The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1863-05-30
Army Correspondence.


CAMP BREsTwooD, May Goth, 1868.
To the FREQ Trader: Since my last nothing
of any importance has transpired We
are still eneamped at this place and the
indications are that we will remain here
for at least . week or two losger. 1t is q
delightful spot and the men are ell healthy,
50 much SO that we have thus far had no
use for a hospital Our duties are, how
ever, quite heavy. The men are either on
camp or picket guard every third day.
Yet notwithstanding this severe duty We
are so we'll pleased with the beauty of our
camp ground that we will be sorry to leave
II Fhere are now encamped here the SD
Ohio, l4th Michigan, s5th, Seth and lO4th
Illinois Regiments of Infantry, the 9th
Kentucky cavalry and the 18th Michigan
Battery. The camp is we'll fortified and
entrenched, and can be easily held against
very superior force.
THIS position is regarded As q very ira>
portant one, being the key to the only
practicable approach from this direction on
Nashville. The rebels are about IL miles
west of US. They hold the town of Hills
buro' and their scouts occasionally make
raids in on the pike. A few days since
they captured a sutler and several cavalry
men between here and Nashville. Our
pickets arc also fred at One Of our men
by the name Of John Mellon, belonging to
Co. B., Capt How, was shot through the
leg while standing on his post on picket
in the night Most of this, however, is
hall al 81 n kha o,t
scouts seldom meet with any considerable
number of the enemy.
A forward movement of the grand army
at Murfreesboro is gradually going on.
Gen. Wood who has been in comm and at
Nashville for the past two weeks has been
ordered to the front with his whole Divis.
sion, and today the SD Ohio, and S5th
Illinois received orders to be ready to
move, they being part of his Gen. Woods
command.
Grants successes down the Mississippi
and Grierson's cavalry raid through Mis-
slss:ppi have utterly bewildered the rebels
in this vicinity, and l am informed that
hundreds who have been holding of, are
now flocking into Nashville to take the
hated oath.
Maj. Widner arrived here on Monday
morning in the train from Nashville and
was greeted with enthusiastic cheers from
the officers and men of the regiment.
1t. Col Hapenlan was obliged to stop in
Louisville, on account Of indIspostion, and
is still back. Mai. w left him at the
Gault House in the hands of the doctor,
but thinks he will be up during this week.
On Monday night, the commanders OF
the different companies, quietly paraded
the entire regiment under command of
Capt Leighton, and preceded by our
martial band and corps Of vocalists,
marched TO the Majors quarters, and FORM
ed hollow square around his tent. The
band thea struck up Yankee Doodle, alter
which, was surg Home Again" Capt.
Collus then made brief welcome speech
to the Majer, TO which Maj W. responded
in an appropriate manner. Col. Moore
was then called for and addressed the regI-
! ment in his usua, able and happy manner.
After which three hearty cheers were
given for the Major, three for Col. Moore,
three for the 10Th, and three times three
for the MON, and the companies return
ell to their quarters. Everything passed
off agreably except 4 fow personal illusions
/ Indirectly made by the first speaker to
Col. Moore, which were generally regard
, ed to have been in bal taste
We have finally discovered the real
| thief who stole the watches, spoken of in
my last. He belonged 10 Co G. of the l4th
! Mich. neg. His name is Joseph Besrdan.
He has been arrested and Is now In prison
in Nashville The negroes seem 10 have
been entirely innocent, notwithsta ndiHg
one Of them confessed that he had accom-
panied the other in committing the theft.
Since Beardans arrest. | understand he
pretends that ha had hired the negroes to
steal the property, although when First
apprehended he said he had bought the
watches in Nashville, previous to the time
the regiment came here, which must have
/ been three weeks before the watches were
stolen. Regular charges have been pre-
( fered against him, and the matter will
| soon come up before a court martial when
all the facts IN the case will be brought 20
/ light. If they prove Of sufficient interest
l will vii! give them to you IN detail.
Hoping something OF more interest may
transpire in time for nv next bid you
good by for another week.
T. S.-Since the above was written the
Nashville train has come in and Lieut.,
Col. Hapeman being aboard, arrived at
camp, direct from Louisville. AS be APP
preached the camp from the depot he was
discovered by a number Of the boys who
at once commenced cheering. And as he
passed up towards headquarters he was
surrounded BY large crowd who had
nearly severed his right arm from his
body by hearty greetings. He looks
much better than | expected he would,
thinks he has entirely recovered his health,
and reports at once for duty. n