The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1862-05-10
For the Palls dunn.
From the j1lh Regiment.
CAMP SaILo, April 9Th, 1869.

Friend Davis: take tie present oppor.
tunity TO address a few lines TO you TO give
you brief history of our march and hard.
ships. For the past four or FIVE weeks we
have been soldering" in earnest-none Of
your playing soldier. Since We left Nash
vile, on the 29th Of March, We were COM
PEELED to leave somewhere near hundred
Of our men at that place, belonging to the
regiment, that were not able TO travel SO
long journey. 1t was warm and dusty
for several days and very dsagreeable march
ing; but to compensate for that, we passed
for the first forty miles, through the most
beautiful country God ever made, and the
balance Of the way little the poorest. We
eucamped on Saturday night, the 9Th. about
thirty live miles from Savannah. On Sun
day morning we could hear very distant
canonading. We travelled along our weary
way aud could distinguish that the reports
became palmer and more frequent. We
made long days march until 5 o'clock
" hen We were met by courier from the
battle field. to push forward as fast as pos
sible. So we halted, took from the wag-
ons three day S rations and started on night
march, leaving our wagons behind. 1t was
a beautiful night until about eleven o'clock,
when q tremendous thunder storm came up
and we were soon drenched through to the
skin. The lightnings were frequent and
binding; We went along iountering through
mud-holes one minute--the next falling in
to guley washed out two or three feet in
depth in the road but We were anxious to
get ahead. 1t became SO dark that we had
to give it up. So the command was given
to halt abou. o'clock and we went feeling
about in the dark for some place to rest
Some of the men took up lodgings in fence
corners while others preferred an open field
Some of the men discovered an old cotton
house and came out in the nom ng covered
with cotton. and looking like birds with the
feathers picked off leaving the down, while
myself. with several others, took possession
of an old carriage house and had a good
bed on the ground without covering; we
would crowd close to keep warm. We were
called out in the morning by the sound of
the bugle. and In tive minutes were on the
road. We arrived at Savannah about II
o'clock. where We could begin to see the
effects of the battle as we passed through
the place. The houses were ali full Of woun-
ded. We could see them hrough the doors
aud windows. the yards and sidew alks COW
cred with them lying on the ground, others
walking about with their arms in sings
others with their legs bandaged. others with
parts Of their bodies, men leading them
along, others carried in littcrs; it was hor
rlble sight 10 look upon l can assure you
We marched on to the river and found
boats ready to carry Us up to Pi,tsbury
Landing, twelve miles above On the
landing at Savannah | met nv old friends
Virgins and Graves. OF the 36th. looking
IS hue as silk and good natured as ever
In going up the river partook OF warm
Dinner ana was prepared for active service
when We landed. which was about O. clock.
we marched directly up the hill. my COM
pany being the first 10 land as We were near
est the door way, and hal,ing on the top of
the hill to form the regiment which was
soon accomplished. and We took our way
for the scene of strife. In a few seconds
We received orders to double-quick and
take the left hand road, and We were about
fifteen minutes in going miles. when we
formed In line Of battle and went forward a
short distance where we met the rebels and
had quite brush with them. bat in three or
four rounds from Us they scampered out of
the woods and left US in possession. we then
advanced, every few steps stepping over a
dead body or a wounded man. which had
been the case ever since We had left the
landing, and as we were passing over the
hill the rebels opened on Us with q battery
from thicket that was in advance Of US,
and sent the shot, shell, canister and grape
rafting through our ranks quite lively for q
lime, at least half an hour. Our men were
commanded to lay down. and they lay there
laughing and joking about the shells burst
ing over them and canister and grape whis.
ting through their ranks and were as cool
IS old veterans. We were soon ordered to
I'D and charge through The thicke,. and the
order was no sooner given than every man
was on his feet and ready for the work be
fore them; We made splendid charge-so
military men say--and go. almost through
the thickei when We were ordered back and
went in splendid order. Our regiment
ELECTED great praise from Gems Buell. aud
Wood for their sction--each OF them send
ing Us An order congrasulaling Us on our