The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1863-02-04
From the 5th Iowa Cavalry
Letter from WIN. Ii. JOfsns OM.

Mr.. EDITOR: Hoping that it might
interest some of your readers to hear
from a native of your county, l will
give you some information of my trav-
els and the war in the South. / was
born in Harrison county, Ohio, and
lived there until I was IA years ofage,
and then | moved to Missouri and liv-
ed there six years before the war COM
menced. / served one year there to
as much advantage as I could to the
Union army. February 7, 1862, l
enlisted in the 5th Iowa Cavalry, and
started to Fort Henry the same day.
I was at the battle of Fort Donelson,
under the command of Gen. Lew. Wal
lace. | was at skirmish at Paris,
and / was at the battle of Shilo. We
were in the advance of the army all the
way from Shiloto Corinth. We were
skirmishing almost every day on the
road. We went from there to jack
son; from there to Humboldt; and from
there to Fort Heiman, Kentucky,
where we have built winter quarters,
and are stationed. We are daily en-
ployed hunting Guerrillas and catch
ing Rebel soldiers. We had fine
chase short time ago after rebel
band commanded by Gen. Forest. We
did not get up with him, but Generals
Sullivan and Dodds cleaned him out
of the country before we got up to give
him a trial. They killed rebel colo.
mel that has been skirmishing with our
regiment all summer. We were out
on Christmas and New Years, and VIC
feasted on an old rebels chickens and
turkeys until we could almost fly. We
captured several rebels, including q
great many officers, horses and contra
bands of war.
4 The Tennessee river is raising very
fast. 1t raised five feet to-day. The
boats can now run to Florence.
think there will be something done this
| winter, either in Congress or in the
field. If the South will not do withou,
fighting we can give them as much o.
it as they want. Some of our Union
boys says that the rebels cannot fight
but it is mistake, for man to man il
as much as / want, for / have tried
| them to my satisfaction. Now / think
| that it is most time that the negro 10.
wing Abolitionists Of the North would
come and try their hands awhile instead
approaching abolition doctrine at home,
| for they were as much to blame as the
Secessionists in bringing this war on
US. | am not Secessionist, nor am
an Abolitionist. / am for the Union
and the Constitution; but as the wal
has commenced / am willing to do all
/ can to put down the rebellion.
am in for con6scation, emancipation
and colonization Of the rebel property.
1t would have been better for both
sides if they had taken the money that
has been expended in this war, and
bought the slaves and colonized them.
| The probable cost Of the war thus far il
estimated at $500, 100000, besides
j lao, 900 lives, including about Is gen.
erals, 30 colonies, lieutenant colonies
and majors, 130 captains, and the de.
struction Of property amounting to 0,
yer $3.50, 600, 900. The loss Of life by
disease has been 40, 900; killed in bat.
ties and skirmishes 80, 900; by accident
10000. Battles won by the rebels %,
battles won by the Union army is;
skirmisLes won by the Union troops
200, skirmishes won by the rebels 70;
total Of battles and skirmishes 316.
This may not be exactly correct but it
il very near. Il shows that the supe-
rior geierslship Of the rebels has gain.
ed for them the majority Of the field
battles, while the pluck Of the Union
soldiers has won the majority Of The
skirmishes. The number Of vessels