Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1862-02-08
Camp oorresponlltnoe.
WoopLAyD MAxsio,

camp C0rrespomdehce. t
WOODLAND MAxsioS,
Platte County, Mo, DAN ~, 1862
Mn EbiToR. The Second o. v. Q. is
at last in the enemy's country. The first
battaliop is now in Platte City, Mo, en-.
joying seeesh corn hay aud oats.
The first batdIiohs Majpr Miner, was ac-
companed By the Coloael, Baud, and STAFF,
50 far as possible Il arrived in Hudson,
on the Hannigal aud ST.. Joseph Railroad,
at the preseprtcrminus Of the North Mis-
souri, Railroad, AZ 6 z. NJ, on the 23fd
inst, after q ride Of 81 hours tl54 miles
only, on the cars of the latter institution
Here the battalion stayed uqlil the next
day, when it left by companies for ST. Jo
seph, SO miles distsn', company G III ad
vance. From 81. Joseph we rode by squa-
drons, without changing ears, to Weston
90 miles, where we arrived before daylight
Az 10 o'clock we received orders TO be
ready to marah for Platte City, I miles dis
tant, at l2 NJ, which order was soon
changed to r. NJ a'i .
This was to be our FIRST actual march in
Rebeldom All the companies were prompt
y on time Six men aud a Sergeant were
sent few hundred yards in advance, &C
compahied by o guide. NJ jor Miner rode
at The head OF Company G, with another
guide by his side. For the first two or
three miles we had good McAdamised
road On both sides were line old farms,
and some of the largest hemp ever saw
was still standing shocked in the 6elds-
Some of the residences were very (inc, aud
on all the Stars and Stripes were eouspicu-
ously displayed, fDr that emblem only can
save property here TO the original owners,
aRd from destruction. Three miles from
town we passed a batlle field, the eyidchces
Of which were numerous on the trees aud
fences. Then we had about two miles of
road which our AshlabuIa friends would
call intolcrsble, bat which was passed safe
ly by the troops and train. After this was
passed We found SECOND and improved
edition of the first three miles, aud Platte
City was soon in sight on the opposite side
OF Platte river. Across the river by
once fine, covered, double track bridge, we
rode up iuto the principal street Of the
city.
War had done its work here. At least
one-third Of the city (as large as Ashta-
bula) was in ruins aud one-lourth of the
remaining houses had been deserted 10y
their owners, too great traitors TO their
country to Look their countrymen in the
face. IA s.-,.,.,a .Es4 .C
All the companies were soon quartered in
the vacant houses, a0d most of the horses 10 the
deserted stables. This was on Saturday last.
On the following day our Chaplain preached
to mixed audience of citizens aud soldiers
"All quiet ou the Platte.' > .sa4a8 ga
On Monday Col, Doubleday aud Captain
Burnett with strong escort went out to ex,
Plore the surrounding country. Ga their return
Company was ordered to prepare TO march
at 2 Z NJ, and at that hour VIC started We
took a southerIy direction, aud at about three
fourths Of mile from the city we "passed
through pair Of bars" aud rode up to fine
brick mansion on beautiful hill, surrounded
by stables carriage houses, and negro quarters,
We soon found room for 80 OF our horses under
cover, aud then went to explore our mansion.
The only inhabitants ae could fHd on the place
were three slave women, asd seven slave child.
ren, two blood hounds, one pointer, lots of pigs
fourteen horned cattle, and three things call
ed (f) horses. The farm had been well oyerrub
BY Col Smith Of the 10th Illinois. The house
afforded room plenty. The furniture was elegant
In the parlOr we found nice piano under a
pile of bed clothes, two beautiful pier glasses
and other furniture to match. The sideboard
in the dining-room was stocked with almost
every variety OF glass ware-empty, however,
hence of no value to a soldier Iu the cham.
Der, which had evidently been occupied by the
young ladies', were dresses of almost every va
riety, prints excepted, and packages Of lettes
and papers, books, and veriORs other articles
too numerous to mention. The whole hOus Sc
hoid furniture was 10 the utmost confusion,
about as you would imagine such things would
oe le''' under such circumstances, taking only
a 'ew ofl'eles OF the most value. In looking
over the pape's, as per orders. We found a most
beautiful piece Of poetry, evidently written be-
fore the days Of secession, and by the hand of Q