The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1863-09-04
From THE slXTY.NlNTH.


EDS. PALLADIUM: How truthful are the
words of the immortal Mrs. Bedott. =" There
is great many strange things in the future,
and psrhsps some Of them may never take
place." and she was right. too.
Six weeks ago We had every assurance
that the 9th division would be sent North
-Ierhaps ST. Louis-for rest and TO recruit,
its thin and broken ranks. for there has not
been a single fight or skirmish since we
crossed the Mississippi river, March 29th,
that the 9th division has not been the first
10 open the ball. Our boys were in . glo-
rious good humor at the prospects ahead.
and when the order came to pursue that
"hst man." Joe Johnson, we were all eager
for she chase. believing. as we had right
to. that when that job was through with the
campaign 10 this Department. and for Us
would be at an end. at least for while. and
We would be removed from this hot and
sickly climate. l will not undertake des-
cription of that expedition or the sufferings
our troops underwent. suffice to say that
no move We have ever bad to make was
half SO hard or heart sickening as that in-
fernal tramp TO jackson, and thank God Cor
who ever started the FREY that not q solitary
house stands (save it may be the State
House. to-day 10 mark the spot where once
stood the beautiful city and Capitol of Mis-.
sissippi. The hundreds Of tall and black
ened chimniss. and the crumbling walls Of
the stately mansions are fit sentinels Of
ghostly remembrances to keep silent watch
over the CHASTITY remains Of that hot bed of
treason. To one that has not seen tho re-
mains of . city that has been entirely des-
tsoyed can imagine what dreary. desolate
and lonely spectacle it does present.
August I'd We received orders to proceed
to Natches. Headquarters 18th army corps
20 be at said place, and The forces were to
ries. Home. friends, ice cream and cold
lemonade all suddenly vanish at sight of The
aforesaid order. When 1 get out of tAis
nssdey 6xsisess. if l do SO without getting
my chunk knocked out. and an Orderly
with his long sabre clsnking at his heels,
ever presents me with . long, yaNer euvel.
spss marked 20. B." I'll throw everything,
anything Il him that amt larger than a
cooking stove. never yet found one q.
them that had any news in il from home
Natchez is one Of the prettiest little cities in
the South containing perhaps q population
of four or Eve Thousand. and the country
surrounding 10 . perfect paradise. Two
thirds Of its population are strongly Union,
and rebel flag has never yet Aoated over
the city. consequently things remain very
much a they were before the rebellion. and
the thought Of getting into civilized com
munity, half eonciliated for the change OF
programme; but, alas. for human cslcula.
tons, Ne had scarcely become reconciled
when We received orders to proceed direct
20 Port Hudson and there report to General
Banks: (prospsots for enjoying q 20 DAYS
furlosgh to proceed beyond the limits Of the
Department "began to grow beautifully
les.") thus We arc transferred from the De-
partmsns Of the Tennessee into the Depart.
mont Of the Gulf. All the afternoon Of IN,
7th our Brigade (now the S2d) embarked
on board the steamer Baltic; the bell ring.
for 81 to get On bosrd /: the signal is given
70 ca under weigh. and We drop down the
nvsr jast - ths frey orb |" is sinking in
the west; almost = death-lits Stiffness reiyns
and al feel Thankful that they are leaving
the city Of sorrow and sadness, and as the
gray. blsek billie and the spires Of the
churches md Court Hsuss gradually grow.
din IN The distance. half thought could
hear sfss Cd deep wall ascend from the
naay ittls hihs.lsss children, the hushed
sigh Of he dsaolats widow, mother, father
and sisAss, I'll that made life dear and sweet
has bean taksn from them-the loved ones
have fallen and are lost to them forever
Many. very many. Of them now sleep upon
tho hUFninU hil1a-thaiv sp;,;t. ha~e e.