The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-08-12
THE WEEKLY PIONEER, AND DEMOCRAT
Our Army Correspondence.
LETTER FROn THE FOURTH
REGIMENT. ,.,. .t

I ID
LETTER rRom THE FOURTH
REGIMENT. '.,. ..i
HxApouARrERs 4ru MINI Vol. INpANrRY,)
- ALLATOONA. Georgia, y
July 10th, 1861.
Editor Of st. Paul Pioneer:
We are now encamped amidst the lofty
mountains of the Allatoona range. Our
position, so exal ed above the rest of the
world, is one of little incident; wars and
rumors of war disturb US but slightly. We
came here from Kingston week ago The
Sd division exercises care for Uncle Sans
railroad, and rests upon its path in groups
all the way from Kingston and a few miles
above to this point. Three regiments of
us do duty in this vicinity.
The city of Allatoora is a. prosperous
as are some of the speculators' visions in
Minnesota. Il has its location at the base
of lofty mountains, whose crests are peer
ing away up into the world Of stars, and
the little hamlet of musical name lies quite
in shadow. am on duty here, and as l
siL 10 my tent, looking out upon the wild
scenery around Us on every eide. with the
amber twilight falling very softly over the
rugg d peaks, and lower down changing
the bright green foliage to olive, imagine
myself with the traveller amidst the 70.
mantle lands Of foreign countries But,
while tempted to divest this beautiful sight
of its connection with scenes of ruthless
war, the shrill whistle of the locomotive
sta:tles me from my reverie, and from the
long train of hospital cars just halted in
front Of my tent can hear the low moan
Of anguish from the poor MANNED bodies
| Just from the front. The romance is gone,
and look around me again, and with q
feeling of revengeful pride admire the grim
Notifications, the well-defended camp, the
quick tramp of the sentinel pacing with
watchful care his post, and imagine with
pleasure our army surely on its way, reap
| ing retribution for the many who have
fallen. And the faint booming of the
cannon which we hear from the south
brings wildly back the scenes of which We
have so keen a remembrance in times past,
and which we have been 80 unfortunate as
to have been debarred from participating
in during this campaign.
Our regiment is camped upon the top Of
q mountain, at whose foot lies this little
village. Through the centre of this noun
tain huge gap has been cut, and through
| it passes the railroad 30 our camp is d.
vided in halt, each portion of the regiment
having with it q section of artillery, stu.
ated within the walls of Notifications which
command the approaches in every direc-
ton. l cannot imagine place which nat
urally and through the aid of artificial inn
provement can be more perfectly adapted
| for defence than is this.
Vast amounts of Government supplies
are here stored, and q general depot has
been established here since the advance
of Sherman. Below this point some fif-
teen miles lies Marietta, at which place
the Second Minnesota are doing Provost
duty. A few miles South we can see
Looming up, and looking gloomy enough
| 40 BELTS it in remembrance of the bloody
conflicts which were fought around it, old
Kinesaw Mount. By the aid of field
glass we can distinguish the earthworks
and Notifications which the enemy were
compelled to abandon. Within the neigh
borhood are situated the gold diggings of
Georgia. Prospecting parties from our
camps are out daily, and old Californians
show specimens which they pronounce
! very rich. am told by an old inhabit-
ant, who says that he las lived here near
ly all his life (and none of Us doubt him)
that these mines at one time paid from
fifteen to twenty dollars per day to the
hand. This would prove worth the labor
in these days of 270
Many days before this reaches you, the
| news of the capture of Atlanta will have
| reached you, and in all probability my
next letter to you will be dated therefrom
We have dispatches from the front which
leave US no reason to doubt the occupation
| of that city by our forces as intended to
take place to morrow or on the day after
The post of Allatoona is commanded by
Lieut.. COl Tourtellotte, and this brave
| and popular officer finds the administra-
ton of his duties no incons.lerable work,
as this ia one of the most important of de-
| pots on the line of communication with
the front, and situated in Country where
every valley, gap and wood is invested by
| plundering bands of guerillas, and the ut
most vigilance is necessary to prevent the
inroads of these depredators, and to pro
vide for the protection Of tho government
property and railroad.
Intending to write more soon, even if it
only be to keep our friends acquainted
with our whereabouts, bid you good bye.
G. w. l..
| A Duel Between PIckets.