Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-05-22
From Captain Robinson.

HAMBURG, TENNESSEE RIVER May ~, 'Gl.
MEssRs EsrIL,-Amid the great preparations
for the impending battle write you few lines
as to the state of affairs here. This village is
about i've miles from the fatal battle field of Shi.
loh. whore our dead, wounded and prisoners mum
bcred $4,000. What loss in a single battle!-
Hide it, disguise it as we may, it was terrible
loss to the good old cause
Our army is advancing in three grand divisions
Buell. in the ccutre, Grant on the right flank and
Pope on the left.
This village is the great depot for transporting
supplies, ammunition and provisions of all kind for
the left Aank-Popcs division. Here is the great
General Hospital, divided into wards, under the
control Of the Medical Director, and great num-
Der of physicians, nurses, &c. The stencil Of the
bat, lc.feld at Pittsburg compelled the removal of
the Hospital from that place to this From that
vicinity 5000 sick came here. After the Santa.
ry Commission sent to their respective States all
who were able to 90 there still remained 1000.
What sight to behold and contemplate.
Among the physicians here is DR.. Maxwell,
formerly of Berlin, Holmes county, but recently
of Davenport. Iowa. He was sent here by the
Governor Of Iowa to take charge ofa ward in the
Hospital. His unrcmitting attention to patients
both from Iowa and Ohio has won for him the con-
! iilcnce and esteem of all who have come under
his care. His skill and attcn tion have been of the
greatest value to Ohio men located at this place
| have been reel pient of his kdness, and | take
great pleasure in kindly remembering him to his
old friends
What is the prospect hcre2 Before this reach
cs you some hard fighting will probably take place
perhaps The great battle will be fought and the
Federal arms be victorious or defeated. God
grant that victory may perch upon our standard
Our army moy yes with unusual caution, well know
ing the knavery and skill of the rebel leaders
viii the rebels fight? Yes, they will, and that
too, ably, boldly and with an energy few of your
old fashioned abolitionists would believe. With
all the sounds of Unionsm you hear from the
South don't be deceived; they are united against
us. A very small portion of the people are with
us as long our armies are victorious but the
moment reverscs overtake us they take the other
side.
Inv iSSiSid1Oi VI SOHSltsS Ol tHc slavery
question has greatly strengthened the rebel cause
in the South west. The rebel leaders now say
"Did not we tell you what the abolitionists woulC
do if they succeeded" The abolitonism of Con
gress has thrown all the doubtful and wavering OF
the side Of the rebels, except very few who coun
the chances Of success and act accordingly 1t il
hard work Tor Union soldiers TO crush secession
when Congress is trampling upon the Constitu
tlon and enforcing the dogmas which aided ii
bringing this devastating war upon the country
1t will take the last lilc's drop of many poor sol
diers to repair the damage that the present Con
gress has done to the Union cause.
We have had few sharp encounters between
the advance of this flank and the rebel right flank
before Corinth; the troops we understand to have
been commanded by Price and Van Doren, o
Pea Ridge celebrity. Quite number of the low,
Cavalry were entrapped, killed and wounded
Many of the wounded were brought in here, and
dressed by DR.. Maxwell. Lieutenant. Colonel
under the right eye; the ball passed through hi:
head, scarsely leaving mark upon him. He il
now packed in salt to be sent home, The skrm
ishing, so far, has been neither useful Or profta
BILE to us.
Will the rebels "skedaddle" from Corinth?
think not. have endcavored to learn the posi-
ton they hold, and am well satisfied they will
fght-they must fight To retreat without battle
will totally demoralze Beauregards army. Th
prisoners at this point, about GO in number, speal
confidently of rebel triumph at Corinth. w
) feel equally sanguine of success. Whatever tn
J result may be you need not look for so great
sacrifice of life as was Pittsburgh. There is al
eanesmess, may say hatred growing up be
tween the two armies
The position Of the rebels at Corinth is the best
natural position for them between Pittsburgh
and New Orleans. Their rear is well protected
their front partially protected by swamps; tn,
hilly and uneven nature of the ground renders
scarsely possible to form good extension line o
battle against them,
Respectfully Yours,
J.J ROBINSON,
S0th Regiment o. V. NJ