Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1863-07-18
.z Editor Of Telegraph. u

| DEAR SIR,--A journey to, the front of Rose
Grams army is a very difficult undertaking, es-
pecially when the army Is on the march and
battle is expected at any time. The difficulties
commence at Louisville, and increase as one ad-
, vances. Indeed it is almost impossible for a
citizen to get a pass to go to the army, and
saw citizens of Ohio, of undoubted LOYALTY,
turned back from Louisville, and not allowed to
visit their dying relatives. In one such instance
father begged me to find his son, who was
very sick at Gallalin. On reaching the place,
learned that the son had been dead some days
Arriving at Murfreesboro', found a wonder
tul change had come over ii during the past
year. The presence of two large armies had
almost obliterated everything that in years past
have made it a pleasant and desirable place of
residence Instead of luxuriant gardens, fra
grant flowers, hourishing schools and churches,
we find large droves of mules and horses, camps
OF soldiers and extensive hospitals and conYa-
lescent barracks The stores are mostly closed
except those carried on by suffers and little is
done save what pertains to the great army of
the Cumberland. The real difficulties of our
advance commenced here. DIR. Read, of the
Sanitary Commission, kindly assisted me to get
a pass and in company with him and DIR.
Hamilton, Medical Inspector of Gen Rosecrans'
department, and ono other gentleman, with
some hospital stores In an ambulance, we left
Murffeesboro' Tor Manchester, 81 miles distant.
The roads were good for ten miles, and then
began to be rough and cut up by the immense
trains OF wagons and the artillery which had
been moved over them. ~
When we got to Heover's Gap, the first
night, we put up at the house of one of the
first families, Mr.. Hoover, the best house on
the route, near by, but most miserable apo
logy for dwelling. DIR. II. and DIR. r.. claim
ing to be seniors in rank, were allowed to choose
their quarters, and obtained bed in the gene
raj cook-room, parlor and sleeping room of the
family. Mr. Hoover and wife occupied the other
bed, and the rest of us took the floor The
quiet of those in the bed was soon disturbed by
me old man OF the house very innocently re-
marking, reckon that there's right smart of
lice in these beds We've had a heap of sick
soldiers here, and they were very lousy" DR.
III. soon found it eXpedient to get up and 20 to
using comb Before morniug he found that
bed-bugs and fleas also claimed share of his
attention. These, with the intense heat and
NTH, made the night very uncomfortable. In
the morning DIR. III. was still further entertain
ed by a big lout of boy who had generally oc-
eupied the bed, coming forward scratching his
nngers and asking what was good for the itch, /
as he had had 1t several months This family
owned 100 acres of land and some slaves, and
We're considered vastly superior to the poor
whites who inhabit the mountains.
As We passed ON through the Gan. we came
TO the battle ground. The road here was very
bad, being quite rocky and uneven, and terribly
cut up. 1t had rained constantly while the !
trains were going forward, and al the time we
passed, II really seemed impossible to get an |
empty Wagon along We counted SO wagons.
broken down, and saw tons of ammunition
scattered along the road. Dead horses and |
muieA and occasionally q broken musket or |