Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-04-17

of their apparent cowardice was soon learn
ed. The great majority Of them had no
heart in the contest. They wercin the army
against the Union because they had no
choice in the premises, it wal with them
enlist or be drafted and they appeared
anxious for the speedy termination Of the
war, alleging if they had had their way of
it the war never would have been commen-
ced.
We, after a short rest, were started across
toward No. 10, which is only a little over
four miles from Tiptonville, although it is
nearly thirty miles around by river, and we
had marched about fifteen miles from New
Madrid to get there. Some ten companies,
of which mine was one, were deployed a.
skirmishers so as to sweep the whole coun-
try included within the bend of tho river,
and in this manner we marched to No. 10,
calling at every house we passed and exam
lining every place where we thought any Of
the rebel soldiers were likely to he secreted;
but without finding any considerable mum
Der OF them. We arrived a little before dark
at the Island, about which time it com
menced raining and continued to rain hard
all night,-the men exposed to it all, aud
when morning came, which we we're all glad
to see, we felt very much US though we were
about used up; but about $ o'clock we re
ceived an order to get on the boats and &c
back to our camp at New Madrid, which,
after about an hours delay on the bank oil
the river, waiting for the boat, during which
time it continued to rain necessarily we sue.
ceeded in doing and arrived in camp abou,
halt past twelve o'clock, where we gave
three rousing cheers for the Union, thee
for Gen. Pope, three for Col. Smith and
three for Col. Swayno, after which we cal
a hearty dinner and by tomorrow morning
we will all be ready for another trip.
The readers of The CHRONICLE have no
doubt learned through the daily papers the
extent of our victories, but | will give a few
items of our capture, among which is, in ad
diti0n to the guns above named, two large
warehouses full of ammunition and commits
sary stores, the tents and camp equipage fol
about ten thousand men, a large lot of wa
CONS, and piles of shot and shell covering
space of ground about sixty feet square pilec
up about four feet deep, an abundance o
sugar, molasses, and pickeled beef,-th,
WnOle estimated aJ DctWcen TWO anu tnrc'
millions of dollars in value.
Their army here was certainly well pro
vided for, and their style was far above ours
The officers were luxuriously located, wit
everything necessary to make then
comfortable but all in their camp was lei
in utter ruin, their splendid leather trunk
were all broken to peices, and th~eircontents
white vests, ruf1ed shirts, fine clothing
boots, miniatures and looking glasses, wer
torn up broke and strewn over the ground
/, presenting u scene of waste and destructio
. the like Of which is not often seen. l hav
no time now to dwell longer upon details, a
the mail is about leaving. The next ma
may bring something further.
r The people of Western Kentucky an
Tennessee are very different from the pee
pie of Missouri. The latter on our approac
deserted their homes and left everything b,
hind, as though they regarded us as wors
than the plague. Not so with the former
, We found them generally busy at wor
blowing their fields and making preparation
for planting their crops, and though tn
e advance of our army would bring mourniu
into many a household, they could not CO.
ceal the evidence of pleasure at the sight
the old Stars aud Stripes and if, histo
i shall record the truth in the premises il W
y place the people Of these States with
their feelings and ~syhlpathies on the side
U the Union.