The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-12-28
FORTRESS RosEcRASs,
Nov. seth, 1854.
For Tie PaHadiGp1

the historic fields OF AurfreeS boTo, may
. not I've embarrassing 10 your readers.
Especially as they are at this time be-
coming the center OF considerable in
terest Franklin on the Pulaski r r,
and Murfreesboro on the Chattanooga
r Il have, on account of the advance
o. Hoods army, become the two great
military posts of Thomas army. Gen
Hood Is marching upon the line Of the
Pulaski r R.-following close in Gen
Thomas rear While this is being writ
! ten the thunder OF cannon can be dis
tnctly heard st Franklin The firing is
very rapid, and il IS coniectured that a
battle or at least a heavy skirnish is 60
ing on. Standing upon high point
within our fortifcations, just as tie west
IS tinged with the last rays Of the de
parting sun, listening TO the heavy can
nonade, which the distance has soIyaaed
down 10 a low muttcriuG ouni-tai,sl,-
ing of the issue, not only to oflrs elves,
but to our country's cause.-The silent
prayer goes up from oar hearts, that
God would defend the right-preserye
our soldiers. and give US victory We
confidently wait fer this result, Bat we
only wish to give a brief sketch Of things
and events in this immediate vicinity.
The l49th Ind, with which yoar COT
respondent is connected, commanded by
the gallant Col. Thomas /. Brady, of
Muncie, has been assigned as part of
the force to hold Fortress Rosecrans. \
stay of week in this place, has enabled
us to look around the place, and pick up
some information that may not he un-
interesting
The Fortress was built Immediately
after the great battle of Stone River, in
which Gen. Bragg was defeated. 1t was
intended a. base of supplies, and
place Of retreat in case OF disaster.
The Fortress contains within its lines
about forty acres Along the outer
works are eight Lunette forts; these are
connected by "A heavy line Of breast
works, with a deep ditch in front with
in the works, at the most commanding
points. are four forts, mounted with
heavy guns, bearing upon all the APP
proaches 1t would require from twenty
to thirty thousand to fully man the
works.
Without naming the force in the works
at the present time, we imagine that Mr..
Hood had better let US alone There are
reasons to think that we will not be left
wholly undisturbed; but every prepare
has been to guard against q surprise, and
give the enemy as warm q reception az
possible when he does come.
The most striking result of the ap-
proach of Hood, is the rush of refugees
from MI quarters into the Fort These
Southern chivalry would make a study for
Lineaus, especially if dress had nything
to do with their classification. These
refugees have no doubt been the mud
stills of Southern society: they look like
they had been kept in pretty continual
contact with the mud they come into
camp in all kinds of go carts, drawn by
poor ricllety animals that would be the
pride of a Roman mendicant, who wish
ed to atone for his lifelong sins Ly
horseback pennance. To scs tacm. re-
minds one of the Border Ruf1fan pro
cessons of four years ago. This hc-iEa
does rot seem to result so much from q
want of love to their Southern brethren,
but rather fear of CONSUMPTION and i'll
treatment. Contrabands are constantly
coming in, and are passing through;
they all have their faces to the North
stnr. They go out of the land Of bond
age with hearts fall Of hope, and
expectations raised, alas too high, of
the land of liberty north of the Ohio.
Through these Notifications runs river
that will ever be enshrined in American
history-along with Delaware and
Brandywine Along the banks of Stone
River, was fought one Of the ferccst hat
ties of the war Here many patriot sol
diers lay down their lives in their com
try's defence. Near us is a space cover
ed by several hundred little white head
boards-beneath them lay friend and foe,
now sleeping side by side in peace.
North OF the forts, and IN plain view,
stretches that tragic wilderness of cedar.
in which Gen. McCook was defeated and
routed. Below, on the banks Of the
river. and now occupied as a slaughter
yard, is the ill-side upon which Gen.
breckenridge Division was slaughtered,
on the last day of that memorable battle
Passing over the line Of Railroad from
Nashville to this place for the first time,
! and looking over the country in this
immediate vicinity, it is impossible to
Danish the impression that it is coun-
try forsaken of God. and almost Of man.
For the benefit Of the friends Of the
I40th. l will add that the health of tn.
Regiment is quite good, and, under the
instruction OF its efficient officers, it is
attaining g degree of soldierlv accom-