The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1864-05-20
Our Military Correspondence.
FROM THE NINTH BATTERY,

FROM THE NINTH BATTERY.
BRlDoEroRr, ALA May III, 1864.
FRIEND CONVERSE :-Yestorday was ont
OF considerable interest to solLiors, inas
much as they glorlod in moving toward
tho front. A non-witress an have no lido,
of the numbers who crossed the Tennessee
There was perfect stream continuous
| representing overy arm of tho service, and
from dusk last ovonihg until daylight thi:
morning, tictaty sevea railroad trains arc
said to have passed, fairly crowded with the
boys. This place looks deserted, as tho
oye wanders over the spots SO latoly occu
piod by our troops. The 20Ih and 7th Oalc
Regiments bavo moved also. leaving "a visi
bio track of super.abundant clothing ID
their roar, vol aware that a light knapsack
facilitates tho marching. besides relieving
the mind of anxiety as to "whoso blaLkot'
getting trod on now."
But | must not neglect to tell you tha,
the Och has beon.on an expedlion-a cruise
By z o'clock on tho evening of the I'd May
eighty of US, and ono hundred of tho Ii b
Penn. lot, with eight guns, and rations for
ten days, wero snugy stored away upon a
plank clad, tar-covcrod gunboat, named the
General Somebody. other; but what our
mission on Tho bosom of the Tennessee we
know not. All wore in excellent spirits, as
VIC wore rid OF horse, harness, and all other
show connections; and, as many of the boys
have frequently desired transfer to tho
marne service, those wore in ecstacies at
the prospect of having forotasto of the
dock. A steamboat accompanied US, on
board of which were thirty mon of tho 80 n
Ohio Inf At a fow minutes past seven, the
sailing captain of the gunboat hailed his
cousort, iuqurng it he was ready. Ho re-.
pliod in the affirmative, limiting that tho
first rail fonco we came TO must be brought
aboard for fire. wood. We swung off 1:
stroamed down stream, keeping a lookout
for any clearing along tho banks thai might
guido US TO the desired fence. After sailing
about five miles, We stopped again and hovo
to got limo ashore, and mado fast to n
tree. 1t was very dark. Thon began the
operation of wooding by stealth. Part OF
our sharp.shootors woro thrown out as
pickets, tho remainder, with half of tho 9th
following, to carry the wood to tho bank
Sundry lanterns were distributed with the
intention of preventing us breaking ou,
uecks or noses. Still tho prccaution was
not sufficient, for very many foil over whole
trees, whlo not fow would suddonly grasp
thoir shins and call upon strangers. On
tho bank stood another party, armed with
axes. smashing rails or "any other sticks
into proper size. 1t was an exciting scone,
very much resembling somo of our chickon-
roost excursions, whom we were uncertain
whether bullot or veteran rooster would
first become the burden of our back
There was no unnecessary noise made
men seemed rather to speak in undertonos.
Tho axe rang loud and clear, tho dead
branches cracked under foot, but "nary'
rifle, and, by ton o'clock, We were again
under way, with fuel sufficient for tho NOR
row. Supper followed then we stretched
US on the decks to sleep, wrapped in our
blankets grey. ......... ....
Awaking next morning, we found us
moOred to tho shore at Larkin's Landing,
thirty sovon miles below Bridgeport. Thus
far, we were made partly acquainted with
our duties. A pontoon bridge was to be
takon up and towed to Bridgeport by our
consort steamer, we to protect her on the
passage up. After breakfast, we wooded
from some unoccupied soldier huts passed
hawser to tho steamer to assist her, and
commenced tho ascent of the river. 1t
was lovely day; tho water smooth ant
CLASSY; the shadows of the tall trees roach
ing far into the liquid mirror, Geo Sylvanul
Cobb) Our progress was necessarily slow
owing to the number of pontoon- boats, sc
that, by D T. M, wo bad only made twelve
miles, whom We were again required tc
wood. A railfence was deserted, and the
boat put for shore, Tho fence enclosed a
field of about fifteen acres, all else around
consisting of heavy woods. Corn had been
planted, which had just got above ground,
and now sweet pumpkin seeds were being
sown by the agency of three white men,
two boys, two bony horses, and feminine
niger. We may have appropriated about
eighty rods of fence, perhaps more or less /;
but, as it was taken off In somewhat of a
hurry, l don't suppose any ono but the owner