Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-02-05


Monday or Tuesday next. Should any.
thing of interest occur soon, l will write
you again. Yours, ARTILLERIST.
/ From the Nineteenth.
LEAVES FROM CAPTAINS DIARY.
z THURSDAY, JAN. 16. 1862.
Last evening the 10Th received orders
to march for the mouth OF Greasy Creek,
in Russell county Ky. Col. Bramlet and
his men left their camp yesterday al
ternoon for the same point. After max
ing arrangements for removing the sick
to Columbia, at . o'clock, "A. NJ, the Reg
iment took up their line of march. We
left in fine spirits, retracing our steps tow
ard Columbia for half mile, to turn of
to the right through deep defile between
two high peaks, descending to the body of
the Cumberland river. Skirting along at
the foot of the hill-slopes for four miles,
leaving Bakersville and the Cumberland
to the right. At this point we struck Gro
!. Gus creek, a rapid but shallow stream,
considerably swollen by the heavy rains,
the main road crossing the stream. We
continued our course along the northerly
bank for half mile. The Regiment had
TO tread its way along a narrow path, but
wide enough to march in single file, un-
der high bluff. In making this pass the
Regiment was stretched out for more than
mile, through fields of wheat, corn, and
cotton. The field officers and our wagon
train passed on the other side Of the
stream. At about six miles we crossed
= he north fork of tire Crocus. Here upon
- Ct wcs a singular table rock, with
6oid ,LanEiug cliff, some 800 feet in
beigbt The =, ,ek was of millstone grit,
on = base Of Of Iimas,.nne The steep hill
sides were covered with a luxmsnt growth
of grapevines, buckeyes, wll.- sum-. VI
gigantic growth. The road in man, piac-
es was steep and difficult For a mI.t
! further we passed along the bank of the
stream, when we struck off for the first
time, over an undulating country. across
large bend of the stream. The valley |
OF the Crocus is narrow but fertile with |
here and there farmhouse, and to our |
astonlshment a schoolhouse-so uncom-
mon in this part of Kentucky. 1t was of
suitable dimensions, neatly painted, with |
blinds, and compared very favorable with |
the district. schoolhouses in Ohio. Upon 1
inquiring l aseertained this settlement
was for the Union. The people from the
surrounding country turned out to see
the 18th Regiment, as they passed along.
The high land as we passed was poor. At
about one mile we came to Elliott's tav-
ern and large distillery. Here guard
was stationed to prevent the men from
making too free use of applejack. Here
we again struck the Crocus, following it
up about three-fourths of q mile, came to
halt, and constructed a bridge of wood
en- benches and plank. An inch and a
half auger and an axe were our only tools
Our gallant Colonel DOTTED hisscoat, wad-
ed into the stream, adjusted the trestle
work for the bridge, and supported it
with the assistance of Lieut.. Agard, while
the regiment passed. While construct
ing the bridge a citizen, said to be a Sc
cesh, being very anxious for our passage
over the stream, was extremely busy with
his darkey and team, carrying our boys !
across in a wagon. The negro was astride
one OK, and driving the forward yoke with $
a single line. Our boys loaded on in
great numbers, the old gentleman riding
his horse into the stream, hallooing and Z
urging the team, much to the amusement '
OF the men. Safely across, we marched |
up deep narrow valley, along small c
stream, and pitched our tents, having [
men preferred spreading their blankets up S
on the ground under the spreading branch q
es of the cedars. The love of appleiack l
and chickens induced many to break guard l
and leave camp, among whom was Buck i
skin, of Co. 6, who is said to be the best t
forager in camp. The squaking of goose, [
or the growing of a cock viii arouse him I
at any time from the soundest slumber, /
and nothing suits his appetite better than b
chicken soup. Stimulated by applejack, 3
he will sometimes resort to desperate rem a
edies. This evening report was in campft t
that the SO called Bull Pups" a des-
Derate armed band of rebel cavalry, con-
;isting of convicts let loose from the pen n
tentiary at Nashville, and others who Y
we're annoying the citizens of Clinton and Il
)ther counties, had just crossed the river. :,
md but few miles in our rear. Taking i
advantage of this, Bucksl1in mounted a T
;avalry horse, dashed out of camp; by -
lis tack he drove in the pickets as well as II
'ther foragers who supposed they were q
closely pursued by the rebel pups; when II
o add to the excitement, came Buck
kin with his prize, four fine turkies. c,
FTidoy, Jan. lT.-Twenty men were Sc d
ected from the Regiment as pioneers, to it
70 with the advance guard, with axes. O,
novels and picks, to make and repair the 81
Dad. At 8 o'clock we took our march d.
Up the same narrow valley for three-fourth
# mile; here we came to the worst hill g
re ever encountered. After marching a II
Iaf mile to the top of the first hill, the b,
egiment came to a halt, stacked arms. fo
nd each company marched back and car dl
led their baggage and that of the Quar- te
with them on their backs W
his occupied much time more than six =
ours occupied in ascending about a mile. NJ
'ur four horse teams scarcely able to yc
aul up the empty wagons. Language dC
an but family describe this wild and ro- bs
lantic country, being succession of high yc
roken land, sharp knobs and ridges, al vi
lost perpendicular, rocky, slopes, de-
,ending into deep and almost impene- ou
able def1les, covered with stinted growth to
oaks, cedars, &C. Our road ascending al
p steep, rocky, slope, descending into vi
me deep defile along the rocky slope, av
N wagons jostling and jogging, some an
mes falling two feet over rocks, sliding h
i'd slipping about with both wheels lock- J
|, fifteen or twenty men hanging by
ng ropes, or clinging TO the wheels, to
eep the wagon from upsetting. Imag-
e this and you have but faint concep-
On of the road over which the 18th had