The New York herald., 1862-01-21
IMPORTANT LETTER FROM SOMERSET.
The following letter explains much that would appear
strange and doubtful but for its publication


pity for the poor after has borrowed skin had been
torn from him, the times of sop, always overwhems
follow how penduIous must have become his raitorous
earsl Into what mournfu demi semi quavers must MS
triumphant bray have been broken.
Don think that confessing judgment OF asslnni-
ty against army of the Upper Cumberland We did
not seek to be heroes in anticipation IL was not our
days the OF the whole world were
upon u.s. that the pines OF Maine ceased III ir whisper
ing ard listened for the news from Somerset that
the live oaks Florida began die with fright at the
impending ruin Zoicofer that John Bull let his plum
pudding grow cold while he read the alarming dispatches
from our division, and that the . red indian y who
Maud said yes to her exharated lover SUSPENDED his
saltatory exercises, and stood in expectation dread
awaiting the shock of arms on Fishing creek But
that excited posmasters have returned from their tempo
brisk trade dispatches to their ordinary and
peaceful occupation in selling three cent kenesses OF the
Father OF his Country now that Intelligent gentlemen
no longer rush feverish from interviews with command
ing generals that the attack just begin
ming; that the eyes, sin fine frenzy rolling OF wake
full editors have rolled away from to look at Mississippi
gunboas. Annapolis armadas and the good old s. and
mothery Army of the Potomac, feel sadly mortified
know that summer weather Of popular sympathy is
over, and that for indefinite time TO be
unnotced uncared for stuck in the mud. The good
promise OF early December has vanished with the
year. We are like the "gudemann of the ballad
His bonnet stood ance fu fair on his brow,
His auld ane looked better than mouy ane's now;
But now he let's u droop ony way it will hing,
And casts himself sadly-to wait for the spring.
BLIGHTED HOPES OF A MOVEMENT.
We did think few days ago that something about
TO be done Mysterious hints 10 be prepared TO CO.
operate when heard cannonading at the Mill Spring
ford; Of McCooks brigade he Teutonic McCook
Of the Ninth) coming TO hep, and stopping
night at Danve, at Stanford at Waynesburg, till
creduty MAJOR Wood and rode to meet and welcome
old friends, and met to infinite disgust only
pitifu smooth bores, the section Of Hewits battery
which had been sent out scouting the head Of
Green river some weeks before these and various re-
ports Of the kind have served keep up spirits for
time. There even more fully vouched for intelli
gence that ten regiments had crossed the Cumberland
Grder's Ferry and in full march TO intercept the
enemy retreat that General Thomas with dozen more
hurrying from Columbia to attack the rebels this
side of the river and that all had was to ere
cover the game which they should Shoot after had
been setting it SO long
But alas the swish was father the hope and now
that, in our despair, even tho wish is almost dead
coming to the conclusion that we will be able
70 get a stepather. Pardon the "goak." Execrable
10 may be, it isn't half much the circumstances
which gave it birth.
mThe status here is simply this-Crittenden, having
taken the command Of the troops at Mill Spring, while
Zollicoie has gone Nashville, with the bulk
of his twelve thousand ntrenehed and defended by
eleven pieces Of field artillery and twenty Of the
manufactured the confederacy warranted
to burst the third discharge His right flank protect
cd by the river his by White with
high bluff banks impossible AT the GAp TO troops
while his front rests on succession Of hills, not steep
but commanding that they cannot be taken without
great slaughter unless their defenders and With
their only route Of escape cut Oft by forces moving
towards Monticello, we may well imagine that il the
enemy fghtsat all it will be with desperation.
WHERE OTHER GENERALS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE.
On our part Gen. Boyle is somew here on the Cumber.
land river, Burkesville waiting Tor artillery Gen
Thomas is fifteen miles this side of Columbia
hast accounts waiting till creek runs down and
here waiting for orders Tho telegraph has caught the
general Infection and after getting within eight miles of
has stopped waiting for nsulaors Our pockets wait
the paymaser. The ragged Seventeenth for win
ter clothing, that spring is almost here There is a
general waiting for Heavens vengeance to strike the
scoundrels who sell shoddy for soldiers garments
chicory and rotten coffee for the soldiers drink tainted
salt pork and scorched bran crackers for soldiers food
growing rich from the profits of their trade in dysente
ries, fevers, consumption and death And fear that
if chance should FOR to strike blow and
make one long hoped for entry into Tennessee would
still have TO ''wait for transportation"
BY the way see many sneers In the press at generals
who have wait for transportation. In the OF
those who have not made the necessary efforts obtain
adequate means Of transportation these taunts Just
enough but TO some have done that armies shall
before they have the means Of carrying their
tents, camp kettles ammunition rations and few ex
ira articles of comfort which soldiers carry
their knapsacks is to urge to sickness decentralization
and in The end utter ruin / think that If hundred
Of those blatant fellows forced 10 march
Cumberland hills carrying all The goods and chatels
which they wouldcousder necessary their health hap
pness and usefulness soldiers uIon their backs and in
single wagon they would begin TO doubt whether their
views of military men as to adequate transportation
enlarged enough
ARRIVAL OF TENNESSEE REFUGKEs.
Last evening and this morning we have had pleasant
excitement in our camp in welcoming Tennessee refugees.
Seventy three came in having travelled by night through
the Driven from their homes by tyranny
which prevails in their state, they iOin those
who have promised to redeem their resdes from the
pollution OF the oppressor II is most painful to listen
their stories The conscription has been going on in
East Tennessee forcing brave men into the Of
cause which they hate and of men for whom their only
prayers The greater part OF them had only
time to bid a hurried goodby to their families and
leaving them under the shadows Of untold perls 10 y
the woods. One man had laaN hidden for weeks
few miles from his house, waiting Til the blood
hounds should leave him free to escape During that
time he his home but twice. Several had
been imprisoned, and used the first hours Of their
freedom in flight TO seek revenge under the old
flag. They by mountain passes following
the paths which they and then
north star In their night marches not a word was
spoken Their hands on their knives and pistols tbey
prepared to die rather than surrender. They
tell u that If reach Tennessee with arms four
ffths Of the male population will flock to standard
They promise US such reception as only be given
by brave hearts long crushed beneath superior force 10
those who bring them
do not ike TO excite hopes which may be full
flied but it will perhaps gladden. the hear Of the friends
of the boys Of the Thirty th who taken prisoners
in the picket fight Of December o. to know that these
from Tennessee report that boys escaped from
their Nashville prison days ago Some Of the refu
gees confined with them. and made their escape
yet know whether our fellows succeeded in getting away
from their pursusrs or not but hope to see them coming
In before long.
No one who has not talked with our East Tenne.seeans
has any idea Of their holy hatred OF the coneeracy and
Of the susrngs they have undergone through their at
tachment 70 the Union. There are now two full regi
ments Of refugees this state besides more than if
Teen hundred who have enlisted in the various Kentucky
regiments. Brave, honest simple hearted fellows not
the best material in the world drilled and dscpincd
machine soldiers but gifted with individual courage and
al excellent marksmen, they are fine administers
any general could ask But their hearts are by
the long delays TO which they subjected The pro-
misses often made that they should be sent to defend
their state with strong back them up are vet
unfunled. They all have the strong local attachments
20 their homes which characterize mountaneers And
many Of them have had their hopes deferred till they
sickensd and died In despair Colonel Carter of the Sc
cond East Tennessee regiment, told OF two young
men, strong and courageous young fellows az he had
who thus died al London. They brothers One OF
them III and the other entered the hospital TO
nurse him. He, too. grew sick. The physicians were
baf1sd by their disease. II seemed sheer despoudeucy
and homssickncss Day after day they wasted away
pining for their free mountain air and the friends they
had left behind them till. In utter hopeessness they
died and lie side by side that bleak hill whore SO
many Of young volunteers waiting for the last
yeveille
HEALTH or THE TROOPS.
think that tho health Of our troops here s improving
Typhoid fever st fingers With us, but his late attacks
not been 90 violent the frs Good weather and
active campaigning would infuse new life into ranks
is hard in our regiment to bring out four hundred
men for dress parade but let the long roll beat
pedton Of any kind toward the enemy be undertaken,
and we can meet the enemy with hundred musksts
The boys won't stay In the hospital when there