The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-09-13
Army Correspondence.
CAMP 4TK ILLINOIS CAvALRY, y
TRENTON, GIBSON Co., TENI.,
SpnfembAr 1sf n 1SGl

-... TRENTON, GIBSON Co., TEKS.,
September 1st, A. D. 1852. J
Mr.. EA;tor-Just about twelve months
ago the 4th Cavalry Ills. Vol was organis
ed at camp Hunter, and, as my Thoughts
go back to those good old days. feeling
akin to sadness comes over me. Those
were the most pleasant days the old 4th
ever spent; and yet it was then that they
grumbfed the most about rations, hard
usage, &c. Now when they have to un'
dergo the greatest of hardships and re
ceive treatment hard to bear, they never
murmur or complain. During the year
we have travelled about 200 miles, and
without the help 0: Railroads and steam.
boats either but on the backs of our trusty
horses. Much as they have been used
they are ready for plenty of hard duty
still
| As you see by the heading, we are away
back in the woods, an hundred miles from
anywhere. We recei!ed the order to
break up our pleasant camp at Memphis
| on the 22d of Aug, and at noon the next
/
to the landing to be sent up the river with
the sick and all the extra baggage, and
! our march was commenced The order
was 10 forage on the country, and there
/ fairly in camp, the Or Master would take
| out the wagons and make requisition
/ on the neigh borhood. The march was
made Systematically, starting each day at
7 daybreak and camping just after dinner
time. We came through without difficult
", and nothing enlivened the mono,ony
of the steady march, except the capture of
a few guerrillas. These we tnrned over
10 Gen. Ross at Bolivar, and they were re-
leased by him on taxing the oath. We
came through Jackson, and on the sixth
day after leaving Memphis we pitched
our tents on the bank os the Fork of
Deer" at Trenton. We have very piea-
SAINT camp on the banks o. n winding
stream, with plenty of good spring water
at hand. The thick foliage OF heavy for
/ est trees shade US from the hot rays Of the
sun
To day the whole regiment (almoso has
been promoted. The act OF Congress of
Feb. 18th, 1900, as amended July 18th
ISo-' snt.ue. eaeH a COMPANY OF cavalry to
an "u"'1'onaI "a !-'eu'.' called Supernu.
.hsra'y l-'tut, ihis accounts Tor most o.
'''9 Cll.', ~ 'o'-,9''Vt,s. :" W. r. II
NJ VI NJ 'i II -, D.. "a, a. aiPoln.ed
80. -I"J p "a ''o' 'i''''i' pFciho'eo
u w ~ M, I'M r.. :-.-.-.-,
,,--.:,i,.,., - ~ ~ II - ai,Po'E'T''
- "a i or1'o;-,,c1 pa,,;,,,si - E1l;y 10y
-,
\ Ui.,, : on.oi,tod pa.,i.oa,,a,
,..r,.t 49,
ST. W., Mn ,>-,,,,o..y, f., !.
sa-g, N ~ +, a. 4
g n Diri,ey Cb;sf R,,ler - s,,.,.r,,,,
r,er,rv ID l. 60 p
Fd ->,ve,r,,, rIns,.;.al s.a,,r, 10 5o
do 60 4
Sargt. Major Moon. Of lst Bat TO do
do. Go y
Serat Wills. from lst Serct. to do do.
co. L.
Sergt Tiartin, from do to ID Lit Co T.
s;el.t Search. from I'd Sergt to supernU-
merary ~ 1t. Go. +.
Sergt Douica, from lst Sergt to do do,
Go II.
1t fisk, promoted from lst 1t to Cap
tam, 90 II.
II Ca,lcu, promoted from I'd 1t TO Is:
1t Go. u.
SeFGt- Jerry Cook, promoted from 81
SerGt 10 ID Ii 60. II.
> r9t George ieoai, promoted from 2l
Scrst 10 supernumc.y I'd LIT. Go. ii.
Serst joel Carter, promoted from lst
Sergt 10 do 40, Co |.
Sergt MaJ. DasheI.>, promoted from Segt
NaJer lst Bat, to do do, 60. IL.
Sergt BayuuIn. promoted from lst Sergt
10 do do, Go. l..
Sergt Moore, promoted from lst SeTgt
TO do DO, so VI. .lr
The companies are very noisy over their
new officers, and are cheering vociierously
The news yesterday and to-day is very
exciting IRON All points-tbat from Ma
nassas particularly so. All We can learn
is, that there has been terrible la tile.
and Pope has the advantage of Jackson
and Is driving him.
There was quite at Bolivar on the 2Sth
u.t, between 1900 OF the enemy cavalry
and the I'd Cavalry under 1t. Col. Hogg,
supported by Col Legget's brigade of in
iantry. The rebels were the first to attack
and were turiously repulsed by our caval-
~. Col. Hogg fell early in the fght while
leading desperate charge. At enc time
two pieces of artillery were placed on a
rise of ground commanding lane. A
portion of our cavalry, overpowered by
that Of the enemy, retreated down this
lane. Giving the boys time to get out of
the way, the artillery opened upon the
dense masses of rebel cavalry. moving
them down like grass The fight continn-
ed till dark, when both combatants re
tired little and put out pickets. The
next morning, the federals found them
selves masters of the field, for the rebels,
taking advantage of the darkness, left