The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-12-13
Army Oorrespondence.
CAMP OF 2y BRIG, 1sr DIV, J
Army OF THE Miss,
,StonS RiuEr. TInn Dec a 1862

Of this division from Tuscumbia, Ala, to
Nashville, Tenn, will not be uninteresting
to portion of your readers, as part of
the command is from your town and vici.
nifty. The I'd Brigadein command of Brig.
Gen. j. D. Morgan, left Tuscumbia on the
afternoon of Aug. Goth, and marched to
the Tenn. Rriver, and camped for the
night at Jackson's Ferry, just below
| Florence. On the morning of the Goth
we commenced crossing, and on that and
the following day all got over safe, and
camped near Florence on the North side
of the river, where we remained until the
morning of the Sd Of Sept. We then
started for Athens, 40 miles East of Flor.
ence, where we were to form junction
with the 1st brigade, in command of Col
| Roberts, which was to move from Decatur
! Ala, an time to join us at Athens, on our
| arrival. The weather was extremely warm
I and ROADS rough, out we got through safe.
| and camped near the town before noon,
] ON the Sd day of the march. We formed
a junction with the lst brigaoe two miles
north of Athens on the 9th, and camped
! for the night. Brig Gen. Palmer arrived
with the lst brigade, and assumed COM
mand Of the division, which was composed
! of the 10Th, 10th, ODD, 9th. Add, 5lst, and
| Goth III Regis, and the 10th and 18th
Mich: Regis. of infantry, Capt Charles
| Houghtalings Ill battery, and the 10th
Wisconsin battery, Capt Bebee, with one
I. company Of the It'll Ill. cavalry, General
D,,ln I., If
| moving from Gen. Pain for further move.
nents, but ascertaining that all communi
cation with 'ruscumbia was now cut off,
and that the dispatches had been captur-
ed, he called a meeting CT officers, and it
| was decided that Nashville was the point
TO which we were expected TO move, and
that, too, with all dispatch We we're as
t-sured by the leading citizens that Buell.
was retreating and Bragg following him
up both bound for Louisville and that we
would certainly be cut off and sobbled
up before we could get through To Nash
Vile if We undertook it But Gen. Pal
mcr. was not the man te be frightened b.
rumors, and consequently, on the morn
ming of the 9Th. we started on our perllous
journey. The first twelve miles were over
q level dusty road, through neavy timber,
under a scorchinE sun, and without water.
We then struck rocsh, mountainous,
and rockey country, with p'en:y OF water
The first water we reached Was Blowing
Springs, at the foot OF u steep hill, in n
deep, long ravine, and as the thirsty SOL
diers crowded around for water. the reb
els opened fire from the hil!sides upon
them, as they were huddled around the
Springs. The darkies beat retreat in
disorder, but the boys Of the 10th Illinois
never fatered that being the regiment
at the spring at the time In less time
than il takes to write il, they were in line,
xnd returned the fire, and then charged
up the steep declivity, pulling themselves
up by the shrubs and root. Of the trees -
When they arrived at the top, the rebels
had departed, and then We got out Of that
place soon as good manners would per
NIT. ! will not attempt 10 describe all the
skirmishes we had in detail bu: it j. suf-
ficieut to say. that we were surrounded b.
an unknown force of cavalry. that let no
opportunity pass to harre.s and annoy US
BY firing Oh our train, which was a long
one, and murder every stracgler they
could pick up We expected TO have
trouble at Columbia, Tenn, but If once
over the river there, all would he safe
We arrived at that city on the afternoon of
the 9Th, and passed quietly through, ford
ed the river, and were all over but the i2d
Ill which was rear guard that day, wien
they were attacked by Col kiifel's cavalry,
| from Braegs army. We knew the 42d
could take care of them well enough, and
threw up our hats for JOY, being. as We
considered, almost in the land OF Canaan,
sd tho o"fo .i1~ ~f Inra!an TIN. rear
guard soon disposed Of the rebels, and all
came over safe, with slight loss in killed
and wounded We camped for the night
on the north side Of the river, about one
mile from town, and for tine first time
since we left Athens, felt safe Up to this
time it had been q running fight from
Blowing Springs.
We broke up camp at daylight on the
/ 10Th, and again commenced our hurried
march. Gen Palmer took the precaution
to order Capt. Hougntaling to leave a
howitzer with the rear guard this day. to
repel more effectually any attack that
might be made Oh the train, and il proved
a wise precaution for while the rear por
ton Of the baggage train was falling in,
the rebels again opened fire upon Us from
the opposite side Of the river, causing
stampede OF niggers and mules; but 1T.
Van Dyke soon returned the fire and ST.
fenced them with the II FOUNDER howitzer,
-cannister, shells, &c, being mere than
they counted on. After having a house
knocked to pieces about their heads, in
which they took refuge, and their Col.
severely wounded by a she'll, they fed,
and we bid the city good bye by sending
! she'll city ward Itexploded high in the
air, where all could see 1t and accept it as
an Omen, if they chose. This day we
marched to within FIVE miles Of Franklin,
and had but one skirnish that amounted
10 anything. After leaving Franklin on
the following day we bad more trouble
and camped that night two miles out of
Nashville Having marched 10 miles in
FIVE days under a scorching sun and over
dusty roads, surrounded by a band of que
rillas and cavalry numbering. as we have
since learned, about 1000 and lost only
about 100 men Ia killed, wounded and
missing, bringing through all our baggage
safe All the officers and men behaved
like veterans during the march. Capt.
iioughtaling on this, as well as on all
other occasions, proved himself to be
military man in every sense Of the word.
He brought his company through safe;
never losing man. lie is strict disci-
fplnarian, and has brought his company to
almost degree Of perfection. There Is
not in the Army Of the Cumberland to day
so healthy company as his. He has
been complimented repeatedly by his
Generals for the fine healthy appearance
Of MS men. 1t requires almost constant
attention of Capt to keep his men as a
soldier should be kept; but little neg
lect on the part of a Captain will soon de-
stroy the effectiveness of company for
serAice. We are. now expecting soon to
move Dixie and hope soon to send
news to you from Chattanooga, and to
celebrate the 22d Of February in ATLANTA,
Ga. Six FOUNDER.
NINE MoHIroRs FINIsHED-Three Of our