The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1862-03-13
Letter from the 49th.
CANT SHERMAN, Paducah, KY,
March 3, 1862.

CAMP SHERMAN, Paducah, KY
March 3, 1862.
J. L. BoARDMAN, Eso.-Dear SIR
Presuming that many friends of the
4Sth Ohio, in "Old Highland" would
be glad to hear of its whereabouts and
welfare, l came to the conclusion that
I could inform more Of them, and do it
with less trouble, by addressing com
munication to you for publication, than
by any other means that l could en-
ploy. Our Regiment--as 1 presume
you are aware--left Camp Dennison on
Monday afternoon, February 18th, in
connection with the 54th and 77th Ohio
Regiments, and reached this point on
Thursday morning, February goth,
without accident to any of our men,
The 54th Zouave Regiment lost one
man overheard, who was drowned. His
name, however, l did not learn.
When we arrived here there were at
this place about 10000 troops. In
few days after, however, there were
about 25, 200 of them sent up the Ten
ncsseo River, to what point 1 did not
learn, leaving about $4,000 still en-
camped here, the most of whom are
Ohio Volunteers. The following Rogi-
ments from Ohio are here: 18th, 54th,
77th, 10th, list, I'D, and SD. There
are two Regiments of Illinois Cavalry,
and the remainder are made up Of In
diana Infantry. They are all a noble
looking set of men, and would doubt
less make their mark, did the opportu-
nifty but present itself.
When we left Camp Dcnnison VIC
were told that upon our arrival here
our Regiment would be furnished with
the Enfield Riho. Why such is not the
case no one seems to know. 1t seems
to be a mistake in the Government to
throw her troops right in the heart of
an enCmy's country unarmed. Were
but small force of the enemy to come
upon us well armed, we would be
obliged to "cavc," having nothing with
which to defend ourselves.
There are four or five hundred of the
wounded soldiers from Fort Donelson
in the Hospitals at this place. 1t is q
sorrowful sight to look upon the poor
fellows who are suffering from mangled
limbs, and wounds of various character,
received while they were nobly fighting
to sustain that glorious cold flag" which
our forefathers fought bled, and died
to establish, and which we should en- p
deavor to sustain. They are truly en-.
titled to the sympathy of every true
American citizen. One can form some
idea of the awful scenes that took place
at Fort Donclson by visiting the Hos
pitfalls in Paducah; and yet the number
here does not comprise one.half of the
wounded at that place.
The Steamer Continental, from Fort
DonelsOn, dropped down to the wharf
here the other day, having on board
about three hundred rebel prisoners,
among whom was the notorious rebel
Gen. Buckner, and many other officers,
ranking from Lieutenants up to Majors.
There l first beheld "seccsh" soldier.
The majority of them were fne.look
ing set of men. They looked some.
what careworn, however, and seemed 10
say that they were sorry that they had
ever taken up arms in rebellion against
the United States. In fact they express.
ed themselves in that way to those that
were permitted to converse with them.
Our pickets were alarmed last Thurs
day night about midnight, at what they
supposed to be rebel pickets or spies
sent out from Columbus to recon noitre
The darkness of the night, however
prevented our knowing to any certainty
whether they were rebels or not, Upor
intelligence being communicated t.
Gen. Sherman of the fact, he immedi
ately dispatched Lieut.. Col. j. II. Park
er, he being officer of the day, with
squad of cavalrymen, to increase tn
number Of guards. No doubt our pick
cts had just cause for alarm, as it wa
known to certainty that Col Cla
King, who formerly lived in this place
was stationed at tho village of Benton
not far distant FROM here. They wcr