The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1863-05-02
Army Correspondence.
CAMP EDoEFIELD. Nashville, Tent,
O. April 18th. 1863.


Ts the Free Trader We have just go
through with a terrible night. For tn,
past week the weather has been exceed
ingIy warm, and the men have been suf
fering from the heat of the sun. Yester
day afternoon, however, the sky became
cloudy, and in the evening the western
horizon became lurid with lightning, ane
at about 10 O clock it commenced storm
ing. The wind blew perfect hurrie ane
and the rain came down in torrents, GOV
ering the camp ground with a perfec
sheet of water When we left Chicago
our quarter master drew shelter tents fol
the men. They are small contrivances,
composed of two pieces, and are designed
for two men to one tent; but through the
ignorance of the quarter master at Chica
go, three hundred half tents were issued
to us instead of whole ones. As the tents
were not unpacked until we reached this
place, the mistake was not discovered, un
til it was too late to rectify it. The result
was, we had to put three men into each
tent. These tents are open at each end
and about four feet high, and are conse-
quently poor protection against a storm
and by having an extra man in each one,
the men Jared but little better than they
would have done without any tents at all
The officers Of the regiment of course
have no tents, and have been, thus far,
obliged to shelter themselves with brush
| houses or blankets, either of which are Of
no account in 2 storm. Thus circum-
stanced, we were lily prepared for such a
/ ,,bt &c
I these miserable concerns were blown over
by the furious gale, and the inmates ex,
posed to the drenching storm and through
those that We're not blown down, the wind
| hurlei the dashing rain in torrents. All
were alike cous sned to thorough ouck-
! jng, and tins morning we look more like
set of mariners who had been ship
wrecked in a hog-wollow than anything
! else can compare ourselves to. As a
matter of course, this state of things has
! caused much dissatisfaction among the
officers and men, and the blame of the un-
| fortunate predicament We are in, will
speedily be visited upon the heads of the
culprits. In case of emergency, no set
OF men are more willing TO endure the
hardships incident to a soldiers life than
those OF the l04th reg giment, but when
they are made the victims of negligence
and inefiicieucy, they are equally ready
and prompt to show their resentment
! Fortunately, this morning the sun rose in
more than ordinary splendor The storm
! had spent its fury, and the sky was with
| out cloud the air was mild and genial.
and by noon we had pretty nearly dried
up again. No evil effects are yet discov-
cred from the exposure, and it is hoped
that on account of the pleasant state Of
the weather 10 day. none will ensue
MoNpAY, 2Oth-SInce our arrivsl here,
we have again entered the land of rumo ors
and alarms Last evening news was
( brought to Gen. Mitchell, who is in COM
mand of the post here, that Van Dorm
was approaching the city with a large
/ force with the intention of consigning it
1 TO the flames ty a night attack. This
1 unfortunate news obliged the whole force,
camped in and around the city, to turn
out III line of battle, about 5 o clock in the
morning. and remained so until after
midnight No incendiary making his ap-
! pearance, and Gen. Van Oorn's army hav-
| Jag vanished Ike some terrible specter in
the thick darkness, we were allowed 10
return again 20 our quarters at half past
II o'clock. Scouts have been out all day
in search Of the cause of the rumor but
nothing has yet transpired explanatory of
the scare.
To day we have removed our camp from
the banks the Cumberland 10 the vicn-
ity of Morton. This fort is located on a
high mound, Immediately outside of the
southern extremities OF the city, and COM
mands very large extent of country
/ The works upon this fort are not yet com
I pleted, and there are now over 800 contra
| bands employed upon it. When complet-
/ ed it will be one of the most extensive
works OF the kind in the southwest The
| outer wall will enclose u acres, and will
embrace thirty two castions. When com
p,eted this fort will be sufficiently spa
/ cious to mount 300 guns This mound
was owned by a Mrs. Overton. She was
one of the most rabid and mischievous
seccssonist in this c,ty She has two sons
who hold prominent positions IN the army
of the Southern Confederacy. Upon the
summit OF the mound stood the mansion
of this untortuna and misguided woman.
1t was the finest residences ia the state
All around it the grounds were decorated
with the choicest shade trees and shrub
berry the climate would produce. Walks,
tastefully ornamented with rare flowers,
and tiny fountains jettng forth their
little sparkling streams, helped to adorn
its shady bowers. Along the lower edge
OF tHe IOuHu were OFCUaIuS Vi tbc pSSt
qualities Of fruit Where We are now en-
camped was large peach orchard, of
which nothing but the stumps oe the trees
remain. All this splendor has now dis
appeared The fine mansion has been
rased to the ground 4 vast pile Of brick,
marble, rough stone, and morter only
mark the place where it stood. The or
namental and fruit trees, and shrubbery
have all been cut away. The rich soil
that filled the borders has been stripped
to the rock, and where once all was beau
tiful and fragrant WITH the perfumes OF
flowers, now is nothing but rough stone
quarry, and piles of rubbish and litter
What a judgment is this that has fallen
upon this mischievous woman for her
treachery towards the government which
SO kindly protected her in the full enjoy
ment of her former happiness and SPLEEN.
dor. Her property has all been confiscat-
ed, her slaves are vagrants, either working
for livelihood upon the forts, or loung-
ing around the citv, relying upon begging
and theft for subsistence, and herself bare
ly allowed to live in a humble manner in
tie city.
Directly east from here, is Fort Negly
OF which l will hereafter speak. NJ.
A BUScoMBE FENE-Lawyer. Nov Mr.
A., was the fence alluded to good
strong fence? -,g ns
Uncle VIII 'Yes. sir" BE
La,oycr well, what sort of fence
was it?
| Uncls WIZ (holding in\, ait was Buns
combe fence, sir
Larger thinking he had cornered the
old GENT Now. Squire, will you oblige
the court by giving you definition OF
Buncombe fence?
Uncle Wiz "A BuHcombe fence, sir, is
fence that is bull strong horse high, anc
pig tight? -,
Uncle " i'll was dismissed from the stanc
and retired with Hvino colOrS