Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-02-26
Second Ohio Cavalry.
PLArrE CIrr. Mo. Feb. 11th IS62.

MeSSrS Editors Directly or indirectly
you have probably heard of the advent o
the I'd Ohio Cavalry into this place about
two weeks ago, and, as many of its mem
bers are natives of Trumbull and vicinity
short account of our trip from Camp
Dennison, and of proceedings since oul
arrival here may be of interest to you
readers. On Wednesday, 18th, we left
Camp D., arriving in Cincinnati in-time tC
have the eight trains it took to transport
us, all loaded and started on the Ohio and
Mississippi r. r. by midnight, and Friday
morning found us, all at East St. Louis
and the river frozen up so that we were
obliged to remain there on "bloody island
until Sunday P. NJ. before the ferry boats
could cross-that night and the next we
spent in Benton Barracks, the blackest
mud hole we'd yet come across, land that
is saying a good deal) distant some three
from ST. Louis. Tuesday morning the first
battalion started TO march TO st. Charles,
over a very fine turnpike and through a
beautiful country-the the second and
third following on the two succeeding
days-arrived at st. Charles soon after
noon, crossing the Missouri on q ferry
boat, but transportation not having been
furnished, we were obliged to wait then
until the next afternoon before getting
off on the North Mo-, R. R., and so slowly
did our train of over forty cars get along
that it was not till Thursday at dark we
arrived at Macon City on the Han. and
st. Joe road, distance of one hundred
and thirty six miles. There we had to
change cars again, but got away during
the following day and arrived in Weston
before daybreak Saturday morning. 1t
was there we learned that we were to
come to this place, seven miles distant,
instead of proceeding directly to the Fort;
the reason for this being the scarcity OF
forage there and the abundance of II
here. and Saturday night our men were
snugly quartered in the vacant buildings
of Platte City. The second and third
battalions arrived during the following
week, and now we have things all our own
way and are running this institution"
as best suits our fancy. 1t. Col. Ratliff
has been appointed Provost Marshal, and
the work of confiscation has already COM
corn, oats, hay, hogs, horses, cat
tie, &c, t., all alike going to strengthen
the army of Uncle Sam. Four companies
have been sent out in the country on to
farms of notorious secessionists, and the
fatting of their horses. after the long and
tiresome jaunt from Ohio, is not going to
be much of an expense to the govern
ment. Capt Burnett is out half a mile or
so in a fine brick house formerly occupied
by Gen. Dorriss, now absent in Arkansas
with drove of negroes. Capt. Smith of
PaineSville out couple of miles in SINH
lar quarters, while Capt. Caldwell and
Capt Seward of Akron are ten or twelve
miles distant. all foraging on the enemy.
The "contrabands" (who, by the by, are
growing beautifully less in numbers
every day, or rather, night, at least a
thousand having left Platte Co. since the
var commenced, and thirty or forty hay
ng stampeded from this place since our
lrrival) have been very useful TO us in the !
way of furnishing information of the
of articles cGntraband of war. |
md it was through such information that
apt. CaldwelPs company found and |
,rought into head quarters about week |
iiIce, several hundred pounds of powder, |
! box of cartridges, muskets, &C., secreted |
N the farm of a secessionist. Already |
We have quite a. respectable armory, all
linds of muskets, rifles, revolvers and
pistols, and the assortment daily growing
reater. Secesh prisoners are another in
erestipg item, one of Capt. Burnett's
Wescott of Salem, a boy
n age and size, while out scouting the
ther night, took notorious secessionist,
lst home from Prices army, prisoner
he fellow was armed with Colt, but
Yankee" charged down upon him so
uddenly he hadn't time to use. it, and
lacing the fellow in front of his horse
couple of feet and to the left just enough
D bring him in range of his revolver rest
lg on Yankees bride arm, told him if
e didn't march straight to road that
e Yankee. knew led to Platte City flor
e had lost his way) and that too inside
f half an hour, he'd shoot, and secesh,
from his manner of talking
hat he meant what he said, brought him
l. The fellow is now safe in Fort Leaven-
-orth.
The health of our regiment is not as
ood as heretofore, a great many having
Dntracted colds during the trip out here.
Within the last week we have followed {
lree poor fellows TO the grave, who six ;
lonths ago, started out with hopes and
as bright as any of us; and now (
fourth is added to the list-but consid- I
ring the length of time the regiment has s
cen formed, the small number of deaths :
remarkable-only seven or eight having {
cen lost, and two of them through acci-
ents.
But have already spun this letter out
niger than your room will probably allow {
nd must close. OH one thing more, t
ave you heard of the sword presentation t
Col Ratliff? To go back -little-be- c
re we left Camp D. the officers present i
| a beautiful sabre to Col. Doubleday, |
hen the non-commissioned officers and I
'ivates at once determined they'd have a /
too, and something just /
tile ahead of the other. Col. r. is uni +
,rsal favorite in the regiment and with t
one more so than the class just named, a
I'd the purse to get 'Bob," as they gen. b
ally speak of him, a sabre was not long S
being filed. Nothing good enough n
uld be found in Cincinatti, but New S
ork could, and few days since the d
e express brought a beautiful sabre, t
le of Tiffany & Co.'S best, which c
Is duly presented by Col. R. for the C
,nors-Some6ody caHgling and bk.sIi,lg at a
riJLe ratc-but Bob" has something, L
ming as it did from the UkoLc regiment, Ii
at he can well be proud of, and he's the Il
It man who'll dishopor it. C
Yours, B. a