Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1862-01-02
CAMP CLAY, Dec. 20.

.r.-. CAMP CLAf. Lee. ~.
Mr.. EDITOR:
Knowing that any little thing
pertaining to the army, and especially to
those in the army known for years, per-
haps, is read with interest by friends at
home, undertake to be the humble me-
dunn of putting into your hands few of
the many events which have transpired
within the past week or two. To be
faithful historian | must commence back
to the drawing of our
DRESS PARADE SUIT.
Thursday morning (Dec. 12) the Quar-
ter-Master was so kind rs to present ms all
with new suit of clothes. The pants
are of beautiful sky blue, while the coats
deep blue. They are very fine suit for
a soldier; the best have seen yet. On
Saturday evening
GOOD NEWS
came from our Colonel. At the close of
the afternoon drill we were marched into
solid column and heard from the lips of
Col. DECoURCY himself, that he had just
received orders TO march into Kentucky on
Tuesday morning. lie also informed us
that our arms had come, that they were
beautiful article, did not take securing, but
must be kekpt bright by rubbing with a
cloth. About P. NJ. our eyes were de-
lighted with the sight of
OUR RIFLES.
They are, indeed, as the Colonel said
beautiful article. They are the regular
French Rifles, with saber bayonets, and
will shoot ball 1000 yards. They were
much admired by the other regiments in
Camp Dennison. Some of the Zouaves,
who were quartered next to US, declared
they would have some of our guns before
we left the camp. So determined were
they to steal one, that the guards had to
keep both eyes wide open that they did
not even take the gun from his hands,
This trick was tried by couple of Zouaves
on one of our sentries, and had it not been
for timely assistance they would have sue
ceeded in getting his rifle. Notwithstand-
ing all their efforts we brought them all
with us.
PREPARATIONS FOR MARCHING.
Well, the long looked for time of trav-
cling southward comes at last. BY 4 A.
NJ. Tuesday morning We were all up, stir
ring around at a great rate preparing 10
leave, By A. NJ. every thing was in
readiness; tents and baggage all at the
Depot, and our arms and knapsacks stack
ed in front of our barracks. AT last we
were ordered to shoulder knapsacks, and
take arms and march to the depot. AT 9
A. NJ. we bid adieu to Camp Dennison
and in less than an hour we were in the
QUEEN CITY OF THE WEST.
A soldier has but little chance TO see any
thing marching through city, for, as our
Colonel says, he must "keep his eyes
straight to the front, and look impotent."
Well, after march of two hours through
the streets Of Cincinnati, for the benefit of
The aristocracy, and Juggling our knapsacks
until our shoulders were so awful sore that
il was impossible for us to do any thing
else but 'look impotent," we came to the
ferry-boat which was to take us across the
beautiful Ohio 10 the land of the enemy.
OUR RECEPTION.
1t was just IL NJ. when we marched in
to Covington. Instead of marching
straight through and Immediately going
on board the cars as we expected, we had
not gone far until we heard the welcome
commands of "halt," ''right dress" 'stack
arms" 'unsling knapsacks," " and "prepare
for breakfast"
We went into large building, intended
for an armory, where we found tables
bountifully spread with all that was neces-
sary to cheer the heart and fill the stom-
ach ola hungry man. When we consider
that this was prepared for us by the la
dies of a city where we expected to find
but little sympathy, we were greatly en-
couraged to 60 forward. The Union La
dies of Kentucky-Long may they ware.
After refreshing ourselves with the good
things set before us, and resting our tired
limbs awhile, we re-shouldered our KNAPP
sacks and other trappings and were soon
ON CUR ROAD AGAIN.
AT the depot we entered palace looking
cars, such rs for years had been honored by |
the presence of the aristocratic hog, and |
princely beef; such as blind man, were
he standing in the centre and not able to
reach auy part of the car, might, if his
nose were stopped up, pronounce clean.-
Well, p. M. saw US moving again and
soon Covington was left behind, while we
were driving through some deep cut, the
sides Of which would reach far above the
tops Of the cars; now winding gracefully
around some long curve, and now again
plunging into some long and dark tunnel,
and so on till A. NJ. Wednesday, when
the shrill whistle of the locomotive an
nounced that we were nearing Lexington,
our journeys end. We remained in the
cars until daybreak when we landed and
rested till O'clock.
r.... .- CLAy's MONUMENT.
This beautiful structure can be seen
from the depot. 1t is built Of marble, l32