Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-12-11
Army Cerrespondencc.
For the Gallipolis Journal &
LETTER FROM THE EIeHTERNEE
q OHIO. -

For the Gallipolis Journal
LETTER FROM THE E1eHTERNEl
0HI0.
November, s5th, 1852.
Mr.. HARpER-DEAR SIR:-kfter q
absence Of more than year IN III
"sunny South" and having been owe
q considerable part Of Dixie's land.
have thought that perhaps q few line
would be acceptable.
We have been here at Nashville nov
nearly three months. We eetse .hcr,
on the 7th Of September ab5dt th'
time that Buell's army started fo
Louisville. Our Regiment was ont
that was left with Gen. Negley to hole
this place, and during the time, before
Gen. Rosecrans came, we were engaged
principally at picket duty and foraging.
We bad to depend entirely on foraging
for subsistence, and sometimes it was
bat a scanty subsistence. We got a
great deal Of poor beef, sometimes we
got mutton, sometimes pork, chickens,
ducks, turkeys, geese, DC, although
we generally had strict orders to take
nothing but corn, hay, beef, sheep, DC.
But the boys would occasionally slip
up on chicken or a duck and bring
them into camp on the sly. We all
hailed the arrival Of Gen. Rosecrans
with JOY, for with his army also came
coffee, sugar, beans, &C., which we
had been deprived Of for such long
time. And with them, also, came the
mail. aud we once more heard from
home. There is nothing which gives
the soldier so much pleasure as to re-.
eeive letters from home, and as we had
received none for two months, il was a
sight more easily imagined than de-
scribed to see the commotion it made in
camp when we heard called out, "Let-
ters." When we all thronged around
our Captains. and as the letters were
looked over and the names called out,
each one listened with breathless In
terest for his name, and il he happe Led
TO be Of the unfortunate few that was
not named, they would walk away with
a disappointed lock, soliloquizing on
the fOrgetfulness Of their friends to
write.
Gen. Rosecrans Is now here with the
principal part of his army. He is a
splendid looking man, and the soldiers
all have the most unbounded conf
dence in his military abilities, and look
forward hopefully to the success of the
army under his command.
The Louisville and Nashville railroad
will be completed in about two weeks,
and until then, we do not expect any
important movement from this place.
But as soon as the road is open, you
may expect to hear from us at some
point South Of this, on the road to
Knoxville or Chattanooga.
The health Of the Regiment is better
than it has been for a considerable
time, and is still getting better. The
men are in excellent spirits and are
eager for a forward movement
There has been three deaths in our
Company since we have been here
Jasper Queen, David L. Jones, and
James Gotten. The former was woun-
ded in battle on the 29ih OF August. at
ShortMountain Cross roads. was brought
here and died in the Hospital.
The prospect Of peace do not think
IS very encouraging at present. Unless
there is compromise made think the
war will last for years, not that l think
we are unable to conquer, but because
our government is wanting in energy.
There are too many gloves" in Office.
and until these gloves are removed
we cannot expect much to be done.
The north is powerful in men, money
and patriotism. but the policy of our
government seems to be to put down
this rebellion by play. The policy of
the rebels is to allow us to go on at
this play until we are "played out, )"
and the country so thoroughly exhau.-
ted that we will be satisfied with any
kind Of a compromise. There is too
much disposition manifested TO court the
fayors Of the rebels, and some of our
officers appear to have warmer feelings
toward a seceshionist than toward a
union soldier, and this has tendency
to dishearten the soldiers and make them
dissatisfied. A communication in the
Gallipolis Dispatch showed the feeling
which some OF our officers entertain for
the rebels. In that article the writer
was very bitter in his deuunciations Of
Col. Turchin and the eighth brigade,
and as nearly the whole article was
base falsehoods It shows what an un-
principled rebel sympathizer will do in
his hatred for true and patriotic men
like Col. Turchin, who was doing what
any other good general would have
done under the circumstances. The
article to which | sllude was from Col.
Nortor of the aIst Ohio.
Well the drums are calling for Dress
Parade, and as I have wearied your
patience already, 1 will close. No more
at present, but remain.
Yours, Respectfully,
HARRISON McCLAFLIN,
Private Co. I. 18th, Reg't o. vi
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