St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1863-09-03
FROM THE SECOND BATTERY.
CAMP ON BIC CRow CREEK,
NEAR STEVENSON, ALABAMA.

DEAR DENOCAAT-A1tc1 an exceed.
ipgly pleasan, scjourn at Winchester, fol
six weeks, the 1st Division took up its
line Of march for this place on the ! 9TH
inst. At 2r. N.,and eneaAped q The foot
of the Cumberland Mounhins the same
evening, a distance Of five miles. Gen.
Rosecra"s moved his Headquarters the
same day to Anderson, Tenn.
The 18th and 10th insts, were occupied
in getting over the mountain. The as
cent, distance Of nearly two miles, by a
winding route, was exceedingly difficult
The road was steep, very stony and full
Of huge boulders. The commanders of
each brigade stationed their men along
the way from top to bottom to assist the
artillery and brigade trains in getting up.
As each gun aud caisson came along the
infantry with shouts and yells would lay
hold and fairly lift them over the rough
places There was the necessary yelling,
bawling and hooting at horses and mules.
Great care was exercised, and there vas
not one wagon broken, although there
were a few upsettings.
On the evening of the 18th we encamp-
ed on the top of the mountain, seven miles
from where: we commenced the ascent.
The road for long distance over the fat
table-land was very fine and tie troops
started off on the morning of the, 10Th at
three A. NJ, on the "doublc quick" aud
by eight A. NJ, the head of the column
had commenced the descent.
The road upon which we cawe is called
the Bellefonte road, The mountain has
many hidden springs known only to the
guides. A fne growth of oak and chest
nut, with some poplar, abounds. Many
rattlesnakes were killed. Deer tracks
could be seen on the by-paths.: There ere
two or three farms on the top Of the noun
tain. On them was some fine green corn,
peaches AMI apples, 50 you may surmise
what the boys had for supper. Would
suggest that apple dumplings are very 6nc.
A few bushwhackers troubled us but we're
hunted do"n and taken. One Of Carliu's
orderlies was shot short distance from
the road. In a little trip down the side
Of hill after peaches, We came upon a
small log house with three young men in,
1t who had come from Port Hudson and
had Banks' paroles in their pockets
Seemed to think the Conthicveracy'>
chances rather slim now
In getting the artillery down the noun
tain, the "lead" and "swing" teams, four
horses, were taken out and the piece turn
cd to the guidance OF the wheel team and
ten or twenty iufantrymen who had rope
attached behind and pulled back.
The weather was very warm and on the
last days march, Of t,een,y fee miles, the
road was full Of stragglers Davis Head
quarters were moved twcnty-eisht miles
on the 10Th. With such records this d.
vision may aptly be termed "Davis' Grey
hound Division"
The whole division is now cncamped
on piece of ground, right at the inter-
section of the Memphis Il Charleston r.
R. with Big Grow Creek, muddy stream
emptying into the Tennessee River, about
three miles further on.
Stevenson is 4 small town on the Nash
vile and Chattanooga r. Il. and is one
mile from here. Troops to the right of
us occupy Huntsville and the cars run by
daily with supplies and the mail for the
division stationed there.
At Stevenson rebel signal station can
be seen on the other side Of the river.
There are prospects of battle, or
chase, soon. Chattanooga must fall. We
are IN front of it, and the boys say know
ingly that, "Rosy knows his biz" When
you hear from US again we will likely smell
little Of gunpowder. 81.
The I'd Battery made the trip over the
Mountain without accident, aud is in good
condition for ten-poundiDg the rebels when
Rosy says So 1 do not know where the
I'd Minnesota Regiment is.
The St. Cloud boys are we'll and stand
the dog days in Alabama 6rst-rate.
Capt. Hotchkiss is being tried by court
martial. Woodbury. aud Kinkead, our
able lieutenants, are hearty and enjoying
themselves. They are veil thought Of by
the boys. s. ..;'o E. -.
- x "'". DIXIE.
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