The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1864-03-24
Gcttrrs from tie Armp.
Correspondence Of the News.
From the 5oth o. VI.

Mr.. ED1ToR-Sir: [ thought that it
would give satisfaction to our friends at
home to learn through your paper of
the whereabouts of the 5Oth Reg't We
have been actively engaged for some
time past. On the 25th Of December,
while at Columbia, KY, we were order
ed to report to Brig. Gen. Garret, then
at Somerset, Ky. So we took our
Christmas in hard marching. Our
route lay directly over tho Wild Cat
mountain and the road the most of the
way was through loIdsrness country.
Christmas was a fine day, and the boys
were in fine spirits. The stiffness Of
the day was broken once and awhile by
the singing of our fsvorite songs, "Of
for Knoxville" or "Dizie," which
would give new vigor to those that were
almost worn out.
So on we went, tramp, tramp, but all
was not quite so well all the way
through, on account of rain. The last
two days of our march it raincd in tor
renis, but on we went wet and muddy,
yet nothing could discourage our noble
hearted boys, always ready at the com
mand Of our brave and noble Colonel,
Siias 4. Strickland.
When within - miles Of Somerset,
We had to cross Fishing Creek, deep,
vide stream, and it was so swollen by
the rains that it was difficult to cross,
but it seemed as though nothing could
daunt our brave boys, so We began to
prepare a way for crossing it, Some
crossed in canoe and some on raft,
while others waded. Captain Marker
was the first to say, "Come on, boys!''
Quick as thought his gallant Co, B.
rushed around him and caught hand in
hand, and in they went up to their arm
pits in water; but they and their gallant
Captain landed safe on the other side
The example was followed till all were
over, but our train could not cross, un-
til next morning. So we had to camp
right in the bottom, in the mud aud
rain. 1t was rough scene, to see the
men, tired and wet, tumble down and
sleep as though all was well. Poor fell
lowsl they were so near gone up that
they were hardly conscious of their suf.
fering but the next morning all was
right. 1t had ceased raining and every
preparation was made for the crossing
of tho train, which got over about 9 O.
clock, when We took up our line of
march and reached Somerset in
the evening of the same day. There
we rested three days, preparing for
crossing the mountains. We were very
scarce of clothing. Some ofu were
almost blrefooted, and we were told
that we could get none, so we thought
that we would have to suffer, sure
enough, and to add to our misery we
were informed that our destination was
Knoxville, and five days rations was all
we would get. We thought we would
not 90 if we could not get more, but not
withstanding the scarcity of supplies
Gen. Garret ordered forward move
and it wos settled that we had to cross
the Cum berIand Mountains, inthe dead
of winter on five days rations
1t was as cold as Greenland, and the
noun tains were a solid glare of ice, but
in spite of all this we struck our tents,
aud packed our knap-saoks, and all
waited for the word "fall iu!o We did
not have to wait long. All being ready
the word was given, and We left the
south bank of the Cumberland on the
3I day Of January, 1864.
Our Brigade consisted Of the 5Oth o
/ V. 1. 9lst Indiana, and 9th Michigan
Battery, The order ofmorch for the
frst day was, the 50th in the advance
So we marched out cheerful, hoping
that Providence would bring US safe
through for we had long since learn
that there was no army officer that
would sympathiz9 with priVates of theil
command This was our condition
half fed and half clothed, but we were
cheerful under these circumstances.
The first range Of Mountains wal
three miles, and we were all day ascend
ing the top. This may seem strange
but when l tell you that we had tC
drag our supply train up ourselves, yOr
will understand it, We had to draw
our wagons and our cannon after vi
The soldiers under BOnaparte, while
crossing the Alps, did not have a hard
er time. We oamped on the first bench
Of the mountain the first day, 3 miles
. from our old camp.