The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1862-04-03
Letter from Kentucky.

! TEcSlOuueLCc Ol L ne AlItR
During our stay at Camp Hambright
| had the pleasure Of visiting the Drip
ping Cave and tie Hundred Dome Cave.
We could not penetrate the former to
great distance, on account of the water
which flows through it. The stream was
much swollen by the recent rains. In
! the latter we found much to interest US.
| The long avenues, the spacious rooms,
the high domes, the deep chasms, the
formations of lime, gypsum, quartz, &c,
and the myriads of dormant bats which
hang in large bevies from the ceiling,
were all new and interesting scenes to
| most of us. After entirely satisfying our
curiosity, and collecting a number of
specimens We returned highly pleased with
our visit
We left Camp Hambright on the 23d
and encamped at Camp Rousseau on Bar
ren River, opposite Bowling Green
Here we found both bridges destroyed,
and the river bank full. Three small
steamboats, ferried troops across as fast
as they could, but to transport a whole
division By this means was an operation
entirely too slow. A detachment COM
menced Immediately to stake out" timber
for the erection Of temporary bridge,
but this was soon abandoned as impracti-
cable. On the 9th, the river having
fallen considerably, the three steamboats,
and number of fat boats were anchored
side by side thus forming a sort of pom
toon bridge upon which We crossed. We
passed Bowling Green about noon and
after marching % miles, bivouacked in
an open field, one mile south Of Franklin.
We crossed the Tennessee line at 9 a. M,
on Friday. All the stores and shops
along the way were closed, and many oc
the houses deserted. We encamped at
two o'clock on Sunday afternoon, in a
beautiful grove two miles north of Nash
vile. Our brigade crossed the Cumber-
land on the 7th and encamped at Camp
Andy johnson, one and half miles be-
yond Nashville. Six companies-A and
ID of the 18th, two of the 18th, two of
the Wisconsin First-were detached and
placed under the command of Col John
G. Starkweather to serve as Provost Guard
in Edgefeld. We, the detached COM
panies, are now encamped on a common
near the centre Of the town. Edgefeld
has about 1900 inhabitants and is separa-
ted from the city proper by the river.
All the bridges at this place, three in
number, were destroyed by the rebels,
notwithstanding the remonstrances of the
citizens on both sides. Floyd consented
to leave them the suspension bridge, after
tearing up the planks but his last act.
on leaving the city, was to cut the main
braces and precipitate the whole structure
into the river. These bridges are said to
have cost in the aggregate not less than
$4,000.
Our troops cross on steamboats,. A
regular ferry has been established, on
which the citizens are permitted to cross,
when the boats are not freighted TO their
full capacity with soldiers or army trains.
We have found secreted several hun
dred rifles, Common squirrel rifes,) a
number OF picks, spades, and shovels, $50
barrels of turpentine, and large cot of
bacon. They have all been seized aud
are now in the hands of the Provost
Guard, subject to the order of General
Buell..
The ciry is quiet. The panic is fast
subsiding. Citizens are quietly returning
to their homes. Ladies, who a short time
ago entreated the rebel commander that
tNey EliSul HOI &c Iell 10 the mercy OF
the Lincolnites, now promenade the streets
as free from molestation or insult, as if
surrounded by half million of the ..Chiv-
airy" Stores and shops are re-opened.
and some of the streets present quite .
business like appearance Several carsoes
OF groceries, shipped from st. Louis have
found ready and profitable market at
this wharf
Greenbacks are in demaud-S1 of
'Lincoln currency" being equivalent to
ST % in Tennessee bills. A few DAYS
ago the brokers gave but 10 per cent for
Tennessee paper. The holders Of Con
federate Scrip attempted a bit of sharp
practice the other day. They put in cir
cuiation the report OF a great rebel victory
a. Manassas, in which $4,000 Union
prisoners were taken but the bait wouldn't
take
The citizens cf this place treat Us, very
kindly The policy OF Cen Buell. has
most salutary effect upon the minds OF the
people. Our conduct is vastly different
from what they expected 1t would be, for
they were made to believe that we would
plunder and destroy all the property along
oar course They now freely aam.it that
we are the best behaved soldisry that has
ever been in their midst. BoANERaIs