The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-05-31
Army Correspondence.
CAMP OF TIE SD Ill. VOL,
THcvRsSvr RfAV eSh &c 50

Friend Osman,-Our Regiment has made
still further advance of some 6 miles,
and such march deserves very particular
description.
We were ordered to be in readiness to
march at 7 a. m. on Monday, with days
cooked rations- more than the men could
carry-and accordingly at that hour we
were in line, as usual the first regiment in
position.
From some cause, we were halted there
till nearly IL M, about which time it
began to rain, when we were ordered on
and advanced about 40 rods, halted again
for a half hour or more, then marched
twice the length of our column halted for
an hour, Git was raining all this time,
remember,) marched again a little way,
and so proceeded hating and marching,
with far more of the former than OF
the latter, till about o clock, having gone
about two miles We learned that all
this vexatious delay (there was far more
cursing than praying done by our brigade
that Sunday,) was caused by the 18th
Ohio battery, which was in the advance,
and which was badly troubled by baulky
horses and drivers. Finally, an order was
given for the brigade to pass the battery,
Qeaving our train in the rear which we
did, and after some tall marching, arrived
at our camping ground at sunset The
place selected was in the timber, on fiat
piece Of ground, which was thoroughly
soaked with rain. Fires were built,
branches cut for beds, and as it had done
raining by this time, we were in hopes
that we should spend moderately com
forabie night
The Colonel used his two saddles with
andmanaged to keep very nearly If not
quite dry; 1t Col Hit prepared SINH
lar bed, and vas not SO fortunate, while
Sergt. Maj Brush and myself combined
our resources, l using my saddle for a
pillow and he a travelling bag, and we
soon, being excessively wearied, got to
sleep only to be awakened some time in
he night by heavy rain, which at times
iairly poured down But as could see no
advantage in turning out, lay as quiet
as possible, desperately trying to sleep,
every little while turning the ,eettest side
up, until day break, when l attempted TO
dry myself by the fire, but as the rain was
still descending only succeeded in get
ting a good smoking S5-tje
had some shingles and ham in ny
haversack, but could not eat, and about
10 o clock ! went TO secesh house near
by and asked to sit by the fire As soon
as | got little warm l ccund that | was
completely wet through, and soon fell asleep
At noon the woman OF the house walked
me, and kindly asked me to rest on their
bed which / did, sleeping soundly until t
o clock when | walked, nay clothing drier,
but feeling positively sick and could only
move by making the greatest effort
However, did get over TO my regt, ard
attended TO my duties as well as | could
IN the absence of my baggage, for the
runs" were SO SWOLLEN and the roads SO
extremely bad, in consequence Of the
heavy rain, that all but our team Of the
train was behind / suffered for a week
from this exposure. The sick list was
more than doubled from the same cause.
and the worst Of it was that the whole
thing was unnecessary and might have
been avoided by proper management
Col Cushman would have arranged things
l you, lad iIv had
the power.
18th.
have made several very desperate
attempts 10 finish this letter, but We have
moved camps so often and have had so
much 10 do, that | really could find no
time. But our regiment is now drawn up I
IN line OF battle, and as have nothing
very particular on hand till the firing
begins, will try again
Since | wrote last, we have moved four |
DR. tive times and are now within about one /
nile from the rebel pickets. and perhaps I.
miles from Corinth Heavy details are I.
Every day made from the SD, and one /.
hing seems little peculiar, or might to
men are always placed in
ront,-which is of course the pos, O:
honor; and what is better still. they al
Ways do good service, never finch, and
.res ready to advance just as far or as
boldly as ANY other man" On Thurs.
lay last, Capt. McClanahan, Co H. } with
lis company, succeeded in driving the
ebel pickets through a thick wood for
lalf mile or more, without losing a man
n even having one wounded, although
he next morning one Of his men, Corp.
David Vincent: wishing to get a good shot
t a secesh, went out into an open field
red, aud In return received shot in the
high, making severe wound. This is
he, only one of our men who has been
rounded so far. Hope can say as much
o morrow. There has not been one of
ur officers or men but have done peM
nd several, including 1t. Col. Hit and
apt. Virgin, have narrowly escaped
evere if not mortal wounds.
1t is now thought that the rebels have
cen largely reinforced of late, that they
III come out OF their entertainments to
ght and that they will make desperate
tforts to flank this ri ght wingof our army
N which we are situated There are
theirs, however, who are of the opinion
hat there will only be some sharp Skin
lishing in the open field, and that the
neny will speedily retire behind his
'orks. In that case, of course, the battle
i'll be mainly decided by the artillery, l..
nd the loss OF life will be less than in the
primer case. fitl,-ttE - fE542
We really know nothing about tat
resent; we only know that the cars ]
hich enter Corinth are running almost
night and day; that we daily
ear the reveille and other calls OF the
and that his pickets are out in
.rong force before ours. .l.iref
Our whole division is out in line at the
resent moment Quite number of our
arteries have to-day gone forward, and
e do not know what minute the long roll
i'll beat and we be engaged in deadly
rife. God protect and preserve US in
attic, and assuage the grief of the friends