The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1863-06-20
Correspondence.

FRANKFoRT, KY, june 4th, 1863

her gallant 2nd Regiment is now doing duty in
the tar-disiant State of Kentucky, and shor;
account of our service during the past two
months may not be uninteIcsting.
On the morning of the list of April or Rcgi-
men arrived at Lexington, and encampcd tn
the Fair Grounds, in the suburbs Of the city,
adjoining the celebrated estate Ashland" once
the home Of HENRY CLAY. This estate now
contains near four hundred acres Of choice land,
and is owned by J. b. Clay, "a degenerate son
OF noble sire" and miserable traitor to his
country. lie is absent now and in Europe, it is
said, working in the in.eie5ts of the Rebellion;
leaving his family 1t home under the protection
OF the Z" Stars and Stripes" The stately groves
of ash and oak, beneath whose shady branches
the great statesman was VOLT to spend many of
his leisure hours, still remain. The old mansion
is gone-a sacrilege pcrpetlaed by j. b. Clay.
His last acts Il fitting sequel to the vandal-
ism and sacrilegc OF the home of his father.
In the beautiful cemetery near the town stands
tie fine monument to the memory of Henry
Clay, erected by the State of Kentucky. On
looking through the grated door at the base of
the monument may be seen the beautiful sarco-
phugus intended to receive the remains of KEN
tucky's noblcst son. About fifty yards from
the monument is seen a simple grave, carefully
>0ddcd, but without single mark or ornament
--no tomb stone, no Inscription is there to tell
Of him who lies beneath. But this simple grave
holds the body Of Henry Clay. A few yards
from it q neal monument stands over the grave
"l his mother The cemetery is, indeed bcauti-
full and Il fitting resting place for Americas
noblest son.
The town of Lexington is we'll laid out, and
contains many fine buildings 1t WAS an inter
esting sight i'll the mornings to see some three
mndlcd " Intelligent cunirahands' - fall into
line and march ont to work On the Notifications,
and i'll TIE evenings march back again to their
quarters.
We remained there ono wcel, in camp, and
then our Brigade took up the line of march for
Winchester, al which place we encamped in a
beautiful grove near the town. Bur We were
permitted to remain there only one week hen
our line OF march was turned southwark to the
Kentucky River. orr Regiment crossing at
BoOnsbOro', the oldest town in the State, (ii
town it may be called.) his is the place first
settled hy Daniel Boone The scenery is here
wild and romantic, and the country hilly Neal
the ferry i'll the ccntcr Of II small valley rises II
gentle knoll ON which Daniel Boone built his
tort, which served SO successfully 10 protect him
and his family against the attacks of the Indians.
1t was III this iurt the first whijc child in Ken
lucky was born. Leaving the river. our march
was continued south through the fine estate s OF
Cassius III. Clay, in Madison county. In pass
ing through the town OF Richmond, we were
most cordially WELDON ed by large majority o.
thrown open, and in many instances the Old
banner of liberty was guily swung to the
breeze, which wa, responded to by our dusty
and !uot-soe boys in loud huzzas. We Gu
calnpcI two miles south of the town. near the
ground on which he battle was fought last fall.
HE buodic, part OF the conflict took place near
Ike ccne;ery the fence unounding the home
of the dead bears marks of hundreds Of balls
and even tie tomb, are marked deeply with tie
.cndrn messengers. We remained there in
camp some ten days, when by the order of Gen.
Burnside, a. the request OF Gov, Robinson, we
were detached from the Brigade and urtieled to
Frankfort Our men juytuly took the line OF
march Ion Lexington. and having arrived, com
r!ctd the triangle, having maiehed, since we
,ct Lexington, distance Of 10 mites, over fine
macadauizcd roads, made with broken lime
stone, through the heart Of the celebrated blue
grass region of kc7lucky. AT Lexington We
took the cars for Frankfort. where we arrived in
good order ON the LIST day of May. We found
lie post in charge OF two Ohio kcgimen.s, who
have since zone 10 the front in Tennessee We
axe nnw doing Provost duty in the capital Of
the Stale. ON Colonel, Thus. b. Ailhr,, is in
command Of the post, and Lieut. I. l.. Mat
;llcws, Post Adiutant. Capt. James $. CoQ.,,.
SON 81 the la;e Genera! Cooper, is Provost Mar
shall. Under their udico,ls management many
of the disiuya ale brought to an account for
their n'jsdecds Cos. II aud X, in command o.
Capt. Wills, are doing duty at Benton Station
nine miles ont on the Louisville Railroad Co
\, under command of that efficient officer, Lieut.
Booth, is doing guard duty in town. Cos. c,
+ and are cncampcd on II high butl Just north
OF the town, under command Of Major j. NJ.
S,entmyer, and have charge of the Notifications
Cos. b, ID, i end G, under command If the
brave and impctuous Lieut.. Colonel Henry
Howard, were sent to Paris, Ky, where they
t,..,H, Il a.
have been relieved, and have lust returned to
Frankfort, Col. Howard taking command Of
the Notifications, which are now undergoing
extensive Improvements.
Our Medical Department is under charge of
DIR. Joseph l.. Beatty Of Frederick City, Md,
Il soldier, gentleman and Surgeon. Under
the Presidents first call for three months troops
he shouldered his musket and served in the
ranks during the full term. When the 2nd Md.
Regiment of three years men went i'll service
he received commission as an Assistant Sur
geon, and in that capacity faithfully followed
The Rcgemcnt through all its long marches and
WAS under fire III all of the many battles in
which the Regiment has been engaged. Being
Worn down from the onerous duties devolving
on him, he resigned his commission just after
the battle OF Fredericksburg last fall, and
returned home to recruit his worn down health.
In the month of March the Surgeon of the Regi-
nleht VINO had ocen Oh detacncd duty III New
bern, \. c., for several months, was dnrissed
the service by order of the President, leaving the
post vacant in the Regiment. Dr. Beatty was
at once called and commissioned as Surgeon of
the Regiment, and returned to the command in
April. We earnestly hope the men may have
the benefit of his counsel and skill during the
remainder of the term Of enlistment
During our soourn in this State, our Chap
lain, Rev. DIR. X. S. Hitchcock, a thorough
gentleman and divine of the Presbyterian Old
School, is the constant reel ent of calls to
minister in the neighboring churches. lie is
indeed living spirit in the Regiment, and
commands the esteem of both officers and men |
In all the hard fought battles our Regiment has |
passed through, the Chaplain has ever been on
the field OF battle, regardless of danger, render
ing spiritual as well as material aid 10 the |
wounded and suffering.
Our men, if permitted, would willingly serve
out the balance of their term in the old State of
Kentucky. We have been the recipients of
many kind favorS at the hands of the loyal por-
lion OF the community, particularly Of the
ladies, numbers of whom frequently visit our
camps, and with their good huulor and social
wit drive away many a moment of dull care
The ladies are most gene ally well educated,
refined soc lal and Intelligent. We ale always |
welcomed to their social gatherings, furnished |
parlors and well spread tables. We are very
thankful our lot has been cast in such pleasant
places. large portion of this people are truly
loyal, and me unliring iii their efforts to serve
their country; while another portion are those
OF the " Secesh stripe, particularly remarkable
tor their ignorance, with sneaking, scowliug dis