The Lansing state Republican., 1862-04-16

| Correspondence Of the lansing Republican.
From the Twelfth Michigan Regiment.
In CAMP, NEAR PIrrsBURGH, TrSN.,
| April 2d 1862
Ed. REPrBLcAs-Havinga a few hours o.
leisure and qsiet, almost the 6rst moment Of the
kind have seen since entered military life,
embrace the frst opportunity to give your read
ers a brief sketch Of matters of interes. connsc
ted with our Regiment. As your readers are
aware, on the 18th OF March the 18th Regimen,
Michigan Infantry, left the encampment at Niles,
Michigan, and started for st. Louis. The Regi
ment mustered for the march go men, excll.
sive Of 81 men left in the hospital sick, or on
duty. We reached St. Louis on the afternoon
Of the 10th inst, via. Alton, ILL.,, and down the
Mississippi 26 miles by steamboat SO far our
trip was made without accident, and the boys
we're we'll pleased with the opportunity afforded
them Of viewing the praries. the Mississippi, &c.
which many Of them had never seen.
Our stay in st. Louis was very brief. We
merely landed, remained in parade for couple
Of hours on the quay, and then embarked on
board the l.. G. Taylor, remaining one day On
board, and then took the steamer Meteor and
seven days rations for this place We were so
unfortunate as to loose man named John
Ling, Of Company "K" overheard during our
stay at St. Louis, who was, without doubt,
drowned
As your readers vii! probably feel more par.
ticular interest in Company &c" than in any
other company Of the Regiment, will state that
there were left in the hospital at ST. Louis three
men from this Company, viz Curtis II. Chap
pei, Ephriam Cook and George F. Johnson
There were also left at Miles, Charles Riley,
Oliver and Silas Woodland; Aone Of these cases
were considered dangerous at the time VIC left,
and most of them have probably already re-
covered.
On Saturday, March 22d, We left St. Louis,
bound up the Tennessee River, and arrived at
Pittsburgh Landing one week ago to-day. Our
trip was q pleasant one, and without casuty
The Ohio and Tennessee rivers were much swol-
len by recent rains; much Of the adjoining
country being overaowed. We passed many
fa-ms sA.s ~e-e .-b-,e.eod, O",J shv nV"Ses
way We we're greeted by the cheers of the in.
habitants, though occasionly sullen cOuntc.
nance could be seen. We passed many points
of interest, Cape Guardian, Cairo and Paducah
among the number, and a. We steamed along up
the Tennessee, evidences began to thicksn that
VIC we're fast making our way into the regions
Of the " sunny South" peach trees were in full
blossom, the forest trees were putting forth the.
leaves, and ploughmen were busy turning up the
fresh earth in burrows; here and there patches
Of green, luxuriant wheat could be seen, while
above US was the warm sun, and around us the
bland atmosphere Of spring.
Late on Tuesday night, March 25th, we
reached Fort Henry, stopping only for orders
No traces Of the fort could be seen, as it was en-
tirely under water, though the pilot pointed OIL,
to few Of rs who were waksful, the position o.
the fort and also Of the gunboats during the at
tack. We msored while there, alongside of
boat containing some trophies of our victory
and cranped ON few articles for our owr
use The next day, while coming up the river
ws took on board q number OF Union men, som,
of them hailins us frsm the shore, and other
coming ont to US in boats These men we're Oh
liged to fee from their homes to escape beiny
pressed into the rebel service, some of then
having been concealed for days and weeks il
the forest to escape pursuit. Their account o
the atrocities committed BY the rebels we're sim
liar to thousands that have already been pub
, lished.
The rebels 60 through the country detailing
every able bodied man for military service, an,
If any do not obey with alarcity the call, or max
any attempt to escape, it is at the peril of thei
| lives.
These Union men Informed US of q body o
rebel cavalry, some seventy in number, tina
were stationed up the river . few miles iron
where they we're taken on board. As the
, we're strongly Of the opinion that this fore
, would attack us, ws loaded our guns and wate
. for their appearance, but for some reason bes
. known to themselves. they did not sec fit t
show themselves. There are quite large nun
Der Of Union refugees at Savannah, where v
. stopped for short time on our way up. The
!. declare their readiness to enter the servc
, against the rebels, but desire to clean them ou
!. from their own locality.
4 Pittsburgh is merely q landing, containin
!. only brick house, two shanties and whiske
shop. 1t is important only on account of i
II nearness to the probable focus of great even
' sooa - transpire in this region.
h We cccupy position 10 the advance corps
the "Grand Army" being only fifteen mill
from CorEith. Miss., and twenty five miles fro
!. Florence, Al, both being held BY the enemy
>. strong fs:ee. The importance to the enemy
holding these positions and retaining posse.sit
Of the Memphis sod Charleston r. T., will |
seen at once BY reference to the map; shou
they loose these, their last line Of conmunic
tioa 10 broken, aad they must inevitably 20
Ipieces. There is no doubt they will make
desperate stand, and whatever may be said
the contrary. they hght well when fairly
lbay.
1t il not proper for me to state wha, prepar
tions have been made BY our government to q
compGsh their purposes in this section, but tn
will probably not be found Inadequate to q
task. This region resenbles the simbsred q
: ninss Of Michigan very much in aPpearane
high, dry and rolling. though the coil ID poor
OF Spring water is abundant, and only about hal