The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1862-09-12
WAYNE COUNTY
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From Washington to Missouri.
From Sketches OF our Army
BY w. b. EEDFIELD.

pleasant weather came on. The army OF
the Potomac. under Gen. Mcclellan. was
rapidly increasing in drill and perfection.--
! The position OF the enemy was such, that
from the windows OF the White House the
rebel flag could plainly bs seen with good
! glass, Haunting defsntly in the breeze
| The work Of fortifying our lines slowly but
surely progressed, until Washington was
surrounded by perfect Gordon of forti6ca-
tons. Finding that matters were progress
| ing slowly. turned my attention toward
the West, concluding would visit the milli-
tary department Of General Fremont whose
head quarters were at st. Louis. The bat
tie Of BoonviIle. the defeat Of Gen. Lyon,
and his death. had given courage to the
Secessionists, which together with the news
Of the disastrous defeat at Ball Run, rem
dered the Missourians very troublesome aud
| they threatened TO attack the city in force.
By the supcrhuman exertions OF Generals
Fremont and Curtis, the city soon was well
fortifed, although the number OF troops
were very small. There we're but few arms
in the city and such as they were were Of
an inferior character. At the Arsenal were
some few f-ld pieces, but the troops at JEFF
feIson Barracks were hardly clothed or
armed. jeff Thompson with his forces
large body Of rebels under Clab Jackson
were devastating the towns and villages on
the Missouri river. In the Northern part
of the State, on the North Missouri and
Hannibal and st. Joseph Railroads, trains
were daily attacked by marauding parties.
and Union men subjected to every
species of abuse which the ingenuity of
the rebels could devise. A few Illinois
regiments were in the field, actively en-
gagged in repelling the barbarians, but not
in sufficient force 20 check them with any
degree of certainty. At this juncture
force was sent down to Sulphur Springs, en-
route for the Iron Mountain country to op-
crate against force which was reported 10
be marching against that place. and finding
that operations were ass ming a warlike
character, left Washington for Missouri.
1t was on bright sunshiny afternoon
in September that left St. Louis on spe-
cial troop train to collect force Of troops
at Sulphur Springs, some thirty or more
miles below the city on the Iron Mountain
Railroad for the purpose OF conveying them
TO Pilot Knob. the village threatened by
jeff. Thompson's Confederate forces
Leaving the Mound City with its numerous
bristling with heavy guns, we
soon arrived ct the Arsenal, when we re-
ceived an accession to our numbers in the
shape Of several officers of the 7th and 18th
Illinois Regiments, the latter Of which was
at the Arsenal changing their old arms Tor
new ones of an improved pattern. Two
heavy Columbiads skirted the Southern
breastworks which had been hastily thrown
up for tho protection OF the grounds and
buildings, while a small howitzer and two
mortars faced the city. Alter few mo-
ments the train again started and stopping
at the several depots in Carondolet. suburb
OF st. Louis, came to a stand at the hill at the
base of jefferson Barracks, then command.
cd by Gen. Curtis. whose force was small
body of unarmed, inefficient troops, Bat
only few moments were We detained here:
Crossing a long trestlework bridge and
several more stations. the train slowly came
TO a stand and the Conductor called out IN
a sbrlI voice: Sulphur Springs!'
At the depot. so-called, situated on the
slope of hill, overlooking the turbid wa
ters Of the Mississippi. crowned by mis-
cellaneous collection Of white wooden bull
dings, some of which were stores. a crowd
of bIear eyed ,uncouth looking citizens stared
at us with wondering gaze as we slowly
defiled from the train, and in a long line
weuded our way down the rocky steep to
the steamer New Uncle Sam, which lay
crowded with troops ready to take the extra
train which was hourly expected from the
city to take us down 10 our destination. An
hour elapsed and telegraph dispatch was
received notifying us that the train would
not be down until p. NJ, and that we
must enjoy ourselves the best we could until
that time. Though scarcely sundown, sup.
rer was announced, which was partaken OF
with hearty good will. after which Sergeant
Major Brown, of the 7Ih Illinois, accom-
panied by several officers of the Regiment
with instruments, seated himself at the piano
and gave us several excellent pieces OF mu-
sic, which were highly appreciated. Brown
as the lite of the party. Poor fellow, he
has sung his las. song for he perished on
the bloody field at Donelson, ard now leeps
in peace on his own native soil. AT dark
picket guard was posted on the hills around
the town to send in strag lers and TO pre-
vent the escape of the citizens, many OF
whom seemed anxious to go away from town,
! for the purpose, as We thought, OF giyiug
I information TO the enemy, for so it afterward
proved as will be shown in the sequel
Eight O'Clock came snd orders were given
to take equipments and march up to the
railroad track TO be ready for starting -
out, and clamberipg up the hill in long files
soon arranged themselves along the track
with their baggage and camp equipage
ready for loading. At niue o'clock pre-
cisely the whistle of the locomotive was
heard reverberating through the hills. and
as the long lire of platform cars moved
slowly up to the depot. the Uncle Sam
cast loose from her moorings and steamed
gracefully up the river towards 81. Louis.
Calling in the pickets, it was but the work
of q few moments to embark the regiment,
who were 10 high spirits at tho prospect OF
advancing into the enemy's country. AT
precisely half-past nine p. NJ. the significant
word from the Conductor, "sll aboardl'
sounded and with two blows from tho whis-
tie: the train moved along towards its des
tinatiou. 1t had been reported that We
might possibly be attacked by the rebels. SO
Col. Cook gave orders for every man to
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