Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-11-16
our Army Correspondence-Fr
Chattanooga.

Mr.. EDIToR;-I am most happy to inform you
that few of us have escaped starvation BY being
very OPPORTUNITY ordered away from -ehatta-
noOga.
- Two brigades of Gen Palmer's division were
ordered to 60 to Shell Mound on the oath of
last month. And your humble servant
figures now in the first brigade of the aforesaid
division, of course he was one of the lucky fell
lows who escaped from that most horrible of
deaths which We had eEaded for some-weeks
previous by the use of what is known to soldiers
as half ration.
Our poor horses and mules-of which every
humane man should have some consideration
Jared rather worse than we did, for they had TO
live or de-many of them chose the latter al
ternative-on whatever they could pick up,
very stinted allowance considering the season of
the year and the large number to be supported
within the narrow limits fthe picket line.
We left Chattanooga at 2 o'clock A. NJ, and
never did the pale moon look so bright and pleas
ing, not even in my verdant years when the
majestic Queen of night would burst from be-
hind wandering cloud to my CONSERVATION
whilst billing and cooling with some of the dove
like angels Of my boyh0od days. After crossing
the pontoon bridge [ forgot my usual gravity
and raised two or three hearty shouts that re-
echOd along the hills, to convince myself that
something unusually consoling to my up
feelings was in reality taking place. Satisfying
my mind upon this point, built FIRE, sat down
by it and finally laid down TO wait for my regi-
ment) and fell asleep and did not wake till day
light The regiment had passed by needless Of
their dreary Esculapius who in company with
Queen Nab was buried in the midst of the
most profound felicity behind blazing
FIRE Of logs in the edge of a woods
close to the river bank. Waking up
suddenly, l soon learned from some stragglers
the nature of my position; yet nothing daunted,
| started upon their trail, which was indelibly
fixed in mud from one to two feet deep. The
road follows the course of the river for six miles,
then takes up spur of the Cumberland Noun
tains, which it ascends by very easy rise, but
owing to the recent heavy rains aud the great
amount OF navel upon it, the mud was so deepas
to actually mire the mules in many places, and
render the movements of wagons very slow.
The rebels kept up constant fire of small arms
upon US all day, but the distance too great
to make their weapons effective. Broken wag-
ons, dead mules and horses lire the road the
entire distance up the mountain. Toward the
summit the massive lime stone rocks project in
wild relief from their coverings, and form masses
of precpice often exceeding one hundred and
fifty feet. From the rocky assures pour
streams of water. tumbling among the rocks be-
low with singular grandeur In a deep ravne.
through which the road stretches, considerable
stream flows. Its banks are hid by the rich
of the mountain spruce, and occasionally the
umbrella tree, or magnolia tripelata-altogether
producing exceedingly wild vet interesting
scene. Added to this, the rushing, foaming
water as it dashes over its rocky bed, pouring
into the assures and cavities, then tumbling over
preciptous rocks, often twenty feet, dashing the
spray and foam over the sedgy banks, creating at
once a most remarkable and imposing spectacle.
After | reached the summit, most of the troops
l,.l I-re. IL.
no time in following after with all possible speed.
After travelling some four miles, my horse be-
gan to manifest evident signs of great fatigue,
and found it necessary to select my own camp
ground, which soon found. by the side of lit
tie pond of water. There | deposited my self
upon bed of leaves, with my feet to the fire. my
eyes to the starry heavens, and my thoughts
upon the dear and loved ones at home. Some
time in the night | was aroused by the sound of
cannon in my rear. Not knowing the occasion
of so much firing, nor its exact location, it GER
tainly gave rise to some serious thoughts. /
listened until weary, when / again fell fast asleep
and did not wake until day light The firing
proved to be attack made by the rebels upon
Chattanooga, of which YOU have already heard.
Two days march upon the mountain, through
wild, uninhabited district, brought to the
western slope, bordering on the rich and luxuri-
ant Sequache Valley. The sun was fast de.
its rays upon one of the most picturesque views
met with, perhaps, anywhere in the South. There,
two thousand feet beneath US, lay this far famed
land, with its qGadrangular fields, its luxurians
groves, beautiful farm houses and other build
ings, and the graceful Sequache river rolling in
its serpentine course through the centre, amidst
a death like stiffness; and as the suns last rays
were kissing over the tranquil scene, | stood
transfixed with admiration till the darkening
had Of tuil in Tod If fha
to seek shelter.
The next day brought us into the valley, where
the mud, and the rain which was pouring down,
servei effectually 10 dispel my poetic vision of
this fine valley, as viewed under circumstances
so widely different the evening before. Five
days from Chattanooga, during which time
had only travelled 4S miles. found US crossing on
a pontoOn bridge to the south side of the Tennes-
see river, TO Shell Mound.
| was greatly disappointed in not finding the
mound of shells from which Shell Mound derives
its name. and of which we have heard so much.
Making the necessary inquiries of some of the
resident chivalry, soon learned that the mound
had contributed to form the embankment of the
railroad and also the foundation for the depot
building. No vestige of its original character
was left, except the nndecayed remains of mus
ces which may be found anywhere along the
banks of the Tennessee.
There is cave of some importance at this
place, which certainly afforded some curiosity to
a disappointed wonder seeker. Its called NiccO-
10 Jack, after an Indian who used to inhabit il.
It's entrance is of most ample proportions, COM
posed of solid Limestone rock. one hundred feet
in width and thirty feet high-these dimensions
gradually lessen, as you pass on few yards.
A very large stream of excellent water issues
from it, which is the channel by which one mAy
explore the interior for distance of three miles.
The sides and crevices of the rocks within are
filled with CLAW, from which the rebels have been
extracting salipeter, and from the large number
of leeches arranged in the and out, large
business must have been carried on. Here, then,
is what has prevented so many brave men
from becoming soldiers-the digging of that vile
saltpeter from the bowels of the earth
Lest shall have already wearied your patience,
i mnst assure you that we are now It Bridgeport,
Alabama, and in communication daily with Nash
vile; that we are on full ratiOns, and as long as
we can hear the welcome whistle of the locomo-
tive or steamboat we will think more of the
horrors Of starvation.
The rebels have been driven from Lookout
Mountain and the road is now open to that
place, and have no doubt that the comrades in
camp. left there, are rejoicing over the event.
Gen. Hooker's army is passing up the south
side o. the river, and guards are being stationed
at convenient points along the way.
A locomotive has been sent up to-day for the
first time, which will run within eight miles of
Chattanooga, end within few days, into the
town. WISDES,
A Remarkable Prediction.
Henry Laurens was President of the Continent
al Congress in l776. In 1873 he was sent as
Minister TO Holland. On bis way he was cap
tured and imprisoned in the tower of London
l. a IA