The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-10-11
A Private Soldier on Buell's Campaign
Correspondence OF the Cincinnati Commercial
LOUISVILLE, KY, Sept. %, 1862.

LOUISVILLE, KY, Sept. %, 1862.
EDS. CoM:-We have made the 'grand
rounds" and are, after ten months of weary
toll and privatiors, which it would be futile to
attempt to describe at present. once more en-.
camped within sight of our old camp.
wrote to you while at Bowling Green, but com
municaticn being the next day cut off between
that place and this city, presume that you
failed to receive it, 1t is Notwithstanding in
the extreme to even for one moment reflect
upon the history of the noble army under Blu
ell When General Buelps command left this
city, the 10th day of last December, it was in
as fine condition as any Department: in the I'M
ion. But what is it to day? Instead of being
we'll equipped, and the men in vigorous health
we are without tents, blankets, or camp equip
page, and the haggard countenances tell how
fearfuly the physical condition of the soldiers
has been impaired. Besides this, we left thou
sands o. brave comrades in their last
resting p1ces throughout the rebellious
States. And what have we, ask accomplish
ed? Perhaps some may think that Private
common soldier" has no right to say any
thing about these things, or to demonstrate in
the least. But Mr.. Editor l claim that hare
a right, when l see one of the best and most
powerful armies the world ever saw woIse than
L
all his wanderings through Dixie for ten long
months, and have never, nor has our division
fred musket at the foe.
Ample time was taken to equip and disci-
pine this army before it left Kentucky, and
not far distant when it wonld accomplish feats
which would startle the world. But what are
the facts! We lay in camp at Nashville after
Df fQrf rINy
when one dny more of delay would have been
the ruin of our army at Shiloh. And what
were we doing? We were drawing clothing,
to be thrown away, by orders of Gen. Buell.
when we moved little farther South. Every
soldier was compelled to start with two suits
OF clothing, and then send it to Nashville, and
somewhere else in Alabama to be captured by
the enemy. But where the difference? For
zen. Buell., and every body else knows that all
'he priVates in the army receive is THIRTEEN
DOLLARS PER MONTH! After the Corinth affair
6ueli had command along the Memphis and
ohafieston Railroad from Corinth to Chatta-
hooga. And if anything was accomplished,
oeyohd allowing thousands of our men to be
oserpowered and captured by the enemy at
uihefent points, it has yet to be made public
twas we'll known by the citizens, and made
puohe by the Southern journals, that the reb-
eis were concentrating and organizing large
arm but few miles South of Chattanooga.
anu our lines extended at that time southwark
70 stevenson. But were measures taken to
oreak up that encampment? No. And few
weeks ago General Bragg left there with a
mighty force, and Notwithstanding our force
was suihcent for any emergency, yet he is now
within few miles of this city. When the
preaent mouth set in we were in Southern
tennessee. A portion of our division was at
'nis Tune at Stevenson, and were hurried back
over the mountains, compelled to burn all
oheir tents, blankets, and camp equippage.-
put from this time forward, up to the presen,
hour, Gen Buells conduct has undoubtedly
Deen strange. Who can explain why it was
mat he halted his army at Bowling Green and
compelled us to sit almost within hearing of
me cannon, while the brave Col Wilder was
surrounded and captured by Bragg's whole
command? The 18th regiment was not in the