Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1862-02-06
ARMY CORRESPONDENCE
soxKs.xrKr. jan. o, 1862.


tions for writing in camp are 80 poor, that al
most despaired Of writing any more for the
press But if were at home, and my friends
in the army, / would much rather read their
letters than pore truthless novels, which I'LL
many columns Of some popular newspaper;
even if the style were not quite SO fine. will
try to give You description Of our march from
Lexington to our present encampment: At
o'clock A. NJ, on the 18th inst, we were or
dered to strike tents and form into line for the
march. The day was quite cool. and the fol-
lowing night snow fell to the depth of one
inch. The regiment marchedll miles and en-
oampcd near Nicholasville. The Wind blew
quite cold during the night; but, as the tents
are furnished with stoves, and plenty of straw
was obtained for bedding. the men were made
comfortable. Those who had been sick, and
we're unable to march and carry knapsacks,
were taken to Nicholassille on the cars, and
ouartered in the Court House during the night.
As that point is the terminus of the railroad,
they were compelled to march the remainder of
the way; the weaker ones having their KNAPP
sacks hauled on the baggage wagons. or carried
by their comrades.
Jan. l4th-Weather quite cool, and the snow
did not melt till evening" The road was in fine
condition, and we had pleasant days march.
We march 9 miles and pitched our tents for the
night. The countrY 80 far is very fine, and
well improved. think we passed the largest
shock of corn ever saw. s .a
Jan. l5th-Rained nearly all day, and in the
evening sleet and cold wind; consequently. We
had m unpleasant days march. and the men
were much fatigued: After marching y Of a
mile, we crossed the Kentucky River. The
cliffs along the river are very high and rocky,
and the scenery extremely wild and romantic.
One curiosity near the road is "Boone's Knob"
high rocky peak, situated in the middle of
the narrow valley. A fine bridge spans the
river. and was guarded by Company of the
3lst Ohio Regiment. After marching miles
from the river we passed Camp Dick Robinson,
which is entirely vacated. We marched IA
miles and camped near the town of Lancaster.
Fortunately there was a large straw stack near
eur tents, and Uncle Sans goose" was well
picked for bedding, on which to rest our weary
limbs. ..-..
Jan. 16-Weather pleasant. Marched I6
miles and camped near Halls Cap" in low
range of mountains in Lincoln County. The
Pike terminates at this point. and the remain
der of the road is 30 muddy as to be almost
20 io tain
spur, or peak, about mile distant, which is
shaped very much like sugar loaf, and named
such. 1t stands out on a plain, and rises much
higher than the tops of the surrounding trees,
and Unicn flag waves proudly from its sum-
nit. The boys collected some very fine speci-
mens of quartz rock, in and around the Camp
Jan. l7th-Weather fine; we rested during the
day, and prepared for the hard march before
us.
Jan. 16th-As we we're about to strike tents
in the morning, a severe thunder storm came
up, and the rain fell almost in torrents. The
order was delayed half an hour, and still there
was no sign Of the rain oeasing, SO the drums
sounded and down came the tents, and we
started up the mountain through rain, mud and
water; the boys singing "Ol its never mind the
weather. but getoyer double trouble, &C." We
had heard of the mud country, and the bad
roads we weuld have to travel after leaving the
pike; but our imagination failed to picture such
bad roads rs We encountered that day. The
rain fell almost without intermisson during the
day and following night. Owing to the bad
condition Of the roads. the heavy loads we had
to carry. and our clothes .drenched with rain
mahy of the men gave out and fell in the rear
While plodding through the mud and water.
some were laughing and singing. others ours
ing the rebels as the cause Of their troubles,
and threatening vengeance on Zollicoffcr, if
they got sight of him. Others comparing our
hardships to those of other famous marches, such
as "Bonaparte crossing the Alps DC. Some
swore if they were at home again, il would be
pretty story that would get them to enlist.
Some plodded along thinking much but saying
nothing. Some threatening to throw their
knapsacks away. Here and there you might
see weary, wet and mud be -smeared fellow
by the road side, leaning against the fence, or
tree, to rest himself, looking as though he
would sell ont cheap. Some of the men grum-
bled considerably because they had to ride in
stock cars from Covington TO Lexington; but
when it came tramping through the mud car
rying loads which gave them the appearance of
pack-mules. they concluded that they would
prefer to ride, even on the poorest class Of hog
cars, than TO foot it over such roads. Some of
the men became 10 much fatigued that
they would run into houses, beg for refresh
ments and rest. and the rear guard had to drive
them out like tired animals. We marched IL
miles and halted at Waynesburg, one-horse
town, sure enough. Most of the houses and
stables were vacant, so We took possession of
them to sleep in during the night.
' Jan. 19th-The rain continued till the mid
die of the forenoon, when it elenred up, and the
remainder of the day was warm and pleasant,
and our clothes dried by evening. We wished
to reach Somerset by evening. if possible,
distance of lS miles, as we heard that the bat
tie commenced in the morning. But the men 1
became so much fatigued that we halted four
miles from Somerset, where We remained until
the present time. When we halted we could
hear the roaring of cannon, like an approaching
thunder r-storm The Colonel gave orders 10 put
our rifles in tip-top order, and prepare to march
directly to the battle early in the morning