that it is only preparing
| for an emergency. That Bragg would
have marched into the city if these pre-
cautions had not been taken, there can be
no doubt. But, now, that they have been
taken my opinion is, he will put for the
Blue Grass regions replenish his commits
sary and Quartermasters stores and then
return to Tennessee. 1t would no doubt
be great help to him to get into this
city. He needs medical and hospital
stores His provisions are short He
lacks ammunition-and in short he Just
needs city like this to put him in fight
ing trim. But when Inevitable defeat, if
net total destruction, stares him in the
face, he is not SO foolish as to advance
when by a retrosads movement he may
have a fair chance of saving his army.
few days will explain the whole mat
ter, and l will write you as soon as it
transpires: NJ.
CANP I,otIsyItI. Kv Scot % 1850