Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-09-09
ARMY LETTER.
AssEytLE. Mss, Aug. 20, 1864.
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| Editors Eyansvills gsaraais
We have nov been on the march
nineteen days, sad strange as it may
appear, We have had nineteen days that
We have not seen the sun-for nineteen
days it has been raining constantly. Il
has rained so much that our expedition
has been compelled 10 haf, aud If ia
does not clear up and become dry, 50
the roads can be made psssable, We will
be compelled 70 return 10 Memphis, our
starting point
This command left Memphis on the
ID day of August It's point Of destin-
alton, or The object Of the same, do no,
know; but do know that if the weather
was favorable, our good aud brave com
maadsr, Major Gen. A J. Smith, wosld
hunt and (if possible) fad the rebel
army which belongs 10 this department,
and drive them from the State or cap
tire them The rebels ars nnder com.
mlna of Major Gens Lee aud Forrest,
and where they are At lhs tine We are
unable to say, and where they will make
a stand we canrot imagine. Our cav
I airy advance has had some skitmishing,
vhieh amounted 70 nothing Sone think
the enemy will make \ stand at Oxford,
! Aiss Others think that our destination
is Columbus, Miss But If it does not
stop rsining, We viii not mose from this
point, for we are now mad-3ound, and
oar forage and Tatious are spoiling aud
getting short .....
/ do net know the force Of the com.
mand, except that il is large, aud con
tains ons brigade Of eoIored troops,
which is about 1000 strong. and all
tried men. The brigade is composed Of
The 55th. seth, 6lst. and 6Sth u. S. 10
fantry, batteries T and | U. S. light
artillery, and the 7th Q. s. heavy ariil.
lery (colored), acting ss infantry. Those
composing this command have ell been
under FIRE The first named regiments
and batteries were in The battles Of Gun.
town, Tupelo, Ripley, and Brass Roads
IN which battles they were comphmeutec
for their bravery. The 7th regiment il
the regiment that had q battalion mlr
dered nj Fort Pillow, April l2th, 1884
! under the command Of Major Booth
The brigade is now under command o
! Col Ed. Boughton, of the 5Rh =. S
. colored infantry, 8 tried soldier and
, brave man. His officers have unlimites
: con6dence in his ability and courage
The regiments are all we'll Offered
The Tth is under command of Col
) W. D. Turner, splendid man and I
brave oficer-one who, believe, viii
always be found doing his duty, an,
when the brunt of battle comes be vii
| be found leading bis mea on to victory
! and if we should come in coA,ac: viii
, the enemy, the colored Tth will do thei
a duty 10 their commander
i - The country through which we hsv
. passed is very rough and now sparsel
= populated. War has shown her rougi
and devastating hand--heases burned
fences torn down, cattle driven OF, state
". mansions laid level with the ground
Every day adds misery to the poor de
luded rebels They wbe were once re
are now poor. Only yesterday l stoppe
in company with others, at very mae
nifeent mansion aud called for diuuei
The lady told US she had nothing 10 es
and that she had not had gram {
t, hour or meal for two DAYS, and that 81
did not know whea she would get an,
.. You may imagine our feelings Thel
was 3 mother With four small ehildrs
aud nothing 10 eat II was with sadnel
!. that ] left that house. For once wishE
that / had ii in nv power to supply b
with the articles abe needed bat coal
not AFe find the same st nearly eyel
house we visit; but they have brought &
this upon themselves by their- own vic
eduess in trying 70 destroy this on'
happy and united country, and for It tn
must suffer- AA
The colored men argue that tn
made this country and they ought
= have the right TO destroy IT. As ms
rk ter of course they are not allowed TO
!" ~ so, but occasionally they burn cott
- - gin unknown TO their commanding o.
-. GERS. Upon the whole. however, ii
- are . quiet and orderly set of soldIe
-. who fight fos elevation and not eqailii
re- ton, aud they have proved that they c
at be elevated above their present staI
' ing