Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-10-01
Lettsr from the iC5th
CAMP NEAR LOUISVILLE, kT.
Cr.r I0rk 1870

CAMP NEAR louisville, kV.
| SEPT. 18th, 1862.
Editors Chronicle Having a leisure me
ment, rarity in these times OF Oiexcltenien;
have thought best 10 drop yoa ieI
lines, that the many friends CT the it0il
in cid Trum5ull, may know ": here we s'r
and what we ere doing. Since enterln
the State OF Kentucky, We Lave had som
rather hard experience n the mllitar,
line. Your readers axe probably awaf
that we retrested before the rebels iron
Lexington TO our present position. but III
hardship and suffering we endured Il
that forced retreat can be apprecla;eG on
IL by those who experienced 1t. Nigh
and day, Supplied with little iood ant
less water, through the binding, choking
dust we marched those long weary mics
Saturday morning. IL camp near LEX
ington we heard ne heavy ooonNnG OF Can
non il the direction OF Ricbmonu, aht
when a, nigh. ,he order came to leave
our heavy baggage and march with Tort,
round; OF bal! cartridge 20 the man, "
doubted not iLat IL was 20 alb oar .rienu
il the;r contest with the rebel force a
Richmond. Joyously tho .uli ranks o
the i05tn ilet, through the streets o.
Lexington. and took the Richmond pike
that night. ,narch:ng TO wi.atati supposed
would ) { our irst battle heiti. i; was
not until midnight tiIat We !eariied tAe
sad new; OF defeat from the straggler;
wLo.. we met. they came b: two! ans
tarees at frst. then IN larger squf,tss snc
finally hy scores, on foot. in wagons and
on mules each telling rhe sans: doieiuI
story. Oar regiment ali cut 10 pieces
the Colonel and Major, dead, only "s ieit.I
When asked how many OF the feceiS nae
attacked them, one SIX foot specimen o.
the csaus fou.e, stride Il broken down
mule with 2 friend mounted behind hlan,
answered as he urged the jaded beast in
to something ike canter 80 there was
q heap On 'em. You fc}lsrs will have q
right smart fight if you keep On, and tne
second edition of Ichabod Crane vanish
ed as did the first at the sight OF the
Headless holsemen of Sleepy Hollow
We did nat altogether credit the story OF
the t!oc;a.ated regiments ana the I'M
nensa rebel force, but that our army
had been whipped there could lie no ION
re, anv doubt. as the tide OF fleeing sol
a,sss-,,oured alorg. Just st daybreak.
the weary column vas matte" lof i niue
rest, but scarcely had our eye ids closed
w ben forward was the word, ana the
men sprang TO their places III The lne.
Soon after recommending oar march
the news came that the rebel cavalry 'ras
endeavorinc to cut OF the retreat ot our
troop. defeated at Richmond. Our
regimen. was placed ambush n i corn
field fronting a road by which ii WAS sup
,,osed the rebels wouid make the attempt.
There We lay all the forenoon, waiting Tor
the secesh cavalry when occasionally, the
boom of cannon far away IN the advance.
told that the contest was yet III progress.
About noon the head Of the column was
turned towards Lexington, and the re-
treat commenced. The enemy had over
powered the regiments III 'front.' by over
numbers and stern necessity
compelled the retreat back to Aexingson'
that afternoon through succession OF hea-
w thunder storms We marched. weary,
vet and hungry, we quarsered that night
IN the market house. 1t was promised
that a good supper should be ours, but
not even a cup OF coffe, was aiorded, ana
wrapped in our wet blankets, we made
,ur beds upon the hard pavement, and ev-
IN that was luxury. In the morning,
thanks to the loyal few in Lexington
good breakfast Of hot coffee, bread ana
bacon was provided. This day Monday,
vas spent near the city, with the iou IN
Llama. All was doubts and uncertainty,
Citizens were leaving town with their iur-
allure and families. Merchants were
packing up and sending off their goods,
and orderlieswere goiiopinS
N hot haste from camp to camp, all was
excitement and connection. Inc move
nents of batteries of artillery--the march
ng and counter-marching Of regiments,
induced the belief that Lexington would
not be abandoned without struggle
lust at dark the l05th was put in motion
md the report spread from rank to rank
hat Lexington was to be yielded to the
.dvancing rebel host. a-
The piles OF burning government stores
II every camp around us, told 100 surely
hat the danger was indeed imminent
The people looked on in silence as the
ong column marched through the streets,
md fled away to the ewest. 1t wasindeed
,unliliating, that the same regiment
which IS hours before had marched So
proudly out 70 meet the foe, should now
even battle, be compelled to re-
reat.
All night long we marched. hating a
hort time in the morning al Versailles
2 miles from Lexington and then resuul-
d the retreat. 70 day we suffered much
or want of water, thirst being much in
reased by the thick, choking dust
During this dry march the enemy's cayal-
y hung close upon our rear. Every pre-
aution was taken to guard against them,
strong body OF cavalry, formed the rear
,uard, and secured the country on either
lanik, occasionally skirmishing, and driv-
ne back the enemy's advance. At nlgnt
ve reached Frankfort, and slept in the
treets without supper In the morning
'eiore recommending the retreat we form
ID in line of battle and waited some time
or the enemy to come up and begin the
,lay if he wished. 4
We expected the secesh would give US
call, in fact, were somewhat disappoint-
d that they did not come; once while
atnding there in battle array, long lines
{ rising dust far away to the right at
ractea the attention of the column and
very man grasped with tirmer hand his
iece, and awaited in stern silence the
pening OF the scene. But no enemy ap-
cared and again the weary march was
egun. For three long days the retreat
as urged through the heat and dust. !
The suffering Of the men for want of
'ater, was very great.-men fell out of the !
anks by scores. unable 10 endure the
corching heat and intolerable thirst
he rear guard brought along the most of
hese, vet some fell into the hands OF the /
ursuing enemy. Many a poor fellow |
ropped by the wayside, careless whether |
e lived or died Blankets, knapsacks
nd oyercoats, strewed the way fer miles
long the route of the retreating brigade.
At Shelbyville, the enemy's cavalry at
acked our rear guard, we heard the firing
saw messengers come galloping in head !