, 1862-04-30


coupled log house, from which they also
red upon our men. The nature OF the couu-
ry--it being pretty thick1y wooded-pre-
entcd our troops from forming in line,
nd they moved BY the flank, in columns
# four deep. The column was led by
egiment of zegulars, which had been in
he late action, but is mostly composed Of
rcruits. It was found, ha7e heard from an
,ficer friend, impossible at first to bring
hese men under fire, and the 9Th Missouri,
Jol. Peckham, being ordered to the front,
,aeEed by them at the charge, and soon took
possession Of the log house and the camp Of
he enemy. This regiment picked up large
number Of Enfield rifles, which the rebels had
brown away in their flight. In the meantime
our artillery she1led their position without
a reply, and SIS I bear with poor
effect, rs the pieces we're unduly elevated and
The fuses cut too short. The infantry and
cavalry in the meantime plundered and
burned their camp. I am informed By the
officers that the camp Was provided with even
better tents than our c#n, was well furnished,
and that the officers chests contained supe-
rior clothing and mess furniture. Among
the latter, china dinner sets, silver spoons, &c.
Several suits Of q. s. uniforms were also
found. But two Of our men we're wounded
in the affair. No rebel dead OF wounded were
captured. SAW ten in one squad. They
were generally fine looking men, dressed
either il buttcInut or grey suits. Their arms
were better than ours, being the celebrated
English Enfield rifle.
As the cavalry returned from visiting the
camp, it was amusing to see the plunder Fitl
which the troops were loaded. Some had
knapeacks, &c, while aome were even loaded
down with tent poles and the iron stands
which arc used as supports for them. As tic
Illinois troops filed By, an old acquaintance
would occasionally ha1lo from the ranks,
'' Why, -, what are you doing down in this
God-iorsaken country" &c, DC. The troops
looked we'll and seemed to feel well. was
highly amused as some Of the scenes on the
route. Three or four mllch cows were among
the spoils, and in one ease, I noticed Cap
tain Of artillery in the Regular Army, busiiy
engaged in directing squad who were trying
to coax or drive Tennessee COW to the
camp. While one held it by 8 rope fastened
to the horns. another was giving the animals 8
tail series Of twists; this latter operation
was too much for "Boss," aud she brokeee away
down into rayine, dragging the men who
continued to hang On to the rope through the
brush entirely too fast for comfort. The oth
Ger gave up in despair at this point, but left
orders to bring that COW into camp under Get
tain eeyere pains and penalties. I suose
quentlJ met him at Gen. McCook's head
Quarters, but he had not then received AMI
tldiDgs Of his capture. Even the very AMI
mails appear to stick to Dixie with a most 70
narkable pertinaeity.
In the meantime Gen. Rosseau's brigade
also Of McCook's division, had been. ordered
and, strange to say, the men we're not pzovid
ed with rations By their commanding officers
although they left before dinner. HID it beer
necessary fer them to remain In the field fol
any length Of time In support Of the advancI
force, what would Layc been the consequence
TO them, and perhaps to the success or safety
OF the entire reconnoitering force?
In the meantime force had been detailet
to make reconnaissance on the Purd,
road. It was under the command o
Colonel Wood. the acting Brigader
in Wal1ace's division. Of this force hay
as Jet nothing definite, but Last night hear
heavy firing 70 the front, evidently artillery
Chicago Light Artillery, Lieut.. Wood CON
u1Andfng, we're ordered ont with two day
rations, 30 that some sharp work is in pre-
gress. As soon Us hare closed MY letter
will start out to the scene Of operations, a
though It rains in torrents aud has been a
night, and the roads are again in wretche
! condition.
Among the spoils Of the Pea Ridge recoz
| noissance yesterday, we're So barrels of yer
| excellent salt or picked bcef, rs good IS
| ever Eaw. an intelligent captured rebel saay
that they hare plenty to eat, and are well prt
| yfded for In every respect He also said til:
| Pea Ridge or Monterey has not been, or d
they intend to fortify it. But states that /
| Corinth they have very extensive works an
fully 150, 600 men. Onr advance pickets all
say that they hear the screams Of II
| locomotive whistles every hour in tt
day, showing that trains arc constantly arr
inE and departing with men and supplies fl
the army. This captured prisoner also stat
| that the terms Of enlistment OF a large uuc
ber Of the men having expired since the IL
tattlc, they arc coming forward almost to
man for Ge-enli=tmeut They regard the ba
tic Of Shiloh as great victory, and fton I
parts Of the South recruits are focking
Beauregsrd's aruly. He also states that Il
enemy hiss one great advantage over our q
my, and that it consists in the fact that th
do no labor, bnt on the other hand are drill,
eight hours a day. The blacks do al The no
FIR hf7n. Yet saw a general order in tt
camp. day or two tlncc, directed again
Hfg7pcs and newspaper correspondents, as 4
cerstood it, ordering that all unauthoriz
1 ~ AAAV
| lines.
4 hospital steward today returned frc
Cc1intl, whittier he had proceeded to {
| change some wounded prisoners. He was 4
| allowed by the rebels to enter Coriui
| but WIS kept On this side under the brow
Our wounded prisoners which they had the
bad also never bcen Showed to enter Cortn1
The other prisoners had been carried of
soma Southern city or cities.
Yesterday was quite a busy day iu the cam
regiments were being drilled, brigades VI
, on the more to the front, engineers W
, marking ont aud the fatigue parties clesti
: &c. The weather was fine. I neTer ssn
! logelicr day In all my lie. With an Ital
/ | SKY oyerhead and the green csrpct just beg
r ming to be gemmed with the lovely forest &c
ers beneath our feet, I could not and wo'
! not realize the fact that the desolatioo Of Y
: Its sickness, Its horrors, and its death in Il,
s tifcrm shapes was all around me- The po'
a and glorious circumstance were also the
: RS tho troope-hpTse, foot, artillery, &
: bulancee7 &c., filed throug gh the for
o g1ades, the hsnking forces thrown out
;. hack hack to: the age Of chivai1y % and its eior t
r and the more matter Of fact civilization Of
7 present age was for time forgotten, At
}. all, there is something humanizing In
- bloody trade of war. With all It's blood
~ carnage it giTcs one ,pretaste Of the age
'e human brotherhood. You meet With az
q. fellowship as sou join him in the dane
- death. No petty Jealousy or partizan feel
possesses either. You do not think to
n him whether he Is Republican or Democ
cs an Epiecopalian or Presbyterian All
"a know and care is that ho is . brother 1gh'
~ with brothers In the same cause, and tha
o1 few moments both may be called to u
upon the other side Of tho dark. deep rive
death. Can any feeling Of friendship be u
trne than this? Can any elevation Of soul
IN nore sublime? Thus, il the lowest
IN Garth, there j. pretzste Of the happfaes
as heaven ITSELF
!, 4 larEe number Of oxen were purcht
yesterday by The Government, and will do
T. iess be sent to haul Siege guns aod heavy
Is, terial generally to the 'front.' Notwitstant
er the roads were much better yesterday
-. they had been for some days, ten horse
10 tached % . twenty pound Parrot gun, sta
H. in mud hole Mules draw far better
q. horses, md appear to have mora eudur.
.av but THEY are The best abused animals In
- army.
Or 1tearn from the clerk of the steambos'
led | line, just arrived frnm TuEcumbfa, obpt
Florence, that Col. Turchfn's regiment
been compelled to evacua1e that place, 1
have probably retired to Huntsville; The b
el- quarters Of Gen. Mitchell, to which .
or there Ia railroad Tho report Ii that
ia / hrd Tetrt atcd back into the county,. :
- rebels had nenaced the pfhce With i, 90
10 ~f,ptFy and cavalry, and Col. !Tu1chin b.
Ia / ret1ripe: hsd burned It. The gnahoas.1
Lii. Or Lexington, / forget which, fired up
4. ktsarped to The place This morning. sha
90 auxfous till hear from our Chicago boys
en- Will be on the Qaisi1t for news from tteu