Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Indiana) 1864-1865, 1864-01-01
Vol. =, Ne. aG.
For the Journal
FROM ONE or OUR NEgCHBoRs.

hpu ONt vi TT X NisN'is bOtSN.
In the field, near Evans'ford
Clinch River, Clayburn County,
East Tennessee.
Head Quarters Of Division com
manded y Col Curtin OF Pennsylva-
MIA, Dee, l4th. 1868.
Mn. EpiroE - have thought for
some time that through the columns
OF your excellent paper ought to
give some account OF my wherca-
bouts and what we are doing: and
were | not associated with entire
strangers to our part of the State
doubtless should have felt that obli-
cation stronger.
The Brigade consisting of four In
diana Regiments, to wit: The ll5th,
ll6th, ll7th and lIsth, left Camp
Nelson, Ky, about the 20th of Sep
tcmber under command of Col
Mahan; We made march through
Crab Orchard. and Cumberland Gap,
and struck the Richmond and Knox
Vile Rail Road at Morristown; we
then proceeded up the Rail Road TO
Greenville, the village home of Gov.
Johnson. This march of about two
hundred and fifty miles was made
with one slight interruption from
the enemy; they made stand near
Bulls Gap, but were repulscd with
very slight loss on our part / new
er knew the loss Of the enemy; it
was much greater than ours however.
The enemy rctreating in great haste
we were permitted TO 90 on our way
rejoicing.
We remained in camp at Green
vile about n month, when we were
ordered back to Cumberland Gap.
tell You, Mr. Editor, we have had
the rebels on the GO almost ever
since we came into Tennessee; some
times we were in the rear and some
times they.
Longstrect after making nineteen
unsuccessful attempts TO gain admit
tance into Knoxville, has retired
from that place, and no doubt has
taken his position further up the
Rail Road, changing his base from
Bragg's army to Lees. He seems
, determined if possible to battle our
efforts TO rid East Tennessee of arm
cd rebels. What success hc may
have remains to be determined. Our
pickets are every day or two com
ing in contact with his advance
guard. lie made several attempts
to cross Clinch River, but was re-
pulsed by our forces and driven
back across Clinch Mountain; but
while | write, the heavy cannonad-
ing between Bean Station and Rog-
erSyile would indicate an attack in
considerable force We await at
these Head Quarters farther intelli-
gence from the scene of action; (dis-
tant about ten miles.
Gen. Burnside has just turned over
the command Of the department of
Ohio 20 Gen. Foster. | do not know
that this change will make any i'm
portant difference in the general
state Of things here We are conf
dent that East Tennessee will soon
be redeemed from the despotism
which has ruled this people for
more than two years
The part of this State through
which have passed is exceedingly
mountainous and rocky, and has
been subjected to the destroying in
huence of contcnding and marching
armies until it looks TO me as though
one hundred years could not repair
the damage done to the country.
We have not done much fighting,
but ! think we served an important
end in the great work in releasing
this part of TIE State from rebel
control
find warm friends and bitter en-
emics to the Federal Government
here, but large proportion of the
citizens Of this part OF the State are
like a blanket, warm ON both sides
alike.
Our supplies have great part of
the time been very short, less than
one fourth rations; sometimes our
men have gone for days without
bread, and had it not been that we
could forage corn To parch, boil and
grind, we would have been force, 4 TO
abandon our enterprise long ago it
seems to me-
One said on a certain occasion 1T
is sweet TO die for ones country"