Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-01-06
Retrospective Letter from the I25th.
KSoxvILLE. Tenn,
December 18th, 1868.

1 hSoANiLLE. INN,
December 18th 1868.
Eds Ckso.icie:-Af:er three months alb
senoe from NV Regiment, during which
enjoy ed the delightful society of my many
good friends on the Reserve, / am agaiT
returned to duty You " no live amid The
peace and plenty of that favored region
know nothing of the pleasures, much les.
the vIeis-iiud.-s of soldering. Only those
who were 20 highly favored as to figure
among the elite, who. at Cleveland. when
bright the lamps shone Ger fair dsugb,
ters and brave men" ''Grasped the shield
and drew the sword, !" and, burning with
patriotic fire, with countenances beaming
with iniiitary knowledge fresh of the sa-
cred alter of Mars directed for two en-
tire days the l-gion of veteran (verdant)
militia there assembled to do and die by
file or flank, by platoon or company, or
pivots fixed ormovable. rather than allow
single section of the tactics to go un-
punished by their awksrdness,-canco con-
oeive What are the emotions hat thrill a
soldiers breast. or the Kind and quantity
of aliinent that fills. or fails TO 6ll his
stomach
Leaving home on the 10Th of last month,
we Gap. Moses and his recruiting psrty)
arrived at Bridgporr, point on the Ten
nessee river forty miles below Chattanoo-
ga, about noon on Tuesday the oath ult
All along rhe line of railroad extending
through KY. and Tenn tover 800 miles)
the sad havoc of war has made its impress.
One is most amazed, however. by the num-
Der of troops he sees. Every town. bridge
and eulvert along the route j. guarded by
soldiers. varying in numbers from psrt Of
8 company 20 an entire brigade
At BRIDGEPORT We took the boat. trans
port Paint Rock, /" and by 4 o'clock were
streaming up the river IN good slyle.
dense iog coming on at dusk. We were
obliged 10 lie 10 a tree until late nexi
morning, before il cleared away -utficiant-
ly to allow us To proceed with safety =
Several difficult place. yariously known
as the Pot, Pan. and Luck. where the steep
rocky hanks hug the river closely and
the waters rush along with great -wiftness.
delayed US considerably At the place
last named all hands were ordered ashore
with cable and capstan, and worked Wig
orously more than AN hour assisting the
boat to stem the rapid current.
By noon we neared Lookout Mountain
whose rugged form commencing st the
margin OF the river rises 10 height of
100 feet. Only the day before il was held
by rebels. and rebel batteries advantage
ously, posted threatened quick destruc
ton to every thing loyal coming within
range. Our Captain cast many suspi-
cious glance. and several times brought
his glass into requisition before he could
be fully satisfied that ali WAS right among
the rocks. and that Lookout had indeed
taken the oath of allegiance. 1t was nev-
ertheles= true. At midnight of the pre-
yious day Hooker had driven the last But
terDut from the Mountain. With tie
Stars and Stripes proudly floating at the
top of the jack staff, the Paint Rock"
was the first boat TO pass Lookout after
the fight at Chickamauga. She was hailed
with loud cheers by our brave men on Ell
ther bank she past on, aud was await
ed al tbs Chattanooga landing by scores
Of empty army wagons ready TO convey
to hungry soldiers then under fire of the
enemy, the long looked for rations.
At half past one p. N. Wednesday, Nov.
25th, We passed through the streets of
to the camp of the l25th,
which We found just back of the town.
Only few sick and convalescent soldiers
we're there to welcome US. The regiment
nad been out since early on Monday, con-
tinually skirmishing by day, and resting
,n arms at night. The battle was now
aging with great fury We had heard
he distan; roar of artillery all the morn
ng as we came up on the boat. On going |
% slight emlnence back of the camp
the opposing armies were in view. Cir
cling from near the river On our left, two
miles in front and terminating in Look
but Mountain on the right, Mission Ridge
raised its bold front FIVE hundred feet above
the Level. Long lines Of our army could
be plainly seen sdyansing aesr ths sassl