The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-05-27
Of the Guardian.
CAMP BEFORE CoHryTH,I
May 18Th, 1862. {


FRIEND Rrcn Whether these lines
ever meet the eyes your readers mot,
is mystery which time alone will re-
veal, as all letters and matters pertaining
TO the great movements about to trans
pire IN the heart of Dixie land, wherein
host of two hundred thousand armed
soldiers are the actors, and the suppress.
ion OF an unholy rebellion the issue at
stake, is positively prohibited. That
nomadic class ofindividuals, yclept news
paper correspondents, whose every exs-
tence almost depends upon their expert
ness in gathering up sensation items to
satisfy the greedy curiosity of the multi
tudes at home, have been compelled to
seek another theatre for operations, and
indite many wonderous tales of army
life while hundreds of miles away from
the scene of action. While all true patri-
OTIS ale willing to bear temporary in
convenience when the interests of the
country seem to require it, we yet
fail to see in what manner harmless let
ter writing can injure the plans of our
army here, when it is VIII known South
as we'll as North, that Beauregard is coop
ed up without possibility of escape,
Pope's and Nelson's divisions being
within three miles O. Corinth, and that
either an unconditional surrender on the
part Of the rebels, or atremendous battle,
will be fought in a few days. But pa
tlence-the more of that gift person
possesses in these times the better. In
a short time all will be made known, and
the reasons for the extreme reticence of
our generals amply explained. In the
meantime | avail myself of the opportu-
nifty of recording few Of the late move
ments Of our respective forces, hoping
that the argus eyed detectives will find
nothing therein reasonable.
Ever since our arrival it has been one
continued series Of advance on the enc
my, who have abandoned all their isoa-
ted posts and fallen back behind their
strong intren chments at Corinth, dis.
lance of three miles, in which is a very
bad swamp between us, and the pickets
have been close enough to exchange pa.
pers. Through this swamp a road and
telegraph line has been constructed at
great expense Of time and labor, running
in nearly southwest direction to Farm.
ington, small town situated on a high
point Of land that CO mmands fine view
of Corinth. The rebels had battery
planted here. the impregnability of which
they were fond Of Boosting, but like all
their other Gibraltars, as soon as the
federal lines began to draw in close prox-
unity it became untenable. From the
camp another road takes southerly
course for the distance OF a mile, where,
after winding around the base of splen-
did wooded height, il makes detour to
the right and winds along high rid &c
parallel with the other, they both con-
verging at Pennington All hands are
now at work on this road, for if Beaure
gard carries out his intended plan of
turning our left flank and cutting off our
communication with the Tennessee river,
it would be a blow productive of the
most disastrous results, separating our
division from that of Gen. MitchelIs,
md affording the enemy every facility
for the erection Of heavy batteries that
would sweep us at every point You
may rest assured that strong guard is
posted here, and yesterday Constable s
Ohio Battery was sent out. The strokes
Of the axmen are heard ringing in the
forest night and day. long stretches Of
low, marshy flats and streams, are brdg
ed with trees laid down transversely,
hills are levelled, and hollows filed up,
and even the hard granite itself, where
it crops out in lodges that render the
road too narrow, has TO yield to the pick
Of the relentless invader. The whole
route will soon be rendered practicable
for the nsportation of the heaviest
Parrott guns, and with them planted on
the heights beyond, there can be no dan
ger. | have sent you a rough diagram
Of the most important locations and the
position Of our forces, which can be re-
lied on for correctness.
1.-THE diagram is well-drawn, but as we have
no facilities for engraving, we are compelled TO
withhold it from our readcrs.--Ed
1t has been the intention Of our
leaders TO cntice the rebels to the east
side of the swamp, while they, on the 9th
or hand, are equally anxious to have us
come beyond Pennington, where desert.
els say they have enflading batteries
planted TO receive us. But should they
have the temerity to again take the Of.
/ /