Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-07-24

at the mouth Of Battle creek. W
arrived here the evening of the 25th
and still are here, enduring as best "
can, the dull monotony Of an inaet;v
camp. When We came here we foan'
Col. sill commanding three Of his regi
ments, one battery, part OF the AZ
} Ohio and 4th Kentucky cavalry, tn
Gath Illinois, and 37th Indians regi
ments. Since our arrival, two NOR
, regiments have come 10, viz: the Is
Wisconsin, and 42nd Indiana. Colone
, Turchiu will be here tomorrow. anS
then our brigade win be together oncs
more.
II you have noticed Gen. Mitchell's
movements, you will have discovered
that the 9th brigade has done much ol
the active work in Ibis section. al kss
occupied nearly all the posts Of danger.
1t was FIRST into Bowling Green. first
into Nashville. FIRST into Murfrcesboro,
and first into Huntsville. Our brigade
was the first to explore the Memphis
and Charleston r. r. east aud west
from Huntsville, a distance of nearly
two hundred miles. 1t was the 9Th
brigade that received the rebel cavalry
attacks on our right wing, along the
Tennessee and Elk rivers, and drove
them from that part Of the country
Our brigade alone, of all Of Mitchell's
forces, were sent without tents or bag
gage, and only transportation for ten
days rations-on that terrible march to
Chattanooga, and back again.
And here we are again where
danger was thought to exist, with
good prospect Of more hard marching
over mountains toward eastern Tennes-
see. The fact is General Mitchell has
unbounded confidence in Col. j. B.
Turchin, than whom there is not
better officer in the U. S. Army. /
undertake to say that the 9th brigade
gave to Gen. Mitchell his addition stars,
in other words made him q Major
General. Yet, while this is the case, it
is shame that not single star decor
stes the shoulder straps Of Col. Tur-
chin, whose undaunted courage, wise !
councils, and well executed movements,
have had such telling effect in the his
tory Of the war in this section.
A few days since, we had every in
dication OF an intended movement upon
US by the enemy. Four or FIVE days
ago, Col. Sill discovered that they were
crossing troops over the river, and his
scouts reported the enemy in force on
the other side. He at once engaged
them, and good deal of skirmishing en-
sued, which was kept up for two days.
But after trying the metal Of our Gath
Illinois regiment, under Col Mihalotzy,
and feeling the force of Capt. Edgar
toms balls and shells, they withdrew to
the other side Of the river, destroying
and blockading the roads behind them.
Our loss in this skirmishing was alto
gether about 90 men in killed, wounded
and missing. The enemy's batteries on
the other side command the river for a
distance of ten or fifteen miles above
this point. r.I ...
Col. Sill communicated with the
enemy yesterday, under flag Of truce.
Our bearer of dispatches found General
Ledbetter in command at Chattanooga.
Ledbetter communicated to Gen. Sill
the southern news from Richmond
They claim that Gen. Mcclellan was
terribly whipped and thoroughly routed
with the loss Of bis entire camp equip
age, guns, &C., on the 26th and
27lh Of this month. II Mcclellan IS
whipped, the terminated Of this war is
indefinitely postponed.
General BuelPs army is coming IN
this direction. He is now crossing to
the southside Of the Tennessee, but
where, 1 dare not tell, and what his
purposes are, would not say, even II
| knew. But rest assured Of this TACT,
that the rebel army will not have a
foothold in this State twenty days from
this date.
have Just heard that Col. Turchin
was fired upon by citizens, while march
ing from Winchester to this place. He
Immediately had the woods secured in
search of the miscreants. He found
two Of them with guns in their hands.
and without much ceremony be had
them hung up to the nearest limb. He
then burned all the houses in the neigh
borhood--nine in number. That is the
way to do 1t. tell you if we only had
good many more Turchins IN our
army, this war would soon end.
Well, am writing too long letter,
and will close by saying that am well,
and hope to be able to write to you
soon again.
Yours truly,
W. W. MILLS.
Ass. Surgeon 18th Regiment, Q. V.