Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1864-10-27
From the 73d Regiment.
ATHENS. Alabama, Oct. III, 1864.

Mr.. EDIToR.-Afier several days OF ex-
element sal fighting. having few leisure
moments to-day. have conclu,led to write
N short sketch of our movements of late for
the information Of those who have friends
In the Regiment. We have had no mail
since we lett Mooresville. Sept. 23l, the
rebels under Forrest having captured this
place Athens on the evening OF that day.
also the mail tram. and destroyed the rail
= oai IN different places from here TO Pu-
laski. distance OF 80 miles, which has
not yet been repaired. and will not be for
several days. although it is being done as
rapidly Us possible. In regard to Forests
movements presume you are better past.
Ell than we are. for at present we are igno-
rant OF his whereabouts since h, repn!> %
at Pulaski. in which he lost about 500
men according TO the best information we
can get. The most singular part of the
Whale affair to ME is. how Forest was alb e
to cross his whole force over the Tonnes
bee river. said 10 number Is ZOO men and
two full batteries, and march from Flor
ence To this place and sever the rail road
before any one wa> aware of his coming
four correspondent labors under a slight
mi<apprenension according to orr under
standing OF the facts.-ED. REP There
seems to be no other conclusion to settle
np"n than that there has been a shameful
lack of vigilance somewhere. But as am
not general and don't pretend to know
anv thing sbon, the mysterious doings OF
Generals. | willy leave them to settle the
matter among themselves. if they can 1t
J. evident that no one was aware of the
coming blow until it fell. as the road MA.
wholly unguarded, except by the little gar
rI>oDs IN the forts and stockades along the
line. which were only sufficient TO protect
it against guerrilla parties. All the force,
that were engaged in pursuit Of Wheeler a
short time previous had all Withdrew to
their re,pective stations. and were resting
in comparative quiet. Our regiment. as ]
havs before mentioned. was a. the time N
M'ore>ville. and the first intimaton that
we had of any danger was the appearance
OF body of rebels about three miles from
Us. said TO number 300. who captured q
government farm. burned all the buildings,
killing one white man and wounding sew.
erai negroes. besides committing other
Hepreha.ions. 1t was evident from the
daring impudence OF this squad that they
had barking near at hand. and we did not
have TO wat long for the confirmation OF
this superstition AT day light the next
morning the thunder of artillery announ.
ced the re>ence of the rebel force at
Athens. This cannonaiing continued nm.
near . o'clock. when it ceased. but with
what result we Of course conld not tell
However. Lieut Col. Vale. who is ever
vigilant. wishing to give the rebels the pes,
possible reception if they paid us . visit.
Immediately ordered the regiment out to
throw mp breast-works. which we had near
ly completed by the middle of the after
noon. when we received orders to move To-
Decatur. and on arriving there late in the
evening We learned that's Col. Campbell.
'commsnding negro regiment had surren-
dsret them, together With the Notifications