The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-02-11
Amy Gsffespsh4eAes.
CAMP OF TIE 27Tn Ono INFAtrRY,
CoRINTH, MISS, Jan. 18, 1853.

CORINTH, MISS, u an. 10, loOo.
Dear Spirit:--A long time has passed
since we had the pleasure of chat with
your dear readers. and long, long road
have we trod since last we met. One year
has died and another stepped into exis
tence; one with its many sad incidents
never to be forgotten, the other stealing
by us day by day. ike thin cloud during
the still watches of the night. Away to-
ward the frosty home Of old Boreas, the
King of storms, christmas and New Years
with their thousand aud one merry scenes,
came and went as the times "Lang syne,
only chilled here and there by the SYM
pathizing thoughtfor those far from home,
and dear ones, battling for our country.
All Of these times we rested not, and no
holidays or hours of pleasant reunion,
were we allowed The foe was restless,
and to and fro we went, here to check
mate him, then to fight him, then to out
march him, then to deceive him, and, if
no other consolation cheers us, we know
our enemies rested not as well as our
selves. ia5ns,s
On the End of, November we marched
from this place to Grand Junction, fifty
|
with the remainder of Grants Grand Ar
my, which concentrated here from Bolivar
and jackson. The onward movement
from this point of progress is now mat
ter of history. How each day we ad-
vanced the foe fell back, sometimes skir-
mishing and again running without firing
a gun, and no where standing a. decisive
fight. How we followed them up, drawn
on by their willy strategy, which ever
promised battle only few miles ahead
until our baseof Operations was FIVE hun
dred miles behind u.s. How, when we
were in the center of their country, they
7 ran around US to our rear, and cut the
communication from every source, com
; pelling US to retreat to save ourselves
from starvation, is recorded, all is printed
in newspapers, in magazines, in pam
: phlets. in books, in dozen languages
and scattered, as it were, to the worlo
broad cast, read by thousands talked o.
, by millions. Need we, with our unprae
: ticed pen, attempt to paint this picture
so often drawn and held up to the publ,
3 gaze, and expect to find something new
something hundred skillful searcher
left undiscovered, which we can seize hole
Of and call our own? We think not. ane
only our little experience, and that Of ou
friends, is all that remains for us to re
late.
A CALL TO THE REAR.
We were camped near Oxford Miss
Dec. 18th. dreaming of winter quarter
: or something kin, and little thinking o
L making sudden rush to any one poin
we knew Of, and with very dlminativ,
7 inclinations to visit any locality ,6exeep
perhaps old Monroe. The days came an,
l went regularly, as did the roll calls, drill
: calls, meal calls &C., and we fancied W
were doing the soldier business accordin!
to West Point, which We were, and woul,
have heen doing yet, if our friends, tn
rchs, had not been such big fools, and ac
as they did-wept raiding-when, o
course, we had to raid some too. Some
e where between Columbus and Jackson
they came down on our bridge guards
like the day of judgcmcnt-rather unex
. pectedly, capturing guards, bridge an,
r all, paroling one and burning the other
, Gen. Sullivan, at Jackson, like an oil
!. woman, got into an awful fight, sending t
y Grant for reinforcements, saying Brag
was advancing on him with-he did no
know how many men, This application
S caused our General to awake us from ou
e pleasant dreams, and start us by railroa
4 to the rear at break neck speed. Gu
Brigade was all that was ordered back a
this time, knowing that Grant put yer
little confidence in the story Of Bragg.
| JAcESoN
All the way from Oxford to jackson
!, dame rumor had been at work, and if W
. had not been old soldiers, we might hav
been surprised. when we arrived at til
9 latter town to End it in possession OF on
forces, which We were not, we assure yor
for we were aware that the rebels were al
ter booty, nearly as much as bridges, Meth
er of which would have rewarded ther
: for capturing Jackson We found howey
: er batch of ''little the worst skeered
: soldiers out, for whom We must say i
/, justice, three weeks or at most thre
= months would cover their time in the ielo
and nothing better could be expected {
I them. The evening of our arrival W
> made few observations, which Statistic
US that nc force amounting to anythin
n was in the vicinity, and marching fou
miles out of town, we bivauced for tn
), night, sleeping as soundly and swcetly a
. if we were at home, a hundred miles frol
the clash Of arms.
A BooTLEss MARCH.
] Daylight found us in line, and soon al
I ter the troops began moving toward Lex
ington town on the Memphis and Louis
. vile railroad. Our Brigade was now bro
= ken, two regiments, the 43rd and 63rc
! having not arrived, but the 9th and 39t
we're present, and about O'Clock we too
up our line of march. The advance wa
: very tedious owing to excessive caution
], and all day was spent in going eightee
:, miles and, of course, catching no guerril
las, as they were on horseback and we
j foot. When nightcame We again bivauce
e and rested undisturbed until morniL z.
: : During the night, or sometime else, on
: commander, whoever he was, concluded
: !. return, and in the middle of the afternoon
! we wound around through Jackson TO a
: open field south of town, where we camp