The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1863-05-16
Army Correspondence.
Rsxrvoop Tenn Nav 9Th 1

DESfWoop, lenn., May Stu, 1908.
10 N. Free Tader Since my last osr
reg. ment has been removed to this place
10 miles south of Nashville, on the
Esashville and Decatur railroad, and seven
miles north of Franklin. We have .
beautiful camp ground here. Its located
IN a grove of sugar maple, beach. walnut,
elm, hickory and oak trees. The UNDER
brush is all cleaned out, and the ground
covered with u velvity award Of bluegrass.
Along the edge of the grove, and about lO0
yards from our camp, runs a-stream OF
water, flowing from number OF springs in
the vicinity of the camp. West and north
of us are ranges of quite lofty mountains,
and south and east lays one of the iovliest
countries have ever beheld. We here
enter the garden of Tennessee, and we'll
does it deserve the name. In its primitive
state the whole surface of this state was
covered with a heavy growth Of timber.
The planters have cleared it up, and erect
ed magnificent residences upon their
plantations. each one reserving sufficient
amount OF timber to keep them in fuel,
their fences in repair, and for building
purposes. AS this is u great stock country
these timber lands are made the grazing
grounds for cattle, horses, mules, sheep,
DC. The underbrush has long since dis
appeared, and III its place is substituted
luxuniant grasses. Standing upon an emf
renee, and looking south and east you
have outstreached before you q scene OF
picturesque lovelincss which rival the
poetic valleys and plains OF Italy. Bat
beautiful as this region may appear to the
eye Of the casual observer, closer inspect
ion reveals different scene. The havoc
of wa has almost made 1T barren waste.
Many of those large and Magnificent
mansions, are deserted and have become
the haunts Of owls aud bats The fences
are gone, and the lofty timber leveled to
the ground to give free range to the can
non, mounted on some brcastwork or for
tification. In all this splcndor-ruin and
desolation turk in every corner
For the past three days We have had
almost incessant rains. aud to-day the
chance of clear up is no better than
yesterday. The prospect OF a tedious and
protracted spell of mean weather is decided
ly favorable. Notwithstanding this nlisera
bic weather. the men are quite healthy
and to enjoy themselves in various ways
Drilling aud camp frolcing of course has
been suspended and we have but little to
do except camp and picket guard. Those
Oft of duty are compelled from the In
clemency Of the weather TO confine them
selves to their tents where the only way
Of killing time is to doze it ways.
The enemy is said to be about l6 miles
south and west Of US, under Van Dorm.
Their scouts and spies almost daily come
IN contact with our rickets, and occasion
ally shots are exchanged. On Tuesdad
last, one Of our Fidettes was shot dead,
and on the same day two negro spies were
taken. One turned states evidence against
the other. The culprets are To be tried
and If found guilty one of them will be
shot in a few days. The rebels use ne
groes nearly all the time for spies. They
make good spies, as they are more readily
admitted INTO our camps than white men,
Immediately on our ARRIVAL here last
Monday We were called into line Of battle.
The alarm grew out number Of heavy
artillery shots heard in the direction of
Franklin. After standing in line probably
half an hour we were ordered To our quart
ers and. the distant firing explained to have
been on some of the Notifications at Frank
lin, where Gen. Granger was testing some
siege guns which had Just been mounted
Our position here is one the right wing
of the centre corps Our brigade is COM
manded by Col McCook, and the division.
| believe by Gen. Morgan. We are con-
structlng some strong earthworks and
when they -Ar,,,l..t.d ILL 10 -l-i- {"
meet any force the rebels may bring against
us.
Below send you lis Of persons belong
ing to company A. l0ith Reg Ill. Vol.
who are absent without leave, and who
are ordered back To the company, instant
err, or be liable 10 all the penalties Of de-
sertion
Serst Edwin J. Trobridse, deserted at
Camp Chase.
| Corpl Norton Fields, deserted from hos
! pital, at Chicago
Pierce kinnelly, deserted fom Camp
/ Douglas
| Francis Badys, deserted at Shelbyville
! Ky, last oct
( James Bruce, deserted from Camp
Douglas
Jacob Conrad, deserted from Camp
Chase, Ohio
John Charlton. do
Alexander Dunlap. do
David Duvills, deserted from Camp
! Douglas.
Jesse Gaut, do do
VIM. Hefferen, derserted from Camp
Chase.
! Robt Highland, do
| Paul Hamilton, deserted from hospital
at BrwlIng Green, KY
| Walter Kitchum, deserted from Shelby
vile. Ky
! VIM H. Norton deserted from Camp
! Douglas.
| John O Bryan, do
John KNIGHT, deserted from hospital
Chicago
Carl Petterman, deserted from Camp
| Douglas.
WIN. Robertson, do do
Henry Smith, do do
! The following persons are absent with
! leave. but whose leave has expired:
| & w. Basley, John Tidmarsh-still in
I hospital-James Roach, Francis Porter
! Panlitus Bennett
/ Discharged-lIenry Riddle, Daniel W.
, Stevenson. Silas Olinstead.
! Died-Eiias Thompson, Fred. Sunder
mann. Tim Cunningham.
Killed IN batis-Sumner NJ Durham.
| NJ
BRENTwoeD, May 9th, 1868
| Since writing tho above, we have had