Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-02-25
From the 18th Wisconsin.
CAMP NEAR FRANKLIN, Tenn, !
February 10th. 1863

February 10th, 1868.
Correspondence OF the State Journal.
On the 3lst ult. we received orders to
march, with five days rations. That same
evening we camped at Eaglesvlle, on the
Nashville and Shelbyville pike. On ar.
irving there we found that Wheeler
Horton and Forrest had left on the morn.
ing of the previous day, with the inten.
tor, as they said, OF crossing the Cum.
berland river at Harpeth Shoals, and il
possible destroy our transports on that
river. We came to this place as fast as
we could, considering the country through
which we passed. We arrived here on
the I'd of this month In a short time
we heard of the reports of the rebels a.
Fort Donelson, and large cavalry force
under Gen. Davis, our division command
er, went in pursuit. | believe they did
not fall in with any considerable body of
them, and after capturing few stragglers
came back to this place.
We enjoy ourselves exceedingly here.
the only drawback being want of news
from home. We have received NO mail
since we left Murfreesboro. The citizens
have nearly all been rebels, and no doubt
now sympathize With their cause. but
they are tired of the war and want to
have peace. Undoubtedly they would
prefer to see the South have a Govern.
ment of its own, if that object could be
obtained peaceably, but they are not will
ling to fight for it any longer. They say
that when Bragg is driven out of Tennes-
see, which they DO not seem to doubt
will be his fate, all the troops from this
State will desert him and return home.
Then, they add, steps will be Immediately
taken to come back INTO the Union, and
once more restore peace and harmony to
the State.
The citizens treat US we'll, and always
seem anxious to have US call on them
We have been SO long away from home,
and SO hardened by the experiences of
war, that it seems at first as if we are out
of our place in the family circle; but the
bright beaming countenances and merry
voices soon make us feel sc ease. The
children are shy at first, and do not pre-.
fess any particular liking for the "Yan-
kees," but kind treatment soon disabuses
them of such erroneous notions.
The citizens everywhere are very much
afraid of our soldiers and l am sorry to
say not entirely without cause. The
stealing of chickens, turkeys, &c, has be-
come so common, as hardly to excite re-
mark, but our soldiers often commit much
graver offences.
Yesterday four of our cavalrymen
stopped at the house of Mr.. johnson,
living abont four miles from this place
and presenting loaded revolver, demand
ed his money, together with all his jewel
ry, threatening instant death in case be did
not comply. Most citizens would have
let them taken everything in such case,
and be glad to escape with life, but John
son seems to have had more spunk than
ordinary men, and drawing revolver
fired onlthe robbers, wounding one when
the rest made their escepe. He immedi
ately reported to headquarters, and all the
four vagabonds have sbeen arrested, and
hope and believe that for the credit of oul
soldiers and warning to similar robbers
they may be hung. Robbers never make
soldiers, and the sooner we get rid of them
the better. Yours truly,