Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-03-26
Letter from Lieut.. E. c. Downs.
STEAMER CONTINENTAL, SAvAxxAH,l
TENNESSEE RIVFR NJ ,RCu O

A1ifEh, 1lAhIh u.
Editors Chronicle When l last wrote
you we were on u way up the Mississip-
pi, with Fort Donelson prisoners, a part
of which were sent to Chicago, a part
to indianapolis, and the rest to Columbus.
The Trumbull county boys went to Chi
cago, where we were detained over q
week; and by the time we were relieved.
1 was heartily sick of Camp Douglas and
secesh prisoners. The quarters at Camp
Douglas were comfortable, and rations of
a good quality, and abundant, but the
regulations were very unwholesome.-
Dur men suffered very much from exces-
sive duty, and the inclemencv of the
weather. Col. Mulligan of Lexington no
toriety, was in command of the post. sue
ceeding Col. Tucker, a day or two after
we arrived. The Chicago people have a
peculiar sympathy for secesh prisoners,
and l think all the prisoners heretofore
captured, ought to be sent there. They
appear to think a great deal of the prison
ers, and daily distributed among them
apples, cakes, pies, milk, and various ar
ticles of comfort but the poor worn down
soldiers that assisted in capturing them.
and had been constantly on duty guard
ing them from Dixie to their place of des-
tination, were scarcely noticed. 1 was as
glad to get out of Chicago as Iwould be
to get out of a penitentiary.
Weleft Camp Douglas on Monday morn
ing, March 8, for st. Louis. We reached
their the next day, and met there a part
of our regiment. Tuesday night we got
on board the Continental, for Paducah.
where we arrived yesterday morning.
There some of our men who had been alb
sent on ~furloughs, and in the hospital.
Joined us, and brought with them piles of
letters. We had received hardly a word
of intelligence from our friends at home.
until these letters came. At Paducah we
received orders to go to Fort Henry.
where we arrived at 10, NJ, to-day. We
have orders to proceed, and it is coniec-
tured that we are going to Florence, Ala
bama.
We left at hospital. in Camp Douglas,
Hezekiah Chryst, of Lordstown at St.
Louis, Nelson Strock, of Southington 4;
Thomas Gillmer and William Oil, of
Lo%rdstown and at Paducah, Franklin
Richard, of Lordstown. None considered
dangerous. The health of the company
has been improved since we left st. Louis,
and the boys are in good spirits.
We have received nc pay yet, but it is
said we are to be paid lin a day or two"
The river is full of steamers; fleets of
them lying moored all the way, and most
of them loaded with troops and stores
The 51th Ohio is on board with us; we
took them on board at Paducah. 1t
would seem as though all the steamers in
the Mississippi and its tributaries had
got into she Tennessee. 1t is a grand
sight TO see such avast c~ollectiono of steam
ers, all loaded with troops and wal i'm
plements. The movement is gigantic,
and augurs no child's play with the reb-
els, and if they run they will have some
thing TO run from.
l th;Ak l told you Lieut.. Rogers, of Co.
A, had been assigned to the command of
Co. H, but owing to the resignation of
Capt. Hyatt; of Co. A, he was assigned
back to that Company, and at present l
am in command of Co. H.
Yours, &C., z. G. DoENs.