The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1862-09-12


journey. and turning a short curve found US
in sight of the famous Pilot Knob. = noun
tain rising in conical shape far above the
ridge which surrounds it. Passing the long
line OF brush tents. hich formed the en-
campment of the LIST Nebraska Regiment,
whose morning reveille was just sour ded,
we cane to stop. and the 7.h proceeded
to encamp near clump of bushes on the
right of the track. Sergeant Major Brown
and myself started across the street for the
Pilot Knob Hotel. where We found good
breakfast ready for US, which We enjoyed
with great deal of pleasure Having let
tiers of introduction to Col. Turchiu. of the
10Th Illinois Regiment. portion of whom
were encamped in The rear of the ist Ne
braska. sought out their quarters and was
handsomely received by the Colonel and his
estimabls lady. Adjutant Miller, Major
/ Harding and several of the officers, and
itent was provided for my accommodation.
/ At ten O'Clock, in company with Adjutant
Miller, / visited Gen. Prentiss' headquar-
ters, as also the quarters OF the Cd Iowa. the
Gath Illinois. the 1st Nebraska, the 18th
I Illinois, the 7th Iowa and Buell's Battery OF
Artillery. At noon. Col. Cooks 7th Illinois
left Pilot Knob village and took up their
quarters about mile east of Pilot Knob
near Arcadia AS we rode up to this latter
village two huge Columbiads guarded the
roads and approaches TO Pilot Knob. while
the private houses and hotels were filed
with our troops, who quiet and orderly com
manded the esteem of all the inhabitants.
Monday after my arrival, 10 company with
! Adlutant Miller and Lieutenant Curtis, |
visited Pilot Knob AT day break. arming
ourselves with revolvers to guard against
tt a., f,.r ,arl,
owned by the Ellsworth Zouaves of Chicago
I-(he original corps which visited the north
and east on topr Of skilD-we started up
the moan tain Following the railroad track
in its serpentine course for a quarter Of a
mile. we turned off to the right and climb
! ing up a steep bank Of cnders, from the
foundry near its base, we were soon at the
4 loot of the mountain. For thirty or forty
feet we clambered in an almost perpen
dicular manner until we came to a railroad
track used for bringing ore from the sum
nit For half an hour we toiled upward,
stopping occasionally to take breath, and
arrived at the summit but moment before
sunrise. Clambering over rocks OF immense
size. of solid iron ore, we grasped the nag
staff on its pinnacle, and affixing the glo
! rious emblem of Union to the new halliards,
said to have been placed there for the pur-
pose of hoisting Secesh color, we hoisted
it to the breeze and just the sun peercd
over the distant hills. Curtis recited
brakes glorious verses:-
..when freedom from her m,u ,untaiu height,
UnfarIed her standard to the air,
the robes OF night
And set the stars Of glory there
as Ts %insss msy s.drc 1h nsF .ks Eis
And striped with pure celestial white
The crimson Of the morning light"
just as the morning gun from Bnell's bat
terv resounded through the air. our flag
reached the gaff, and the sun breaking out
in all its splendor. dssipated the wreaths of
mist which shrouded the mountain sides,
displaying to our view a splendid panoramic
scene. To the South, the dark outlines Of
the Iron Mountain loomed up in the clear
horizon, while at our feet lay the little vii
LACE of Pilot Kob, beyond which, were
spread the white tents of the 19.h ard 24ih
Repiments, with the rude brush tents Of the
Is, Nebraska skrting the railway. TO the
South east Law the celebrated Loadstone
Mountain, while farther to the eastward the
beautiful little village Of Area dia lay nestled
under the hills, looking for all the world like
fairy scene Upon the hotel waved the
flag of Gen. Prentiss, commander of the
forces, while the yellow flag on the church
| spire, marked the hospital Beyond Area
dia, Law the white tents Of the various regl-
ments encamped. while the noise Of Artillery
trumpets. the rattling Of drums ard the
clsngor of military bands rose upon the still
air, softened by the distance. After enjoy
| ing the beautiful scenery for a while, our
party returned to camp to do justice to
| hearty breakfast, for which our sharpened
appetites were duly prepared.
| For ten days or more, we renamed at
Pilot Knob and Arcadia. awaiting orders
from Gen. Fremont, as the enemy was re-
ported in force only few miles beyond
! Pilot Knob But no orders came and |
occupied my time in visiting the different
camps battalion and skirmish drills, dress
parades and target firing. Occasionally the
monotony would be varied by a scout 10
search of forage, or for ascertaining the po-
siton OF the enemy. Then, in company
with the ladies of Col. Turchin and Lieut..
! Col Scott, we would occasionally visit Iron
dale, two miles below Pilot Knob, for the
purpose Of enjoying the enervating game of
bowling. in which game the ladies became
quite efficient. These excursions were not
without danger and on one occasion several
of the 10Th were captured by Secession
! Cavalry. who were prowling around. We
afterwards ascertained that one corporal and
two nriyates were captured on the FREEZER
Z
shot and mutiated. One other. who was
with the party. escaped and brought sealed
letter 10 Lieutenant. Coloael Scott, which
| read as follows:
'CoL. Sco1r.-Though learned military
tactics under you and Ellsworth. hate and
despise you as id Yankee Abolitionists.
and hops to have the pleasure of capturing
and killing you and your lady. Death 10
Aboliaonists.'
/ The letter was not signed but the Colonel
knew and recognized the hand writing, and
/ i, is a well known fact that s B Backner.
the Confederate General late at Fort Warren
in confinement. was formerly commander Of
the National Cadets of Chicago, under
whom the lamented Ellsworth was An officer,
and from these Natiousl Guard Cadets
sprang the Zousve Cadets of Chicago. and