The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-08-16
Army Oorrsspondence.
Carr or TIE Ara I'LL CAVALRY
Two miles south Of Memphis,
TNnrsd0.. A u0usf TIL 1850

Two miles south of Memphis.
THsrsday, Asgass I'll, 1862.
EDlroR OrrAwA FREE TRADEA-1 have
let more time elapse since writing my
former letter than had intended 20, but
being soldier, and therefore not master
of my own time, have not been able 10
write before, will now, however, as VIII
endesvor to do hereafter, give an account
of our principal movements.
July 10th We received orders, to put
ourselves in readiness to move, which it
did not take long to do, as we are always
prepared for that We put every thing in
to the best possible shape and awaited
further orders. The next day General
Hurlbuts division marched from Lagrange
to Moscon and camped west Of the bridge
over Wolf River. The SD Ill. looked
rather tired and dusty as it filed past. and
was smaller than l had supposed it was.
But it Was the :" gallant SD" still and
many were the greetings exchanged by
their boys and those Of the 4th Tho
ever-pleasant face If It. Col Hit was not
there however, he had received \ hurt
from the fall Of his horse about week be.
fore. and was obliged to put himself under
the care OF the surgeon, and 60 by way Of
Columbus. We missed him very much
To counterfeit this disappointment how
ever, we had the pleasure Of meeting Mai.
Charles Campbell of Ottawa, who is Chief
Of Artillery On Cen Hurlbuts staff, aud is
the same agreeable gentleman rs Of old.
Our division maj ched the next day
(Juiy lSth,) taking the road toward Mem
phis, passed through the ancient town of
Lafayette and camped between that place
aud Coliersville. Great quantities Of cot
ton had been burnt by the guerrillas every
where we passed. All the planters have
heard express an opinion. say that the cot.
ton was burned against their will They
were paid for it in Confederate Script
The next morning we took up our line
Of march, the 4th Cavalry acting as escort
for the large division train, a part being IN
advance. And the Remainder in rear of it,
noticed As We nesred Memphis that the
advance guard WAS gradually decreased
and the rear guard Increase, SO that when
We reached here our regt was all in the
rear
As We passed through Germantown,
which is a perfect hOtbsd Of secession, the
soldiers did considerable plund-ring, and
for the first time since leaving Pittsburgh
Landing, the officers paid no attention to
1t. was glad OF it, for Of all the " se-e-h ="
holes, Germantown is the most bitter !
was ever in, This is the place where the
train Of cars from Memphis was thrown
off the track and captured Althuug:, -
general thing am opposed TO plunder-
ing. burning DC yet. j would rejoice at
s~eeing the inhabitants Of Germantown
stolen poor, atd the town burned. IL
would be as impossible to find one union
man there As it was to find fec righteous
men in Sodom and Gornoarah. All attn
sorry for is that the 4th was in such posi-
ton that they could not participate.
That night we camped at point, about
ten miles west Of memphis near The
Tank and the next day. being Sunday.
We spent i'll quiet and Christian Ike
manner, resting from our march. Mon
day We marched into Memphis. aud camp
ed. The boys had looked forward to their
arrival here with great anticipation. and
were much pleased with the appear ance
OF things until night came OR. and en-
devou,ly wished themselves back in the
woods, for the mousvuitoes attacked
them most ravenou.ly, making sleep i'm
possible till nearly morning. This was not
very pleasant surely. but soldier is sup
posed to be able TO bear pain OF all kinds,
for his countries sake. aud of course we are
signed to our fate
Hitherto, we have not been troubled At
all bv nou.quitees. but now they are
making Up for lost time by, giving their
whole mind To it, suppose
Gen. Hurlbuts division which followed
Us a days march behind, got here on The
2:2,d. and the SD. csmp-d within three
quarters Of . mile Of U.s. had the pleas
ure Of dining at the ReveiIle House
one day last week. 1t is very we'll kept
and advis my many(') friends to patron.
ize it. However. if conclude to STRAIT the
"Tatto Hotel here shall expect then, to
bestow their patronage upon II
Col Hit has returned to his regiment.
he is somewha. improved in health, but
has not entirely recovered from his injury
As yet. 1t is hoped that he may soon BE-
perfectly sound. Capt. Seth Earl il not
Major as was reported, an election t"ok
place in which he was elected to { rat
post, but. owing to some inregularity IN
the proceeding he is not yet appointed
Capt McClanohan is acting ior.
The vacancy. occasioned by the appoint
ment of Major S NJ. Bowman Of our regt.
to Col of the s4th, Pennsylvania, has not
yet been filed.
Col Mccullough has returned from his
visit home. and is in good health
There are great many things Of inter
est here at Memphis, but l have room to
mention but few. Tho remains Of the
terrible gunboat battle which occurred
here. are plainly visible. several houses
were struck by the balls and shells. Twas
speaking to day with q gentleman, who
said that all his family were out on tho
the bank Of the river witnessing the fight
and during their absense their house was
struck BY . shot which. passed through
the roof glanced on a large tree in the
rear Of the house and returning. it passed
out through the window 1t was very
much damaged The remains oftne rebel
gunboat Beauregard, which was sunk
during the fight can be seen protruding
from tho water near the other side OF the
! river.
There is large camp Of negroes between
here and tic city. They are collected oy
the Government to work on the breast.
works There are about 500 Of them,
and although they are rather poor. work.
ers still they are kept out of mischief
1t is bed time, and must sign
TATTOO
LITTLE Gsuxpr Is probably behind no
other county in the state in the way Of
enlstments. The Morris HeraM boasts
with justice:
1t was Grundy. that sent tho FIRST con.
pans. under Capt Hopkins. into camp At
Springfield, EARNED with shot guns and
rifles.) under the first call Of the Presi.
dent, and she has been FIRST in responding
to every proclamation for troops, from
tho fall of Sump'er. down to the present
time. When Grundy heard the last sum.
nous, ITO Arms" passing over the tel..
graphic wires, she prepared to respond
and has the honor Of sending the irxt
company into camp, At Kankakee. But,
she never stops in doing her duty, she
urides in doing more Out of 2 pOpuiation |