Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1862-02-14
Army Correspondence.
CAnr Woop. Jnn 81. 1859.

to act as an escort for the bodies Of the reb-
el General ZollicofFer, and young Peyton.
The distance was q miles where we were
to receive them. Owing to q collision
which occurred Wednesday, pm, 81 o'clock,
that point was The nearest approach the
train could make to the depot.
We left camp at 10 o'clock, and arrived
an hour before the arrival Of the train; by
its non-arrival time was viven to view the
sceno Of the disaster Such smash-up as
was presented can hardly be described--a
loaded freight train was approaching from
the north, at the rate Of ten miles an hour,
a locomotive and tender was also approach
ing from an opposite direction at the rate Of
forty miles an hour, endeavoring to reach
a switch near to the spot Of the accident.
The result was, that on turning curve, both
engines came together with terrible crash.
The ruin was complete; it seemed as If
they embraced never to part, the shock must
have been terrible, as parts Of the engines
lay in every direction. The crank Of one
lay at right angles with the track, the sides
of the tender thrown about four rods, and
freight cars thrown every way, and all in a
complicated mass. The engineer Of the To-
connective having no train, was instantly Kill
led. Seven horses were killed in the freight
!. train. Our observations were soon brought
e to an end by tho shrill whistle of the ap-
proscbing locomotive. But delay gave us
an opportunity of seeing and hearing Gems
McCook and johnson with their aids. I'm
, agine Lieut.. Tyler with his face shaven,
mounted on horse, and you have pretty
correct picture Of Gen. McCook; jovial in
his manner he was having good time with
those around him; riding on the railroad
track he looked up and down the road and
turning to the shoulder straps" remarked ;
II once made reconnoitre with a Iocom-
ative, and stopped at Vienna" Perhaps
that reconnaissance is fresh to the minds Of
your readers.
i The approaching train reminded US that
n we came as an escort; and as we bore the
heavy metallic coffins from the train to the
at two 4-horse ambulances waiting, gave assur
nr ance that the rebel General and his AiC
IN were in our possession; the bodies. were nc
u, companied by rebel surgeon, Dr.. Cliff b.
- name; bis physique was not very imposing
i tall man with whiskers and hair bssprin
If kled with gray, and wearing an undresi
uniform Of gray. AS the ambulances NOV
y ed off with their loads accompanied by the
escort, l fell into train Of thought. 1t wa,
not long ago when these bodies were ami
1t mated with life, that thousands obeyed thei
commands, and rested upon their actions
II when their very names were terror and
u fear to the friends of the Union in Tennes
n see and Kentucky, when the cause of the
IS rebels rested upon their success or discom.
ne fieiture; but now no longer shall their vol
ces be heard, no longer shall they diree
20 men to take the lives of their countrymen
= = but powerless and lifeless they were escort
it ed by a few. No opportunity was given I,
lie view the corpses, as that was reserved 70
the Generals, staff officers, and brigade sur
gecns, therefore l cannot speak of their looks
|. sufficient perhaps, was the bonor( y confer
red by being the only company from the di
vision appointed as tho escort; the boy
acted the part Of veterans, as their stead
tramp and sOldiery bearing attested.
A scout came into camp the other eyel
ing and reports Bowling Green nearly
not quite imp'egnable from the front, an
if we attack them, to gain an advantage,
must be made on the hanks or rear. H
states that they have felled 200 acres
wood, the tops of the trees pointing ives
ward, the limbs sharpened to make ther
more formidable. 1t certainly would b
strange if they have not eudeayored to rel
der it as formidable as possible. An Iud
an was captured on the 2otb, by the piel
cts Of the 9th Indiana, aud Is row IN chare
of the Provost Marshal guard. He stat,
that he is half-breed, his father being
Texan, and was in the employ of the Raj
gers, as waiter. The rebels, from his stat
ment, have good many Indians with ther
1t would not be doing justice to the arm
without speaking Of promotions. Men
fight we'll, must have something TO hope 70
men to do their duty must know that me
il will be rewarded; men TO accomphl
most must have motive in view. In all Il
walks Of life this fact is prominent in MAI
mind, and il is more deeply felt in the
my than any other place. History Attel
that the most renowned Generals and s
dies were those who raised themselves
merit. That the most effective armies we
those who left way open for men to mai
advancement. We need not trace this Al
~ farther TO see this principle carried out thu
ter the army Of Napoleon. He surrounds
he himself with galaxy Of men whose nam
will stand as long As history lasts, and th,
oV were taker from the ranks. The humble
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