Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-02-03
The Route to East Tennessee-Hard-
ships of our Union Soldiers-Their
noble and heroic Patrlotism-They
Re-enlisI by whole Regiments.

ships of our Union Soldiers-Their
noble and heroic Patrlotism-They
Re-enlisr by whole Regiments.
We are permitted to make extracts
from several private letters received from
an officer holding a high command in the
army in the neighborhood of Knoxville,
Tenn, under Gen. Foster, which gives
some account of the difficulties attending
campaigning in hat country, and of the
condition of the troops. 1t must be graf
flying to the brave boys in that army to
know that their officers appreciate their
heroism and laud their noble patriotism.
Under date of December Goth, the off
Ger writes:
81 do not believe you can conceive the
condition of the roads over which we
passed in getting into East Tennessee
At London, in Kentucky, we left the road
to Cumberland Gap, and turned south to
Williamsburg, which, as a man who gave
us the route said, isn't much ofa burg
neither, when you git thar" This route
was represented as being decidedly better
than the other, and as giving some chance
of finding feed for our animals on the
route, which was out of the question on
the Cumberland Gap route. Knowing
that the army was on less than half "a
tons, we endeavored TO purchase our
meals on the road so as to save whatever
we could of our stores to exc out the sup
plies for our men after getting here.
Fourteen miles north of jackson we
reached Pine Mountain, the most precip-
itous of the ranges over which this road
passes. We had four stout horses to each
wagon, and the load light, but still had
to double the teams and the eight ami
mails had all they could do to crawl up
the hill with all the stimulus the drivers
One to each pair-could give with whips
and voice, all shouting in chorus and yell
ling TO their teams like mad. Every lit
tie distance they had to halt and breathe
the reeking horses; then to it again.
When half had thus reached the first
summit, after a little rest, the teams were
sent back for the remaining wagon. And
so We went on, making butive miles that
day, and that with the most strenuous
exertions of man and beast. The strata
o rock often form staircases in the road
with several steps in succession of from
n to ever four feet in height, the edges
being only a little rounded by the wear
of wagon tires, and up these, scrambling,
slipping, falling, and striking fire from
the rocks, the jades have to haul their
their loads.
IAN immense outlay of labor and mon
ey must be made before aver a tolerable
road for military purposes can be made
East Tennessee from Kentucky. We
were eight days in the saddle from Lex
ington to Knoxville.
'sThe condition of the army here is a sad
one. Many of the men are barefooted,
and but a few have any blankets or over
coats. Tents there are none, and the
troops shelter themselves as they can with
such huts Of rails and boughs of trees as
they can hastily construct. Yet the spirit
of the troops is magnificent. 1t would
hardly be believed, but yet it is true, that
these brave fellows, lying here ON the
frozen ground, without shoes, clad in tat
tered rags, and fed on half r~ations, are
re-enlisting for a new term of three years
By sChoL regiments, and for three days the
camp has resounded with the cheers with
which the completion of the enlistment
of the separate companies is greeted. In
our regiment all re-enlisted but some IF
teen, ffty-fye going in out of ffty-six,
and still others going in solid. Is not
this magnificent considering the circum-
surrounding them? All they ask
is the thirty days furlough at home which
is promised them on entering the veteran
the money bounty having but lit
tie influence with them"
Later, under date of January 5th, he