The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1862-08-15
ADVANCING ON BOWLING GREEN.
From Sketches Of our Army.l
BIZ ". D. REDFi1LD.

compri ing the I9sh and Gath Illinois. tn
18th Ohio. 37.h Indians regiments and Co
Kennett's OHIO Cavalry with the Loomi
Battery, was attached to division unde
command of acting Maj. General o. N
Michel. the astronomer OF Cincinna'I, an
the troops pushed forward on to Bsco
Crees; there to await further orders. Rous
seau and Woods brigade were 10 the ad
vance q: Munfordsville on Green River
while the enemy in force under Hardee an
Hindman occupied the opposite bank. =
For four weeks McCooks aud MITCHELL
troops remained inactive at Bacon Creek
the weather being horrid. For two weeks
it rained and showed necessarily and ths
mud Was knee deep. The brigade was em
ployed during the whole time in building
log roads from tent to tent; and such was
the difficulty Of transportation that we act
uaIly suffered for food and forage, for our
tsams Added to this, sickness broke out.
smong the meo and such was its increase
in the brigades, that the surgeons could not
properly attend 70 tha cases entrusted to their
oass. The Medical director at Louisville
bscomisg aware Of the increasing sickness
established not only convalesocnt hospital
as Elixsbe,htown. but opened number Of
buildings for hospital purposes in that place
and to these were sent the sick OF the diff
ferent divisions.
On the second Sunday after the arrival at
Bacon Creek. firing was heard in the direc
tim Of Green River. which was only seven
miles distant. and our sick and worn out
men at once seemed TO revive, as prospect
Of meeting the ensny presented ITSELF
Jack P. q wild and barum- -scacum
youth from Chicago. took leg bail. eluded
bate nj al River
bridge jus, In time to see the close Of the
skirrnish. II seemed that the 32d Indians
Regiment. Col. Which. who were sent out
by Gen. McCook to endeavor to ascertain
the force of the enemy, crossed Green River
and came suddenly upon their troops under
Gen. Hindman consisting of several resi-
ments Of Infantry and regiment Of Texan
Rangers. whom they bravely repulsed. dri.
wing the Infantry back aud killing number
Of the rangers, the whole rebel force retreat
ing in hot haste. The regiment was led |
by the Lieut.. Col. but Which came up and
took command. Jack P, was of
course arrested; but was very lightly pun.
ished. From his statement, these German
troops were as cool as il on parade, showing
no excitsmeat whatever. being unAinching
steady and cool AT our camp where we
could hear the firing distinctly, The boys
WCt0 very muCu CACiou oHu CuSioO " O0
led away from the mud hole, as they called
Bacon Creek.
FEBRUARY came. and the weather contin-
ned unsettled, disease spreading among the
troops very rapidly. The rain fell daily.
occasionally varied by snow storm. with !
cold and gloomy sky. weather just suitable !
for depression Of spirits. Every one seemed I
Rlo N.Y. Mails were received ir.egularly. !
our food was growing short and our water
abomiu able. Only one incident aroused
US during the latter two weeks we remained
which was the burning ofa bridge within |
our lines. right under the nose Of McCook's
picket by Morgan, the Kentucky bush ran
ger. Finally the joyful news was received
from headquarters at Louisville that the
troops should move. General Mitchells d-
vision being the advance body. When the
news was received loud cheering was heard
from all the regiments, the tents were I'm
mediately struck. and the brigade marched
through the drenching rain and mud to-
wards Green River. The seven miles march |
was shortly accomplished, and in twenty |
hours the broken arch over the magnificent |
bridge destroyed by Buckncr. was tempora
lily restored and the whole brigade was
planked over for the transportation Of
troops. 1t was near sundown Of the Sec |
ond day after resching Munfordsville that
stood ut the foot of the steep bank. below |
the bridge, looking at the crossing Of our
army. 1t was grand sight Below me was
Green River. swollen and furious, and in
the ravins beyond. lay the pontoons upon
which the brave Send Indiana mad crossed.
Above me was the magnificent iron bridge
over 1000 yards long. and one hundred and
forty feet in height. over which were cros
sing dragons, Infantry and artillery look
ing like piguies from SO great an altitude.
The division was soon over, formed in a col.
umu. and the few of us sirsgglers who re. {
manned behind at once joined them. Just [
at sundown. we reached the battle field.
the tight having taken place on both sides
of the railroad track, near the bank of the
river. Upon an elevated knoll stood II soli-
tary tree. at the base OF which were the new
made graves Of the dead of the 32ad Indi-
ana, neat picket enclosing the whole in
cluding the noble tree. whose branches
seemed spread forth as shelter over the
brave ones which lay at it's feet. Here Gen
McCosks division had halted, and were
building fortiiicatien OF logs, and earth.
work.
The 9th brigade At this point, took the
lead starting off for Bowling Green. which
vas forty one miles distant aud the next day
commenced the forced march so eloq usntly
described by Gen. Mitchell in his proclama-
tioa Issued at Russelville after the occupancy
of Bowling Green by our forces, "making
tho march Of 40 miles in 2sl hours. trsns-
porting their own camp equippage, through
deep mud. mid dreuchiug rains and heavy
snow storms. down rocky precipiccs, cover
ed with ice. crossing the river on bridges Of
sheir own construction. and driving the enc |
nv before them. like frightened Sheep
Al Rowlctis station, three miles beyond
Munfordsville q telegram recalled me 10
Louisville. and parted with the division to
see them no more until they reached Nash
villc. One week afterwards was again
en- route for Sscessis, and had the fortune
10 come out on he first train Of cars which
ran to Bowling Green. AZ Muofordsvillsl
Il ceas~iurv NJ 0-~.r