Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-04-27
From the oath Begiment.
CHATTANOOGA. TENNESSEE,
AD.il 10. 1864.

April IL, leo4.
The beginning of the present week babe
fair to cause us 10 sigh for u Northern
climate, as we were compelled to get our
linen toggery in a proper shape; no SOON
er had such arrangements been compile
ted. when a sudden change compelled us
TO return to first principles, as we'll as
to borrow our neighbor's o~yercoat snow
fell in large flakes, and cold followed; all
citizens said they never saw such cold
weather here, and never was so short in
cloth as that time. | had nothing but an
old shirt, pants and hat it came mighty
near freezing me out, but still for the
Union, right or wrong.
No news of any interest at present
My regiment is still in Chattanooga, and
have heavy duty-train guard to Cleve-
land, Loudon and Knoxville. and wherev-
er we are needed-and preparations are
being made for a grand advance is evil
dent. The large and clumsy Sibbly tent,
much IN use in the army, is being replaced
by what is termed, dog or shelter tents,
being constructed in such q manner as to
require the two who occupy them to car
~ their half of the tent, which in close
quarters where tents cannot be pitched,
are used as blankets. The entire army
seem to have made, or is making this
change, judging from the dotted appear
ance of the country, between this place
and Loudon. Surplus baggage, and Quar-
termaster's stores have been placed in con-
venient positions to the railroad for ship
ping, if necessary no doubt something is
going on before very long. We have a
good many soldiers stationed around here,
and very likely need them all. The
boys are in good spirits for the ext com-
ing engagement, which, l think will be a
hard one, and will lay many a brave boy
in their grave.
This place-Chattanoogs-looks more
like a burying ground, all over, than any,
thing | can compare it to. The many
soldiers of both armies, buried in all di-
rections-Lookout and Mission Ridge,
and you can track up u whole picket
line. Sometimes you see five or six graves
on N picket post. They get killed
while on post, and are buried right there.
l stood picket many a night, sitting on
one of my comrades graves, and where he
fell while doing his duty as q true SOL
der to his country, and to his God,-and
at the same time, got cursed at home by
some cowardly brute of 8 copperhead.-
But you will find such a class of people
smongst every nation in time of war.
The villages and towns look like groups
of smoke houses, not more cheerful nor
inviting; they are fenceless, and so are
the fields; everything wears a look of wan
despair. What is to become of the peo-
pie? Heaven only knowsl They have
land it is true-some of them-but it is
doubly cursed, fenceless and scarcely less
bare than the bleakest mountain summit
of Norway. And the poor starved dumb
brutes that have not been devoured by
the armies, have grazed into the ground
and eaten up the very roots of vegetation.
Now it is blowing time, but I can't see
anything going On. The poor miserable
wretches appear to have no means to get
away. Many of them are making the at
tempt. They are coming in by scores,
drawing rations from the GOVERNMENT,
and begging their way through North,
and most joining the copperhead warfare.
Now | am Of the opinion that the large
class of miserable fugitives, as we'll as the
still larger class who are too far off from
the center of civilization TO become fugi-
gitives, were never better off than they !
are now. They didn't like the idea to
work with a niger, and without. they
couldn't live. do not claim that q mig
ger is equal with . white man, but by the
eternal. / am not ashamed 10 have a mig
ger at my side, TO fight against traitors
The aristocracy is most played out in the
Just look at the great State
of Tennessee; we will take one of the best
of the Southern States, where the cursed
of Slavery exists-why you
may 90 a whole week at railroad speed,
keeping both your eyes wide open to see
that passes before you, and
not see a school ~house-exeept in a town.
Need say then, that it is a wonder that
the MISSES are perfectly ignorant of what
Is going on. or what win become of them.
think they will learn q lesson this time,
and not o forget it either; and it is Just
what they deserve. l will close the sub
iect, by hoping that we will meet before
lonn. L. hnnlhh 81 hnnn;uonn L