Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1862-08-15
Letter from the 4srh Regiment.
correspondenee Of the Fremont journal.

CAMP AT BATTLE CREEK, July 29 1862.
Friend Roeicr:-- again the opportunity presents
to send communication to your valuable paper;
knowing whatever comes from the army is read
with interest, win give few facts which in
! the present crisis are always interesting The
present condition Of our army is attracting the
attention Of every one. The public mind which
has 30 long been looking with anxiety TO the va
| iled successes Of our army before Richmond, is
at last, to a certain extent relieved Whilst the
country has been watching the progress faffars
in the East, the army Of this Department has
been suffering from the predatory bands which
tnfest the country. There are SO many subjects
occupying public attention, especially the gi-
gantic effort being made TO raise more troops TO
| suppress the rebellion that our situation Is not
| as fully comprehended as il totherwise would be.
| That which engages our attention the most at
present is short ratons, and short rations convey
the idea TO us of an unsatisfed appetite with
but very little prospect of getting much to eat.
know that those who are surrounded with the
luxuries Of life, with a roof over their heads,
plenty at the table, and clothing to shield the
body, commiserate US in our present condition.
l know the generosity Of the Northern heart,
| and that their sympathies are with those who
are far away enduring the hardships of soldier
ing; that if it lay within their power to relieve
us it would be done. But we will endure all
without murmur, knowing that its the chances
of war.
Our supplies which had heretofore been ar
irving by way of Athens, were shipped TO MUIR
fresboro, Alabama. Immense Quantities were
waiting to reach us, when the rebels attacked
the place and destroyed our stores. The means
of Communication between Columbia, Tenn, and
Athens, Ala, was cut off by the destruction of
bridges. That route has since been the one we
have been receiving supplies but the transpor-
tation has been by teams and therefore we have
been supplied with half rations. The question
ARISES III our minds, to what may we ascribe the
present state of affars7 To want of troops9 or
proper foresight on the part of our Generals9 l
know it is easier to point out defects after the
transpiring of an event. 1t is easier to censure
and condemn after the thing is past. Perhaps
1t may be policy To have oor provisions fall into
| the hands of the enemy. Maybe our General.
! know that the body does not require as mucf
food in Summer as in Winter and therefore tC
j keep up healthy tone of the system, depriva-
! tion should be the consequence.
There is one thing that fills the mind of the
soldier with Indignation, and that is the milk
and-water policy Of our Generals. 1t seems that
public opinion, the experiences Of the soldier
and the exigencies ofthe war, are far in advance
of the actions of a great many. What is the
reason that an immense army is in the field?-
Why is it that another is soon to take it? Why
is money expended in such quantities2 Why
is it that we have left home, with all its pleas
ures and enjOymentsH What, but to suppress
rebellion-a rebellion which is mighty aud that
will need all of our energies to crush. And
shall we fail to use any means placed within
our reach by the rebels themselves2 Shall the
innocent cause of the war be still at the dispos-
al of their masters, who can leave home to fight,
and by leaving an overseer the cultivation OF
the soil can still go on? Is it required that we
shall protect rebel property, place guard over
their persons, and as soon as we leave, for them
to unite in bands, burn our bridges, kill our
and wherever they can? They use our friend
ship to cut our throats, and shall we counten-
ance IT? The very men whom we daily pas
on our marches are the very ones who form tn,
guerrilla parties. / say when person is caugh
hang him and burn his property. see that thi
is the policy adopted by some of our Generals
The question might be asked: "How do yot
know that these citizens who profess to be I'm.
ionists, and are perfectly willing TO take the
oath, are the persons committing these depreda
tions." A single circumstance will answer the
| question. A bridge on the Memphis anC
Charleston Railroad was guarded by a company
! from the 10th Wisconsin. Near to the bridge
! lived middle aged man who daily visited the
| boys, doing for them many little acts of kind
ness. The boys being supplied with -four gave
1t to him to bake for them. These things en-
gendered friendship and he was told good
many things which would have been better If
not said One day citizen came to the bridge
to get pass Tor Huntsville. He was required
to take the oalh which is written on the back OF
the pass, which was readily taken and the pass
given him. That night the company was at.
tackled by 300 rebels whose intention was tC
burn the bridge. After many efforts, the rebeli
were repulsed. The next morning in gathering
up the killed, the person who had professed
j friendship, and the one who had received the
pass, were found among the dead A roll book
was also found, giving the names of most every
citizen for miles around. The ostensible pur-
pose of these two men was to find out the
| strength, and the available points of attack
Such has been the character of the citizens.
Thank God that we find a few in this section
that are Union. Actions speak louder THAI
words. A Tennessee regiment is forming here
and 200 have already enlisted.
| The Tennessee river flows very near camp
On the opposite side the rebel pickets are sta.
; toned, and daily ours and theirs hold conver-
sation. 1t is variously estimated as to the mum
Der of troops the rebels have in this section, bu
| think from all can learn, that between 500
and 20, 900 are between Huntsville and Chata
nooga. The country is hilly, being spur of tn
Smoky mountains ranging through here. Tn
days are a little cooler than they have heretofon
been and the nights also.
For want of paper, will Of necessity close
reserving for the next what would have beer
written in this. Paper is nearly as scarce her,
as specie, which is not to be had Adutan
Norton.has just arrived. Adieu for the present
UNKNOWN.