Winchester journal. [volume] (Winchester, Indiana) 1862-1863, 1863-03-27
CAMP NEAR FRANKLIN, TESS.,l
March II lE63.

some OF YOUR FeaGerS NOull iteI interested +
in knowing where the cold s4.h' is,
and what they are up to, and some other
matters Of interest in this part of Dixie,
take the privilege of dropping you line I
which you may spread before them il YOU |
wish.
The first part Of Mr.. Addneton's let
ter referring to General Gilbert's conduct
in reference 10 reinforcements, and the
s4th's remarkable railroad trip, already
described By Major Neff. we omit here
ED
We laid here till Monday, the 9th. the
enemy's out posts being in full view from
a round hill to our left; but it seems that
while pretending "bold 'front.'" they
were really making all haste to get away;
and they commenced retreating on
Saturday morning. A part of our cavalry
started out on Sunday evening and on
Monday morning our whole force was put
in motion; long lines Of infantry stretched
for miles alosg the pike with their trains
in the rear, while the cavalry led the All
vance and secured the surrounding hills.
Soiue four or five miles out we came 10
where skirnishing had commenced be
tween our advance AMI the rebels rear.
They had evidently been taken on sur
prise, ms the corn was vet LAYING on the
ground where they had just fed their
horses. when they had to Get up and
skedaddle. From this on. the evidences
Of skirmishing were to be seen all along
the road.
Some eight miles out our gallant
Colonel. who had been home on sick leave.
overlook Us, and the hearty shout which
rang from one end of the regiment to the
other as his presence became known. At
tested the high esteem in which he i held
BY all the BOYS of his command. lie did
NOT arrive at camp till some time after
we had left, ard worn down with travel,
and his health but partially restored, he
did not tarrv a moment, out mounted and
pushed on w.th all haste 20 join Us. This
We accept rs another evidence Of his gal
lantry and his Willingness to lead u in
the conflict when the rieht time comes.
We made about fifteen niles the hrs,
! day, passing over the battle field where
our comrades hal so lately been sent TO
1.-The slaughter with such criminal mott
qence; and through the town of Spring
+ Hill. from which the battle takes il, name,
though situated some three or four miles
/ beyond the closing scene Of the tragedy.
At night il commenced raining and con-
tinucd through the next day and night
almost without intcrmission; and rs We
had no tents and the air was quite chilly,
Won can IMAGINE the degree of comfort
we enjoyed; but there was no disposition
or desire to turn buck; all were anx Gus to
push on and av.ngc the death Of our fell
low soldiers. We did not make - much
progress the second CAV, ms the near
proximity Of the enemy aud the hilly and
broken condition of the conntry. made il
necessary IN feel our way with more care.
However. MIGHT fouua us som Eve or *
miles further on our way. with the clmp
fires Of tho enemy ia full view of our
picket line and one OF their "big guns
frowniuc upon IA from an cminenee plainly
visible in our immediate front.
Hating for the uieht. we all went t.
work to make ourselves rs comfortable as
we conld under the circumstances. Some
made tents of their gum blankets, while
others brought plank from houses. barns.
and fencer. IN the ncighborhood. of which
to make shelters and beds; laying down
under 4 no f, made Of hou cdo'r, al n
gum blanket. could appreciate the
force of remark bv nv bunk mate, -
that "this might do 90 laugh over after
we got home. but he would be blamed if
it was very pleasant now " Next morn
ing the sun looked up. bright and cheer
ful. over he eastern hills; a glad sight
to the Thousands OF soldiers who look cd
up with q smile o. welcome 10 his "bcam-
ing face" a large portion Of the enemy
had ALREADY crossed Dock river. using
their baggage and great many Of their
men in so doing. and few shots from our
batteries caused them u sink their old
boat, and those on this side 10 scatter In
every direction. The ihir,l day was spent
in reconnoite.ing and picking up strae-
glers, and on the morning Of the fourth
day out. March -. a. We were short Of
rations, and had no means Of crossing the
river, we were ordered to fall back To
Franklin. We were twenty miles ont.
and made il from eight in the morning 70
twenty minutes past three in the even
ing.
We halted in our return nj the battle
field of Spring Hill. and detachment
went out 10 examine the graves OF our
dead buried there They found Twenty
live thrown IN one ditch, and barely Gov
cred; some parts being actually showing
through the dirt that ha: teen thrown
Over them. They had stripped them to
their drawers, aud then thrown their CID
butternut clothes over them. Toy w,r,
t,k,n up and buried in more decent
manner.