Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-03-13
FROM THE 4sD REaIMEMT4
Editorial Correspondence Of the BELMONT cAfonle!s.
CAMP NEAR COMMERCE, No.,
Feb. 27, 1862.

Eobs 90 CVS
Tho 4sd, after a very pleasant trip from
Cincinnati, which VIC left on Sunday morn
ing, arrived at Commerce, No., about 25
ml1Sfrom Cairo Tuesday, evening, and on
ws1nesday morning arrived in Camp two
miles West Of that place. The readers of
THs CHRONICLE recollsct, no doubt, that
thisis the place visited by the notorious
JEFF. Thompson, and from which he drove
the Union men and was himself driven by
the u. 8. gunboats. 1t is said that Thomp-
son drove oil the Union men out, and the
Union men in turn drove all the Sscesh out,
lcaving but one family in the place, which
was neither Union nor Secesh-but neutral.
Whether this is 50 or not, one thing is Ger.
tain, there are but few Of the natives to be
sesn, either in town or country.
Whilst at Cairo l paid visit 70 the
famous ~Eunboats, about which 50 much
has been said and written, and think they
are certainly well calculated to do good ser.
vice on tho Western rivers. The largest are
about $50 feet long and so feet wide-vsry
strongly built, with the engine below the
water-lins, and the wheels in the ceutrs aft
80 inclosed and cassd over - to be she'll
proof. The sides and end, from the hull
up, are Jared in at an angle Of about.45',
the forward end cased with iron 8 incheI
thick, the sides plated l4inches thick. The
upper deck is plated with iron u inches
thick, and the pilot-house is made of heavy
iron, perfectly bomb-proef, with worry small
openings at or near the top for the pilot Il
see out at. Tho boats carry from 4 to Is
gus each, Of calibrs varying from 8 to O.
pouuders-which make them very formid
able affairs. There we're several Of tn,
beats there that were in the attack upoI
Donolson, and were very little injured, -th'
cannon shots simply indsntipg the plating
about ! the dianatsr Of the balls.
Troops are being moved with graz
rapidly out here, and are concentrating ii
large bodies at Psducah and at this place
Several Regiments have arrived here sine,
the 43d, hut l have not learned where the.
are from. The eth, 39th, 43d, and So,
Regiments Ohio Volunteers are here, and
with one other Regiment not yet here, con
stitute the LIST Brigade Of the first Division
The Brigade is commanded by Col. job
Groesbesk, Of Ohio. The whole foro
numbers over 20, 900, and is under the com
nand of Gen. Pope. Ii is destined 70
Nsw-Madrid, for which place it will start q
n o'clock tomorrow morning, and arriv
there before tho publication of this letter
to assist in tho attack upon Columbus, ate
taking New-M Madrid, Of which you will prot
ably hear by Telegraph before tho roOeip
Of this.
The health Of the men is very good, thor
being but few in the company who are unf
for duty.
Baxter, whilst trying to make q tent-pi
yesterday, cut one finger off, and anoths
nearly of, his left hand.
have written this lottcr after q har
days work, when l should have been
bed, simply to let those who have frien,
in the Regiment know where ws are, ar
where we expect to 60, as far as We no
know.
l will write again, but not perhaps un'
We shall have met the enemy.