Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1862-05-23
From General aalleck's Army.

| ClnP soWe HVc UT SIX mics upon tue rluSe
road to Corinth. Soon after leaving on,
camp we came into billy district, and the
road striking ridge, we passed along il
to the place where we are now encamped
So sharp is the ridge that the water upon
the road runs off upon either side The
country for the most part consists of heavy
oak forests with here and there clearing
We passed through a rebel camping
ground on our way hithcr, where several
thousand men must have been encamped
They were driven from it few days since
and left things in great confusion. There
was mixture Of tents, smashed barrels OIL
beef, cooking utensils, knapsacks. and in fact
everything appertaining to the paraphanalia
of rebel camp. We are now perhaps some
ten or twelve miles from Corinth. just be.
yond US upon Pea Ridge proper, is the di.
vision of Gen. Sherman, and still further on
to the left is the army of the Mississippi un.
der the command Of Gen. Pope. Not far of
is the command of Gen. McClcrnard, and
away to the right is Gen. Wallacc's division,
while behind us and yet to come up is the
late command of Prentiss.
We may remain here some days getting
the lay Of the land and the position of the
rebels before any battle will come off, unless
Beauregard should venture to make an attack
upon us.
Last night in the evening we lay down
upon the ground to sleep, while the new
moon pceping through the green foliage Of
the forcs. seemed to smile upon us in our
slumber. This May day morning we pitched
our tents and prepared our camp, which is
upon the right side of the road going south,
while the long line Of artillery that's attached
to our division is stationed upon the left
Some of the boys are cooking, some sleeping,
some playing cards, while others are walk.
ing upon their beat as guards. Here
and there can be seen transfers repairing
! their wagons, that have been broken in some
slough in the passage out, and continually
passing in the road are teams to the landing
for forage, struggling soldiers and squads Of
cavalry; now and then an orderly with some
message dashing by like mad; in the dis
lance occasionally may be heard the report
of cannon, sgnifying that some Of our
forces arc feeling around to find the enemy.
| , MoSrERAr, May 5.
Night before last We received orders to
march at a. N. the following morning with
four days cooked ratlons in our havcrsacks.
! We commenced our march towards noon
soon after we started it commenced raining
and continued almost without cessation until
nearly 1OA. NJ. to-day. On account Of trans
portation teams that belonged to division
ahead of us, we arrived at our point of dcsti-
nation not much before night, though our
march had been only for distance of five
miles. OF the condition Of the roads, need
only to state, that our teams have not all
come in, though the sun is already sinking
behind the horizon. Last night we disposed
of ourselves as best We might-camped in a
grand old forest of oaks, without tents, and
in the rain. This morning most of the boys
were obliged to swim out Of their beds. To-
day since it has cleared off we have been &C.
cupied in drying our traps, and the pros
pect now is that We shall be better stua-
ted tonight than We were last night. Night
before last Pope shelled out Pennington
and took possession Of the place, which is
situated some five miles from Corinth.
Gradually We are gathering around the
place where is said to be the stronghold
of the rebels and where is to be decided
the fate Of the new Confcderacy. May the
contest soon come for we all want the
question to be soon decided. Eleven months
and day, if remember Alright, have pass
cd since we badc good bye to our friends
at tho depot IN Cedar Falls. We went out
as the Pioneer Grcys, and I hardly think
that many of the boys fully realized the trials
they were to pass through. Our country
was in danger and must be rescued from hcl
peril. This was the only thing that we took
into consideration. Nearly year has passed
in which we have been trying to do our duty
faithfully, and now soon, perhaps before thi.
reaches you, is to be decided whether this
struggle is to be indefinitely prolonged o.
suddenly checked.
Our sick have been left behind, and ",
hold ourselves in readiness to march at
moments warning whenever the contest may
come. To-day We hold ground that ycster
day was occupied by rebel cavalry, and to
night just as the sun is disappearing in tn
west the distant peal Of the cannon tells u
that some point is being contested by our ad
vance.
May 7.
We arc still in camp with nothing asid
from camp routine to amuse us. To-day W
are to move our camp about one mile from
our present location, which brings us int
our proper position in line Of battle. We Q
the 4th division are now to be in the from
upon the left Of Sherman's division.
The weather is mild and pleasant, but n
one can imagine the condition Of the road
since the late rains. The Government us
: hoavu u,oropc apI mt oy, loaJc for 6; bor