The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1862-05-14
4 Wood Countian on the southern CAM
pujgu --. An Account of the March aud
a pnrt OF the Battle of shiloh.
IlsAp QUARTERS. End NsNrroSY BEGiNr~r.
@2nd Brigade, Division ot Gen. Nelson.


urc in laying before year many readers, numbers |
OF whom are friends and acQuain;oncos, that por
ton ot my daily Journal relating to recent events
which will perhaps vary the monotonous history of
camp life to something of a more stirring nature.
| am fully aware of the impatient anxiety Of
YOUR pcsccable communities at home, 10 hear ut
splendid achievements and mastcrly military fcats
from the mighty army which they have equipped
aud sent forth at SO great sacrifice and expense,
also, Of the difficulty public journals find in stay
ing the hurried expectations of the people. But
despite all sensation reports that can bc manufic-
tured, each great cycut must abide its time. Hence
the long quiet i"st broken.
The fall Of nouclson ard the evacuation or those
strongholis, Bowling Green, and Columbus, aud
the hasty retreat of the enemy southwark hardly
pausing at the Tcnncsscan's Capitol evidently
changed the plans of the campaign to small extent,
as he had thought, no doubt, to present strong
line of defense from the Cumberland Gap To COL
umbus ON the Mississippi river, hut the fall OF Dou-
clSOn and its succeeding advantages 20 the Northern
army was dishcartcuing blow, his whole line
tas if cut loose from its anchor. dritcd southwark
followed by the now gathering forces of the North
The Capitol Of Tennessee now appeared to be the
chief point Of accumulation both in point of con
vcneucr and strategy. it being rather a central po-
Sition and noted for the dSloyaty of its citizens,
for from the delicate female tn the most daring pat
riarch father of their miserable dogma came the
vilcst r,proachcs and cpithcts the heads Of the
hircling Yankees. Nor do | care to obscure the
fact, though | may differ with many in regard to
this matter. but that the people OF the north should
Il 1
mcut prevails appears to me to I've both proper aud
polite there portions Of the State of Tennessee
that are largely Union, but we rarely find such
here.
II was at Nashville that | first became alive to
the vastncSs and magnitude of Uncle Sans forces.
The City appeared like the metropolis Of some great
warlkc nation, whose Who'll, occupation and re-
sources were the pursuits of war, and that too ON
large scalr. At least they were in great contrast
with the mountain forces of Virginia, OF which we
have previously been Il part. Bottalions We're
marching through the streets with colurS flying and
martial music playing, while tn, sidewalks and
paycmcn.s were throngcd with scattering sollicrs
and gazing civilians. Windows were crowded and
mothers, who tnncicd they now actually bcheld that
dreaded animal the 6" live Yankee" armed to the
misguided husband, brother, or lover in Dixie.
thought within myself, this is a military age, sure
ly, AMI that the present era would chronicle great
events on the pages of modern history. The boat
landing was crowded with thousands of spectators,
tcamScrs, mules, horses batteries of artillery
mounted cavalry men, and field officers, riding to
and fro, and even the river itself was occupied by
that dangerous looking craft, the gun boat Pitts
burg, with her low stature. black uniform and inn
mcnSr Parrot guns, seemed to be ENJOYING sullcn
supremacy the different crafts of her tribe
which hovcrcd nigh.
The adjoining plain was a complete city Of tents
and the roads thereto were throngcd with soldiers
and trains. Here We canned until March l7th
when our whole division broke up camp and march,
ed for Savannah to i,in the forces of Gen. Grant
which were passing up the Tennessee river. As far
as the eye clud reach, to the front or rear could
be seen only the bright CLEAN of muskcts and the
thousands Of shiny knapsacKs, which crowded to-
gcther and with the continual motion from one side
Of the wide road to the other, gave the scene an
appearance not unlike the dark undulating swell of
some bold deep river. Our line of march was not
marked by anything particularly noteworthy. The
divisions of Generals McCook, Thomas and Crit
tenden marched by the route as we did, Gen.
Mitchell taking the Mufrtsboro road, toward Chat
annoga, Alabama.
At the town of Columbia, ON Quick river we met
AS we had done at almost every stream one of the
! enemies greatest dcfcnscs - burned bridge. Gen
McConk halted his column to complete the bridge
which was partly rebuilt. Gen. Nelson, whose di-
vision came next - impatient to advance - ordered
his men to take their clothes and ford the river,
which we did, and that evcring campcd on the plan
ta,ioH of the Rebel General Pillow. Good orchards
fences and well arranged fields, and buildings, dis
played alike good taste and industry
am reliably informed that this rebel gained this
fine property Will, in the employ of that same
Government he now seeks to overthrow. May he
not escape the frowns of Heaven. Anluencc and
plenty were the universal characteristics every
where seen. Large stately farm houses of modern
architecture, some Of Oriental style and taste fine
ly decorated yards, good fences, we'll hung gates.
fine springs Of water, and to rcnlcr the scene still
more pleasing, spring had now begun to shed her
gentle breczcs upon all nature. The peach and
plum trees were all in bloom, and the bllmv fra
granec of thousands Of spring flowers chcercd the
soldiers weary march. The banks of the numerous
rivers and creeks were gorguOusy decorated with
the Mingled blossoms Of the red bud and dogwood
trees, largely intcrSpersed with the dark green oli
age of the evergreen, among which sported numcr
GUS birds peculiar To southern climcs. But must
pass to the serner realities of soldiers life On
Friday, April 4th, heavy wagon guard was de-
tailed commanded by Major, to stay with the di-
vision commissary train oS 80 loaded wagons, and
guarl them to Savannah now a miles distant -
over bad roads / was one of the party, and late
on the evening of the 9TH we had almost despaircd
of getting through, whcn within miles Of the
place, but an express order from Gen. Nelson to
come in If it killed every nude again brought forth
all the ingenuity and patience of the teamsters,
which together with sundry kicks curses, whacks,
and thumps, from TIE impatient guards, frightened
ths poor iaded mules into renewed eXertions and we
arrived within two miles Of the place battered up.
| hungry and weary and not the least vain glorious
of the new title Of NJ D. lmulc drivers which we
had now acquired After passing the night in open
air, woke in the morning with glorious Sabbath
sun shining full in my face. now heard the dis
tant firing of cannon, which could not account for,
MS Bcaurcglri was supposed to ~ at Corinth, Is
miles distant, hut field officer arrived with
orders To Join our Regiments Immediately. The tir-
ing now grew louder, nearer and faster and We
hardly got into camp when news came that the en-
cmy had attacked Gen. Grants men, taken one brig
adc prisoners and for to strike tents. In very
short Iime we We're already and in line The dis
tance to Pittsburg Landing, where the firing was, is
about miles, which we made in both quick and
double quick time, taking the shortest route, which
lead through a low swsmpy tract Of country, but
we needed not road or swamp, as matter Of great