The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1863-04-22
Correspondence or the Perrysburg Journall
Camp Life AmOng the Ohio Boys.
In CANfP, SEVEN Mules FROM
NURrREEsBoRo, Tenn, April Z, 1868.


! Ep3. JOURNALS We are still on dry docks " in
our nigh and dry foriiilcatons on Cripple Creek.
Nothing seriously startling has yet occurred. A..
although there Is much talk Of Bmgg's "big cir
Gus being hero soon.
! Spring is here, and The earth is again clothed
with her regal carpet of green. The priceless
gems of natures sublime aud welcome bringiugs
everywhere offer us those susceptible allurements
which home. with its orchards, gardens and mead.
ows, has made dear to the memories of the absent
/ The cvcrgreen--as with an effort on its own part
/ to comport with the Nie-kc and cheerful sur
round'ugs- put on livery OF brighter and
| freshcr green, forming finely contrasted back.
ground for its neighbors, the oak. ash and walnut
whose naked and gray appearance calls forth,
even yet, some wintry reflections.
Tho weather. since the equinox has been of an
enlivening aud cheerful character
Soldiers, like sailors, are very restless class of
men, while Lying in port" and with the limited
means of diversion in camp, We often " sigh for
change But, as general thing, the change turns
ont to be nfNvorabc, a. with the frogs who asked
Jupiter for new king, for only short time. We
h'sc had nothing but mud-mud in our streets,
alleys, parlors, dining rooms ON our hands, faces
and clothes and Mud was our king-but we gave.
both in word and action, uumistlbablc signs mo,
to Jupter) to the weather clerk, that we desired
change -whcrcupon came fine sunny weather with
that fatal and very contagious diseasc-th the
Spring teycr;" also, special order from our
corps commanders, that we miyit drill four hours
every day Oh, what II turmoil this caused in our
mauspccting community What an ncrningling
of faint, sweet voices could now be heard through
the chambers aud halls of our Sibley palaces
some oven wished for rain again but "nary "
| rain yet.
We received orders day or two since to 20 on
accommodating expedition in the vicinity of Wood
bury, small country town and rebel outpost,
twenty miles from Murfrccsboro Early on the
morning OF the 4th, three regiments Of our brigade
came down out Of our stronghold without fife or
drum, Os NOISY and eager AS boys just let out of an
academy, and shortly after joined the rest OF tho
division on the main road.
The road passes mostly through vallies and "a.
vines and from either side tho country rises into
hills and bluffs, extending away in bold ridges un-
I'll the eye is lost among the mountains of McMinn-
vile, reminding one Of the scenery along the Gau-
ley river, in Western Virginia.
The sun had just began to cast his long beams
across the fields and hollows as we fled down the
road, rejecting his bright silycry hues on the low
budding cms and naples, and finely displaying the
gaudy red-bud which adorns the hillsdcs. Here
aud there solitary moekng- bird sent forth his
morning songs from the boughs of some cedar
whose lofty top seemed to bow in gentle submis-
sion TO the soft spring breeze, which seemed to fan
Creations dullcst slumbercrs into sprightly life
and action. Clumps of wild plums in full bloom
shed their fragrance on the dewv air in quiet com
munion with their more domestic neighbors, the
ilowery almonds and peach. Wheat fields are
looking finely and are numerous.
We made our march of twelve miles without ac-
cdent or incident, other than our cavalry charging
the rebel scouts out of the town. nor did they stand
on the order Of their going. few persons were
captured, and some sutlcr stores.
We used our new shelter tents for the first time
and the regiments housed themselves quicker than
a table-cloth pedder unsling his pack.
The next morning after our arrival at W,
we had much amusement at the expense of the
contrabands. 1t seems that during the night some
of our Yankee " domestic cuIees got outside
the lines, and whispered the Spirit of the Proc
lamation' in the ears of their "cullud bredren,"
with sundry arguments of the free will persuasion:
and said "bredren," thinking the present favor
able opportunity to stop across the Rubcon lost no
time in useless councils for the next morning. while
we were at breakfast their advance guard-con-
slsing of an old negro woman, with little dar-
key (perhnps her grand child in her arms and
her wardrobe on her back, "a bundle something
smaller than shock of ryc)- made its appearance
in n ravino to the rear of our camp. Another and
another came, and yet the end was not The
MANNED and crippled, blind ana halt cumo. and the
rear guard was brought up by an old patriarchal-
looking fellow, who logged along with the aid of
staff
And 1t came to pass, after time, that the good
master and mistress came also; and they went
straightway to the headquarters of General Pal
mer, but he informed them that he had no power
to put their negroes outside his lines but if they
went back of their own will, he had no objection.
The master said no more, but went his way, and
much anger was upon his brow. But the mistress
could not give up her Diuah and Sue without one
more effort. She appealed to their affections, to
their PRIDE and finally gave two of the girls
twenty dollars each, Confederate money, to 70
back
There is moral inference to be drawn from
these 10 u.s. diyerting scenes | was glad within
myself, and wished they all might return for the
present. Observation leads me to believe that their
presence among MS, with the exception Of able
bodied men, is demoralizing.
The results of our expedition are unimportant
A great many rebel conscripts Joined us, and pre-
fer blue uniform.
To-day is the anniversary of the battle Of Shiloh,
and the terrors OF that bloody day are still fresh in
my memory. Grass grows green there over tho
graTes OF many of my brave comrades, cannot
stop to pay them passing tribute.
COUNTRY I'M