The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1864-08-25
A N0ldier'S Letter.

We are permitted to make the following
extracts from the letter of one OF our 100
soldiers to his sister. It will be seen that
our 100 day men are doing good service
From the seth goo day Wis kegt.
Last Tuesday there was detail made QUITO
the regt. Of picked men" Is men out of each
Co. to guard a supply train down to Holly
Springs, in Mississippi, on the line of the
Memphis & Charleston R. R. about rs miles
below Memphis. Holly Springs is the seat
of all military operations in Mississippi, that
is, it is the rendezvous of troops sent against
Forrest and has been in the hands Of the
Feds only about three weeks below La
grange, so miles below Memphis, Forests
army consists of about $4,000 men Ours
of about 40, 900 and they are drawing him
off as fast as they can advance with supplies
The Cos drove him out of place called
Oxford % miles below Holly Springs, The
rebs dared our men to cross the Taiehatchee
River and they went in with a yeIt and drove
them out of their Notifications and followed
them about four miles beyond Oxford which
is 2 miles beyond the river.
We started the morning of Tuesday the
9th took three days rations with us down to
Memphis and piled aboard Of the cars. Our
Company got into car loaded with Oats in
sacks which made tolerable good quarters
for us. We ''whirled away at q ''break-
neck pace" making good time until we
reached Grand Junction, a station miles
below Lagrange when the rain commenced
to fall in torrents" but lucky for us, we
were under good roof and Laughed at it"
but the train commenced to slack up her
speed and we soon found ourselves stuck
fast in the mud or sand. 1t had washed
down the bank and covered the track so
that the car wheels stood to the axle in it,
and the cut was about 90 rods long and
filed in the whole length. A nice fix to
be in, you will say, when you know it was
in the enemy's country, or country they
held possession Of but a week before and
trains were fired into almost every day; but
we, were there III it sure enough, and the ram
fell in torrents, We soon heard the conn
1nand to fall OUT every man ShoVels
were procured and some were set to work
with them while others were posted on the
baak as guards, in an orchard filled with all
kinds of fruit Apples, Peaches, Ounces &c
but none quite ripe Fortunately remained
to guard the things i'll the car and did not
get wet or muddy, had plenty to eat and
made myself comfortable, To make tie
matter worse the telegraph wire was oroke
between Lagrange and Holly Springs ana
we had to send men each way to get an
enaipe to help lis ont. 1t came about noon
and they pulled away at it until they got a
| Tender off the track, Now we were III for IT,
for the night at least To throw out plckets
was the next thing to do went out and
stood four hours that night. 1t had stopped
Training as luck would have it. AT day
break we commenced making a raid on
Chickens, Hogs, Geese &c.
After getting all the fresh meat | wanted
| went into niger cabin and made them
cook me good square meal consisting Oh
corn cake. fresh pork, tea &c. To make 1t
j more interesting to us, we found OUT tl'aI
this was Il he plantation owned by Andrew
| Jackson brother of Stonewall Jackson, re
has been in the rebel service months but
was at home, ! saw him myself. Whlle we
were here four prisoners were brought IN to
be kest in charge Col, Capt, and three
privates. We started out of this place at
dark having been in the gulch % hours. We
had not gone but about six miles before we
had to shovel out the track again but MO
got through this and found no more trouble
and arrived at Holly Springs at II o'clock
that night. Holly Springs was once
splendid place but Two years ago tue rebs
drove our forces out of it and burned the
place and it now lies pile Of ruins; some Of
the walls stand and Some Of the houses on
the outskirts of the place. There is no bust
ness going Gu but military movements Ii
is the headquarters of Gen. J. F.Smith, com
mandng the army here against Forrest. -
saw him with his staff Officers. We
stopped over night and started back for
Memphis at o'clock yesterday afternoon,
got back here in camp ct o'clock last
night. I can tell you l enjoyed it very
much indeed, am feeling first-rate.
Our time is fast coming to close yet We
may be obliged to stay over few days
guess you will think this is letter IN
earnest Please answer it soon and acceps
the same from your afcctionate Brother,
o. J.