Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-07-09
From the I'd Ohio Cavalry.
CAMP OF THE ADVANCE GUARD OF THE
INDIAN EXPEDITION AT BAxTER's
SPRINGS, June Goth, 1862.

Messrs. Editors:-While wrapt in the
gloomy, monotonous solitude of these un.
civilized western wilds, whose deafenine
silence is broken only by the incessant
practice of the Dutch drummer, or the
ear-splitting efforts of newly appointed
bugler in our own regiment, feel con.
strained to lay before your numerous read
ers short statement of our whereabouts,
travels and hopes. ...... b.,
We are still in the brigade formerly
commanded by Col. Doubleday, but alas
the political military rulers of this Depart
ment, have gone back on our gallant lit
tie Colonel, and sent Kansas Colonel
here who ranks him out of the command
of this expedition, and adding insult to
injury, they have broken up even his orr
ginal brigade, and taken the best infant
ry regiment in the department, (the 9th
Wisconsin, giving him in return a regi-
ment of Kansas Cavalry, the 9th and the
2nd, half formed regiment, of Indian
Home Guards. The consequence of all
this has been to cause much dissatisfac-
ton in the regiment, and also the resig-
nation of our Colonel, whose loss is deeply
felt by every member of the regiment
He left us about a week ago, and is now,
1 hear, on his way to Washington. We
always have, and always will believe that
Col. Doubleday possessed military talents
and genius excelled by few; and deeply
regret that the opportunity has not been
allowed him to prove those qualities and
vindicate his character as a soldier.
+ We had quite an expedition against the
rebels below here some 35 miles, short
time before our Colonel left. Getting re-
liable information from his scouts, that
Coils. Coffee, Stanwiddy and Richardson,
of the c. S. A, were encamped in the val
ley of Grand River, near Waitie's cross
ing, about thirty-five miles from here, Col.
Doubleday concluded to honor them with
a short call
On the morning of the 9th inst, four
pieces of Rabb's Ind. Battery, six compa-
nies of Infantry in wagons, the LIST battaI-
lion of the 2nd Ohio Cavalry, under Maj.
Miner, the 3rd battalion under Mai. Bur
nett, and two companies of the Kansas 9th
Cavalry, were all ordered to march south
ward from this point, Col. Doubledy max
ing the order, and going in command in
person. Several of the 2nd battalion, in
Guiding myself, having obtained permis-
sion, concluded to 60 as amateurs. We
got an early start. and arrived at Hudson
crossing on the Neosho, about noon. We
stopped two miles beyond, at house, and
fed and rested our horses. Travelling 10
miles farther, on high, dry prairie, We
arrived at the brow of q steep hill which
marks the descent into the lovely valley
of the Grand River. Knowing that we
were in the vicinity of the enemy, the
command was halted here, to allow time
to reconnoitre and find the exact location
OF their camp. From the heights where
we were halted, we could see the dim trail
leading to the river, until lost in the dense
timber bordering its banks. To the right
and left of the road as faras the eyecould
reach, lay one of the loveliest landscape
views that human eyes ever feasted on.
The rich dark line of timber, marking the
winding course Of the river, in the centre
of the valley, bordered. by strip of vel
vet green prairie some four miles wide,