Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-09-12

CAMP n LITTLE Wills NALLEY. ALA ,
September 8. 1858

SAAP ~ LITTLE W Ills ALLY, ALA Z
September 6. 1858.
EpIroR SENrlSEL: II NAV perhaps be interest
ing 10 yOuF re ,ders 10 follow the march of Gen
eral AcCook's corps through the mountains.
With that consideration ! submit you the fol-
lowing:
IL is of the 81 brigade Of Johnston's (2d) divis-
ion that would speak more particularly. We
left the little county town OF Beliefonte. Ala .,
from which place last addressed you,) on the
goth OF August After march OF thirteen miles
under scorrhing sun, we reached tlse banks ct
the Tennessee river. three miles south of Steven
son, where pOntoon bridge had teen thrnwn
across readv for our passage The river NJ this
point j. about three hundred yards vile, with
high Srd solid banks upon each side The rebel
pickeis re naine on the opposite shore until they
saw the bridge swing toward th IN. when, without
evea firing a salute, they made hasts retreat
toward the mount ,ins, but sumo fifteen or twenty
OF them se e taken prisoners.
Our di,is on went l. 10 camp on The bark q
the river 10 make preparations for crossing Sand
Mountain. which Law before US These pre?ara
tons consisted in General curtail OF all kinds OF
baggage. by which operation the officers were
deprived of some trihIng Injuries. But three
wagons were allowed To each regiment Eighty
pounds OF baggage (ucluding mess chest. pro
visions, clothing and belding.) WAS allowed TO
officers The men were compelled To throw away
all the clothing thew could not carry with ten
days rations. One tent 10 n regiment. and i've
hundred pounds were allowed for hospital stores.
Under this new regulation we commenced the
scout Of the mountain. IL was necessary TO
double the teams here. rs in crossing the other
mountains which occupied the greater part of the
day. before the brigade reached the summit.
About half WAY up--the distance being about one
and hhf miles fine little rivule OF excellent
cool water runs across the road-the most refresh
in luxury by The way, in this business. Is good
water; and when met with SD opportunely IL Is
doubly valuable
The few citizens encountered here were much
surprise at the appe france OF the Yankees in
such de olate region. and they will doubtless
be much more surprised when they discover that
many OF their hidden decscies were carried off
Some of our boys h al been plundering n house
on the mountain side. aud when the provost guard
made descent upon them. they made their e.
cape in the woods and took heller from the pur
suing guard in cave, where they found casL
of brandy. preserves. peaches apples and n VA
riety of choice decaces, of which DEE, table art
cles in such a,wid place. they partook sumptu
ouslv
A party Of some twenty or thirty rebel cavalr,
hung upon our front and flank whilst we were
crossing the mountain. but they kept at a yer,
respectful stance. allowing themselves to be
report, d by the citizens rather than TO incur tho
risk OF reporting in person.
There are but few settlements upon this noun
tain, although n has surface OF fifteen miles oi
toerable good soil Of the sand stone variety
well wooded aud watered. The soil is thin and
verv liable to wash. The corn growing locke
well. but the quantities observed were very small
Sweet potatoes appear To do we'll.
Gen J g Davis division. which was in nd
vance of US. encountered rebel pickets on tho
spufh side a the maintain mud he n tltpl and
drew up in line Of battle. Our division campei
on the mountain side, ready 20 support him, II
necessary
Gen. ,rdce appears to offer some objection "a
our march toward Rome. Georgia, which is oui
destination II allowed to continue.
After one DAYS DELAY, Davis division advanced
to the front of Lookout Mountain the rebel
having disappeared for the present Between
these two mountains lays narrow valley con
tanning n number OF small farms with a liz
tie corn all OF which Is being appropriated ioi
forage for our use
The m ,jorty of the inhabitants are very hostil,
20 our operations. aud but very few OF them hav,
any desire TO return to the Union The c0lorcd
population have been removed further south
The large number of rebels entering our lines
as reported In some of the Journals. must be
myth. They have never come within my oh
scrvation, aud have certainly made some eil0r
eral thing, appear more anxious % seo their fam
d. lilies than 10 Join our army After they hay,
seen their families. " Il matter Of considerable,
doubt whether they will enlist with the army
which has carried off their corn and robbed their
family. or rejpin their own army. There il the
least encouragement to them whilst our men sub
sist upon the little all their wives and children
have gotten together for their use during the
coming winter
Contrabands are exceedingly scarce In our de
partment OF the army Where they have all
gone To. il more thin can tell,
a. tho reh"ls under Gen Johnston are concen
trating NJ Chattanooga and Gen. McCook'.
corps il sweeping'around them, preceded 10y some
20O cavalry under Stany and others. important
news NAV lac expected from Rosccran's army
within a short period o time.
The wellher Is snl,ry-hot-very The heat
Is IN oppressive nnw than nj any other period
during the summer The nights, however, are
cool: were Il not Tor scorpions. wood ticks. ant.
and other small annoynnces. which occupy on
grassy aud leafy beds We mi hit enjoy wspeak
she pleasures during our hours Of repose. These
little pests are not to be scared 10y tribes We
are constantly reminded thar we are soldiers Try
ing to sleep. WISprs.