Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1863-02-11
From the 10th Ohio.
CAPT. Downs Co.,
CAMP NEAR MEMPHIS, Feb. /, 1868.

CAMP NEAR MEMPHIS, Feb. l, 1868.
Eds. ChrORieLe :-Antici Oating a speedy
arrival again with the boys, 1 bid a joy
GUS farewell to the vexatious duty of re-
cruiting, and l suppose greatly to the re-
lief of some of my butternut friends of
the banner township" of democracy, as
they style it, who expressed the greatest
anxiety for my departure.
After arriving at Columbus, there meet
ing my regimental comrades, we again
started for Dixie. At Cairo we enjoyed
the privilege of seeing three transports
loaded with prisoners direct from Seces-
STA. If uniformed they must have repre-
sented as many different regiments as
there were men, for no two were clothed
alike, and to say the best, they werehard
looking specimens of humanity.
We landed at the great Floating Bat
terry, on the Mississippi, which now lays
a wreck about two miles above Point
Pleasant, Mo. 1t has been u most for
midable structure. clad with railroad iron
and carrying twenty-five heavy guns. Its
original cost is said t. have been
$780, 600. After taking a part of the
armament on board, we again started for
Memphis. Gel. NJ. d. Leggett. OF the
18th Ohio, who now wears the star on his
shoulder, having been promoted to a
Brigadier General, is commanding
our Brigade. He directed us to our
camp, about one and a half miles from
the city, where l was happy to find the
Captain and the boys enjoying the best of
health.
They say they have gone the Grand
Rounds. They left Bolivar, Tennessee,
on the Sd of October. to join the grand
movement of Grants army. The adj
vance was made without any opposition,
until arriving at the Tallahassee River,
where the rebels were prepared to receive
Us: but by a flank movement on our part
were compelled to evacuate their
Then commenced the chase,
our regiment in the advance of infantry.
Dur force camped at the place in the |
evening that the rebels left in the morn
ing, the fires still burning and the bread
BY the fire unbaked. The chsse thus
continued as far as Water Valley, Miss,
when, through the treachery of Colonel
the post, with the stores at Hol-
Springs was surrendered. Our scout
General Bunker as he is called-notiied
General Lee of the movements of the
and of which Col. Murphy was
Ilso notified Had we but loyal leaders
'ur arms would suffer little disaster.
We remained at Water Valley three
lays and then commenced to retrace our
teps. Our stores by this time were so
that We received but one
ourth r~ations, but which were generally
made full by foraging. The work was
completed which we left undone on
ur forward march-the forage was all
AIKEN, and all the houses burned that did
Iot display the stars and stripes. Genl
says if any suffer it must be the
itiZen and not the soldier.
There are two divisions left here-the
lain part of Grants army having moved
W the river. We are in Gen. John
,ogan's Division, McPherson's Army
orps. Capt. Downs is in fine health and
njoys the confidence of the boys. Our
,out is busy and is going out to see Van
'orn. who is reported coming.
l am sorry to record the deaths of two
lembers of our company, Isaac McNaTy
nd Charles P. Sechler, both of Lords i
OWN, who died at Holly Spring.
The rest of the boys are well and in
pod fighting trim, and with Force, (who
our ColoneD We will conquer. Yours,
j. M. W. s