The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1864-03-02

tue WAY. ~ Ilere bley Wei e uoopies!s y iatn-
ed0p on one handsand knee, getting along
somewhat faster This bridge is nearly a
quarter of mile long, and is sixty feet above
the water. We We're an hour il crossing, and
finally reached camp attwoi o'clock in the
morning. All of this on or about the 9th of
January, 1864. can appreciate your COM
forts this Winter. l wish, ,sfer that matter,
that I could be with you, but I am doing
more good here.' I
ARMY LETTER FROM TENNESSEE.
CAMP 1o4th REe'T o.5VsL !
KNoxyILIE, TENN, Feb, 1S64.5
Editor Democrats -. * z.szass.
We greet with much pleasure the appear
ance of the Democrat y among us and read
with interest any communications from our
native towns therefore, we would ask all
who have friends in our regiment to send us
the County pal er as often as possible, and re-
ceiye. our gratitude for their trouble Com
panies d and ], from old Portage, are ge.iers-
ally well, and in the full enjoyment of all the
blessings TO be obtained in this destitute and
blignted portion of country, which you can
imagine are few, when you know it has been
drained by two large armies for almost whole
year, and is now depended on to some sextent
for both forage and provisions, and also almost
wholly deserted by the more wealthy portion
of the inhabitants, and many still leaving
rather than take the oath of allegiance, the
only alternative left them by the order of our
military authorities. To see lovely females
leaving old and long cherished homes, homes
where they have spent their happy childhood
| and more mature years, in the calm enjoy
ment of social life, now, to be abandoned and
given up to strangers, all left behind, save
small amount of necessary wearing apparel,
and take up a line of march for the Southern
Cenfederacy, is indeed sad sight, yet we feel
that it is right and just, and we esthankfal
that we still have power in our Government
to mete out justice to all traitors and symPa-
| thisers with its opposers.
Our regiment is stationed here IL, comforta-
| BILE winter quarters, engaged in doing provost
guard duty, and transferring prisoners to Chat
tanooga and Nashville. We are detached
from any brigade or division, our brigade be-
ing broken up by Che enlistment Of the
| 44,h o. V. L, and some other changes. The
smallpox has prevailed to some extent, and
understand is thought to be on the increase,
principally among the negroes and citizens.
| The authorities are taking measures tosrender
the city more healthy. + They are having the
streets cleansed, and the dead horses and mules.
buried which will indeed be great blessing
to both man and beast Horses have been
dying off so fast of late, that they have been
sendingall that were worth the while to Ky.
to recruit, it being impossible to procure for
age for them here. Military operations
regards the offensive in front of the enemy
are alta dead, stand-still; yet we are doing
much in the way of repairing and building
bridges; making roads, collecting in provisions
for the spring campaign, and making prepara-
tions generally for a vigorous prosecution of
affairs as soon as grass shall come on enough
to subsstour teams We have a bridge near
ly completed across the river here, which will
furnish a much more rapid and safe crossing
than the pontoon.a Il is hult upon pairs of
logs laid up in form of small pen, which are
filled with rocks-surely not very substantial
work., ze.ea5 :.
!. Parson Brownlow again foarishes here in
: his native town and atmosphere, gets out a
weekly effusion from the press, which is
Brownlow all over. His eccentricities and
peculiarities are. as prominent as ever.7 We
now and then see him in camp, as well as
! many other dignitaries. Not long since we
J were visited by Major Generals Foster and
Parks. seven Brgadier-G Generals, and other
shoulder-straps of inferior rank too numerous
81 to mention, and all the beautiful ladies of the
, city. They came to witness our dress parade
a Wee of course, did our best, and felt highly
e honored; received many compliments from,
Z all, both for appearance and efficiency in drill
Our cornet band, led by Mr.. Marble, an ac-
complished instructor and gentleman, from
Akron, Summit Co., o., lent interest to the
occasion, by discoursing the sweetest music
imaginable. g Long may it wave y, ,Q NEAR
: the Land, Of course, which is made up Of en-.
o listed men, and expert ienced musicians. ..
f We only get fourth rations as yet, butslivt
g in hopes of, having plenty When this crue
E war is eyer,''' and we all get home to the ole
]. pantries again. We have enough to satisf,
IS the cravings of nature when we are fortunate
Z enough to. find something to purchase, ant
g have the q greenbacks . 10 pay for it with
: but it takes small fortune, almost, to go t.
. market once. Flour twelve and a half cent.
- Al u