, 1862-05-09
From Gen. Halleck's Army.
THE GRAND ARMY AND ITS AD-
VANCE.


ARMY OF TIE MHsIss1Pp1, IN THE FIELD,
CorinthWard Marching. May 8, 1852
The army here is On the move, by careful
approaches towards Corlnth, tic once-cal1ed
"Gibfaltcr Of the s. W."-so called by the
G. 8. A. gentry Of this region.
Our march yesterday through the timber
generously large oak openingB-was novel and
exciting to some Of US, in the extreme.
The scattered remains Of secesh Campo
their expired and expiring picket fres-the
secesh hospital, ,{now under our care) rendered
necessary by the battle in which We drove
them back towards Corinth, and then burned
up their tents, few days since; the explor-
ing by our cavalry Of suspicious places; and
the few stragggglers occasinally coming and
brought into our 1incs-au this made our
march one long to be remembered.
Arrived here, some twelve miles from Cor
inth, about P. NJ, VIC pitched our tents in
one Of NATURES most magnificent specimens
Of huge forests, laid out into grand parks and
intervening lawns
In the afternoon of yesterday, our eavalry
scouts drove in the enemy's pickets, about
fifty strong, and having made the circuit Of
the Court House In Purdy-an emptied Of It's
&C. s. L." OF "cou1dn't stand-alr' Inhabit-
ants-they turned their attention to our rail-
roadiug, on the line between Corinth and Co.
lnmbue. Having cut the telegraph wires and
thrown some T rails into the creek (Ow1
Creek) they waited a coming engine, then just
whistling for the bridge across Owl Greek
Soon an engine and tender came along,
saw the creek minus its bridge, and the track
less some eight or ten rails, and put On the
breaks, while our cavalry, just in the brush 10
the rear-put in their spurs and very quietly
became railroad superintendents-al at once.
| But not caring to employ the engineer, COZ,
| ductor, fireman and one other railroad man on
| that railroad, they took these employees under
their special care, after having required Of the
| engineer to sound the depth Of Owl Greek
with his engine for plummct, which soon
| found the bottom, after abort run over the
traek-golng dc W, as ~ informant, one o.
| *zzu1ye and ker-spEosh:"
| We have just received from the river 400,
| COO ball cartridges, which, with the 100, ,0N
now in camp, make half a million of deatt
missiles. All me! how sure the work of war
| and how fearful the responsibility Of rebelE
and traitors whose mad efforts to destroy
nation have rendered such battle preparations
necessary to 1.-THE powers that be''-the GOV
eminent ordained Of God.
We are now, even in this magnificent vii
derness, in lightning communication witt
Washington. The wires follow our adyanc
ing army, and Secretary stanton's order
come here in lightning time.
| A sad event transpired in our camp las
evening, in the 18th Illinois, Company f-th4
sudden death Of VIM. J. Lonney, Of Hamilton
C.. ", by poison, aconite mixed in whisky
BY the Surgeon Of the regiment, as llniment
| which the deceased supposed to be, and dran]
for, bitters. Three others drank Of II, bu
| we're saved bT timely vomitings.
We are expecting to make another adyanc
| Corinthward tomorrow, with only two tent
i for regiment. This move will bring ou
forces within striking distance OF Corinth,
there be any force to be stricken when til
blow is ready to be given.
All arc in fine spirits-not boisterou6ly mcl
ry-bnt so1dierly, serious and yet cheerful, i
the opening prospect before rhem-deliTel
| ance IN the hour Of battle, to many, and deaf
to some, reflection that will, sometimes,
the soldier, make sad every joy and tighten e1
cry sorrow.
That there may be no going back in th
hour Of battle, as at Donelson, for ammun
lion, an order from Headquarters requires eac
private to hare one hundred ronnds-forty i
his cartridge-box and 20 about his person elst
where's. One hundred instruments Of deaf
to each man! God speed their way, in th
dire hour, to the heart Of treason-the sol
Of rebellion-and spare 80 many as may be {
| true, LOYAL heart.