The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1862-02-06
LETTER FROM LIEUTENANT JOBE.
CAMP CHETLAIS,
Paducah, KY, Jan'y %, 1862.

Z
of, and we are once more in Paducah, having
returned on last Saturday afternoon, after
march VI eleven successive days, through
country the roughness OF which it is almost
impossible for me to describe. | was much
surprised in regard to the manner in which
Kentuckans live, il | am allowed to judge
the remainder of the state by that portion Of
it which we passed through,
Our DIVISION under command Of General
Smith, consisted of the following regiments ;
9th. l2th and 4lst Illinois, Sth Missouri. | lth
and 23d Indiana, ID Illinois cavalry, Bueps
battery, and Company A Chicago Light Ar.
tillery.
Ash have already mentioned, was much
surprised to see what great difference there
is between the state of Kentucky and our
own noble Illinois In the whole march, and
We marched about one hundred and twenty
five miles, scarcely farm house met our
view worthy Of notice. They were principal.
ly log cabins, one story high, and the soil
seemed almost entirely uncultivated, their
principal crop being tobacco, Judging from
the dry houses which were attached to almost
every log cabin, being filled with tobacco in
/ its natural state. 1t was no uncommon thing
during the march to see soldiers marching
| along with their knapsacks and haversacks
| filled with choice selections Of the weed"
grown upon the sacred soil Of Kentucky"
This, after their days march was over, and
whilst seated around their camp fires, they
converted into cigars, which, if am any
judge Of the article, were not hard t. take, at
least when you could get no other.
| see it stated 1T several journals tina, our
division took Fort Henry, and that our troops
occupied it. That, Of course, you are aware
il "A hoax ! see it also stated that We routed
/ the rebels at Camp Bcaurcgard. That is al
so untrue What the object Of the expedition
was | have not fully learned. Perhaps we
accomplished all that it is reported We should
accomplish namely, the retention Of the
troops at Fort Henry which are said to nun
Der fifteen or eighteen thousand, thus pre-
venting them from reinforcing other impor,
ant points which it was the intention to a.
tack, What those important points were
have not yet learned. Our line OF march wa
through Mayfeld and Murray to Williams
ferry, situated on the Tennessee river, abou
y. sixty miles by river from Paducah and fl
teen miles from Fort Henry When we al
I rived at the ferry We encamped for about 2
3. hours, awaiting further orders In the mea
time General Smith went up TO Fort Henry
Oh board Of one OF our gun boats, to make
reconnaissance Seven shots were fired iron
our boat, and were replied to from the tort
their shot falling short. One of the gunner
with whom had short conversation aite
the return of the gunb0ut, said hc though
their force numbered about fifteen thousand
1t would have been nonsense for us to attacl
them, if such had been the intention, our di
vision only numbering about six thousand
After the return Of the gunboat We receive
orders to draw seven days rations and tur
our course towards Paducah. You can in
agine with what kind Of feelings tho orde
was received by the troops Upon receivin
the order they groaned most hideously. A.
though the roads were almost impossible o
account Of the mud, they would willingl
have walked rs far again through mud an,
water up TO their knees, to come in contac
with an enemy to the glorious old stars an.
stripes Not IN armed rebel did we see OF
the whole route, and the log huts by the way
side were generally destitute of male inhab
| itnnts, and III many instances not n living hu
man being was to he found on the premises
when there was anybody to be found they
were stroug union men. We occasionally
came across IL house, uniuhahitcd, for how
long time you can judge from the fact tina
the fire still burned brightly in the fire place
the untouched repust was still upon the tabl
and the half-knit stocking lay upon the chat
from which the afrightcd knitter had flown
; They seemed to think we We're n party
armed demons, utesting the country tor tn
pun IN'-E vi DhI HiHS Wv HOUSES anu IlNTlcl
Q ing the inhabitants. But how greatly wcr
they mistaken. We appeared and disappca
a ed and houses and inhabitants remained VI
touched We came to protect, not 10 dcstro,
a Now and then we came to a house, in the doc
{ Of which stood Il female not afraid to ow
4 her principles which she made manifest b
T. the waving Of her handkerchief aud they q
II ways received hearty shouts and cheers trol
{ the boys in response. remember one beat
utul young lady, in particular, as She wave
. her handkerchief the expression Of her coul
T. teuance showed how heartily she wished |
l. success. Although we protect the "suerc
T, soil of Kentucky" such 5ulutcs were an VI
4 common occurrence during the expedition.
Q |, as all the balance of company y, wi
ever remember one day, in particular, durir
the expedition. We were detailed as rea
guard of our brigade, for the purpose
qua ding our provision and baggage trai,
consisting of about sixty wagons. Ii was
, terrible day. The rain poured down in to
rents from morning till night-the little ri
ulets were swollen almost to rivers, and tt
wagons sunk in the mud almost TO the ax
The mules mred, and becoming exhauste
would lie down in the mud. unable to extr
cate themselves. Fifteen and twenty mule
were attached to some of the wagons, bu
they were unable to move them The mule
. We're taken from the wAnnns lnne cahles az