Evansville daily journal., 1864-06-06
lcsrrespondencs EFansivils Journal
From the 136th Regiment.
CAMP HYSEs, Elizabethtown, Ky,
June I'd, 1864

their destination. The train on winch
we we're embarked was composed,
principally Of old, decayed and worth
less box cars, which could not be regard
ed as safe for inanimate freight, much
less for such precious lives as were, by
order, crowded upon it The timbers in
many of the cars we're rotten through
and through. Some Of the men who had
experiences as railroad employees, pro-
tested against riding in such cars, and
some OF them actually changed cars, Sc
lecting those they regarded as most
sound
The weather, which had been so
stormy and disagreeable for two or three
days, now cleared up and we enjoyed q
delightful ride so long as daylight re-
mainsd. The people on the line of the
road greeted us, and encouraged us on
our way with waving hags and handker-
chiefs and hearty cheers. II spoke well
for the patriotism Of the citizens For,
so great aud so constant is the stream Of
soldiers over the JelfersonviIle road, that
it woald not seem strange If the people
should lose all interest in the matter and
permit the trains to come and 20 with
out recognition. Not so, however, with
the patriotic Hoosiers. Men, women
and children appeared to know how it
| thrills the hearts of even new recruits %
show, by some appropriate demonstra-
| tion, that their sacrifices for the Govern
ment are appreciated 10 their fullest ex-
tent The good people, who as we pass
ed their farms, their workshops and
dwellings, waved as sheerful good -hyes,
have the thanks OF the l36th Regiment
for their good wishes.
On arriving at Columbus, our train
was haltel upon curve in one Of the
streets When ready TO start the
locomotive moved quite suddenly, and
( BIZ the time the slack in the couplings
was taken up, had considerable headway
The result Of this movement was vio-
lent jerk, and the tearing out Of the en-
! tire end Of one of the cars, ia which
Capt. Walkers Company had taken pas
sage. The broken fragments of tho car,
together with men, guns and equipments,
were thrown violently upon the track, in
front Of the advancing cars constituting
the rear Of the train. Fortunately, how
ever, the timbers oil the broken car fell
upon the track In sSch a manner as 10
check the forward movement Of the train
and save some lives One or two trucks
were thrown from the track aud a gun or
two slightly bruised, was the only damage
resulting from the accident Could we
hope that the officers Of the Railroad
would profit by the mishap and not again
attempt 10 transport intelligent beings
IN such worthless cars, our little delen-
ton and scare would result in great
good But we fear our narrow escape
will have no other effect than TO induce
still greater presumption, and that the
Railroad authorities will persist ia using
rotten cars, until By the destruction al
many valuable lives, the Indignation ol
an outraged community eompels them
TO purchase better rolling stock
Our journey to Louisville was slow and
tiresome. We left indianapolis aboat
10 o'clock A. NJ, on Friday, aud arrived
st Jetfersouvlis about ? o'clock the mex
morning WWwere unable 10 cross the
river Al the time because Of thick fog
The pilot OF the ferryboat officially de.
clared that be would not attempt q
cross the river and be responsible fss
the consequences. OF course, then, moth
ing was left for us TO do, save to make our
selves "a miserable as possibls until the
cheerful rays of rising sun dispelled
the fog. The men, accordingly thronge6
the depot, crept into unoecupied cars
coiled down apon doorsteps, or patrolet
the streets. Your correspondent, with
two or three others, was quite fortn
nate in securing q resting place
on the railroad track under sand car
The men were tired aud slept soundly
This was evident from the dilatory man
ner with which they responded, in th'
morning, TO the command, Fall in
The fog was unpleasantly thick wher
we arose from our uncomfortable biv
ousc, but the river wes crossed in safety
We marched through Louisville befor,
many Of its denizens were stirring. TIL,
inhabitants of the Falls City are nos-s,
thought our men--very early risers
Many of them, we fear, "run late o
nights" Reporting ourselves at head
quarters We were directed to march &
Taylor Barracks, where preparation
: would be made to receive as. Col Eos
: ter joined us at the barracks, he having
reached Louisville the night before, from
Cincinnati Taylor Barracks were il
the charge of young Csptsin. III
proposed 10 show us into the space usu
ally allotted veteran regiments number
ing not half so many men as the l36th
s The practical working of his plan woul'
d have placed as somewhat as the layer
!, in sugar-cured ham--a streak of fa
and streak of lean. Our iovial friend
the City Collector. would, under such al
, arrangement, have furnished the create
portion of the fat for Capt. Pfaffiin's en-
= tirs company. Bat Col Foster saw n
necessity for so Encomfortably crowdinl
e the men, and coolly directed each com
: pany to take g greater number OF bunk
!. / than were set apart for them by III
: Young Captain. The latter, CALLED s
! having his brief authority thus set at de
ffance, clustered and threatened until th
Colonel informed him that silence woul,
De an act of discretion, and Was about 4
give his advice point By ordering out
HE OF hayoneJSs 1ue young NAptaln uei
to his headquarters and at once wrot
: out an order placing Col Foster unde
/ arrest The Colonel failed to appreciat
!. the stunning order, and without sarreu
deriag his sword or command went u
, to the city. No-sooner was he gone thai
e the young Captain was himself again
e aud we we're ordered out of The barracks
!, 6loomiiy shouldering our kuapsaeks ou
: We went, utterly bewildered and COZ
z founded BY the complicated militsrr
movements and orders of which W
4 seemed to be the sport
s We spread our blankets upon th
/ green sward, just outside the enclosure
e and With tiresome indifference, or, a
r 1 Byron more POLITICALLY expressed it, q
; heart for any fate, We spread ourselye
q thereupon, and went TO sleep regardles
/ of the fierce rays of a scorching sun
: which darted angrily upon Us In abou
o two hours came another order, direetin,
I US to- move back into the barracks