The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-08-12

2lst inst Our preparations were made
accordingly, and at the appointed hour
we were ready, but for some unaccount
able reason we did not get away til
about nine o'clock. The force consisted
OF two brigades-nine regiments and tive
batteries constituting the first division
of the Army of the Mississippi" The
weather was exceedingly warm, and the
delay in starting threw our march into
the heat Of the day. The consequence
was the loss, from the 10Th and l4th
Michigan regiments, of six men, whc
were overcome by heat before one O'Clock
p. m. AT that hour we had maze eight
miles, and were all ready TO "give OUT
Halling till five o'clock, we proceeded
four miles further, and camped for the
night. 1t was the veriest folly to com
mence the march so late in the morning
Had we started at the hour indicated in
! the order, all would have been we'll. We
would have marched till nine o'clock,
and rested till five, completing the day s
work in the cool of the evening.
On the second day we marched very
slowly, resting during the heat Of the
day, and reaching Juka, pleasant sum
mer resort four miles west of the Ala.
bams line, before dark. There was no
suffering this day or the following. We
were becoming rapidly accustomed to the
heat, SO that on the cath we made TWEEN.
tytwo miles much easier than we had
the first eight OF the march. We were
now four miles from Tuscumbia, fine
town on the Memphis L. Charleston rail-
road. We had passed from a Mississ-
ippi wilderness into the beautiful valley
Of the Tennessee. Southward the minor
spurs of the Cumberlands formed long
blue line. rising here and there to the
dignity Of mountain heights, oftener
sinking into low ranges Of abrupt hills,
covered everywhere with dense forests of
oak and pine. Around us was beauti-
ful undulating country, ornamented with
the elegant residences of rich planters.
Evidences Of former prosperity were ev-
erywhere visible but how sadly has war
changed the face of nature Immense
cotton fields on every hand this year lie
falow--corn has delhroned the old king,
but he wields the scepter with feeble,
trembling hand.
The next day we entered Tuscumbia.
Quite number Of troops were quartered
here, and more were left from our divis-
ion. Activity prevailed. but it was the
activity of war. The village is quite
well bu 1t, and will compare favorably
with Northern towns of similar charac
ter. About noon news came that band
Of guerrilas had torn up the railroad
track, and burned one of the bridges be
tween Tuscumbia and Decatur, dispers-
ing our small guard at the bridge. The
non arrival of the eastern train confirmed
the rumor, and our regiment was put
aboard a train, and sent on to hold the
doughty warriors in check. We pro-
ceeded twelve miles and camped by the
track. An additional force Of infantry
and cavalry was despatched at l2 o'clock
the same night, to assist in scattering
the guerillas, who were Of course already
scattered in the mountains, many miles
from the scenes Of their raid. They ac-
complished their object in obsiructing
communication, but did not choose to
remain 10 be picked up by the superior
force they knew would soon be upon
them. 1t is their plan to attack and cap.
ture, but not to hold positions. They
make brilliant dash, working perhaps
immense injury, and are quickly off to
their mountain retreats, where pursuit
would only drive them little further on
To end this kind Of warfare we need a
vastly increased force, and a vastly i'm 3.
proved policy. We are altogether too
amiable. Tho rebels laugh at US; ,re
mast make them fear us.
We are new stationed at the burrt
bridge near the village of CORTLAND,
twenty six miles east of Tuseumbia. The
force overcome here consisted of two
companies OF infantry aud two of cayal-
ry. At the time OF the attack they were
mostly scattered through the country
hunting vegetables and poultry. entirely
of their guard. The guerillas adyau.
ced from every side through the picke.
lines without being discovered. and max.
ing sudden dash. captured the infantry
almost without resistance. Tho cavalry
hastily mounted, and in the confusion os.
capped with the loss of one man killed and
two captured. The bridge was fred and
the stores secured. Back again to the
mountains fled the chivalry.a we found
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