Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-01-15

mate purpose. The evil of incompetent
men getting an importaHt-position over
men incomparably more meritorious. has
been sufficiently demonstrated by the
miscarriage of expeditions Of great mo-
ment, and it should be the endeayor of
those who have the power to appoint to
use greatwisdom in selecting the best
heads for the command ofAa- large force.
This thing Of giving precedence TO a
man simply becanse of the accident Of
the prior date of his commission. and
not because of his superior qualifica-
tions, is all humbug, as we find it to
Our cost. A Syberite never did accom-
plish anything, but his own comfort and
certainly he will not achieve mach with
brigade of cavalry.
A look at the map of Tennessee will
suffice to show that we saw a great deal
of the country between the Tepnessee
river and the Mississippi. and in my
opinion, it is as fine and fertile section as
can be found anywhere. 1t is compare
lively new country, well wooded and
rolling. 1t has splendid advantages
for developing its resources, and was at
tanning high pitch Of prosperity, when
this war broke ont The country farTned
has been well cultivated, and substantial
buildings for man and beast constructed.
1t is disloyal section, and has suffered
greatly IN consequence. Everywhere
are the evidences apparent Of marching
armies = devastated homesteads, and
desolated homes The towns we visited
Dresden, Huntington, Jackson Duke
dom, Boydsville-are lying in the arms of
the ''abomination of desolation.P Store S
empty and closed, houses rahsacked and
deserted-the inhabitants leaving the
bones of their friends to the tender mer
cies of their adversaries. Those who
are left shave seen the elephant" and
don't like his appearance. They would
give their lives, almost, could this war be
closed. They repent their madness
mourn the destruction of their fathers,
brothers, sons, and see only the prospect
of utter ruin before them. They realize
in all its cogency the aphorism, that
the way of the transgressor is hard" 1t
is true that there are quite number of
loyal men left, but as they were in the
minority, they have been, consequently,
much oppressed and brutally used-their
stock taken, their crops destroyed, and
their arms taken from them by the reb.
els-to say nothing Of the abuse their
families have had to suffer at their hands.
We captured seventeen persons who
have been brought to Union City, some
of whose names give Lieuts. How
ard, Milor, McCampbell, who were, when
captured, engaged in recruiting
Col. Pell, Capt. Nc Cormic, End Lieuten-
ant, and one Seargent came into our lines
and surrendered themselves, desiring to
go to their homes at Paducah and take
the oath of allegiance to our Govern
ment One of the prisoners, a notorious
murderer and guerrilla, was shot and
killed by Corporal Scott, of Co. l., 7th
Ind, while attempting to escape. Two
men of Co. K, 7th Ind. Cavalcy, were
killed by the falling Of tree when they
were asleep-Seargent Danford Edwards
and private David Tomlinson,- the for
mer outright, and the latter fingered
two days, They were decently buried
by some Union citizens, at place called
Oak Hill.
The weather was, from the 3lst of De-
cember until we reached our camp at
Union City, on the 7th of January, in
tensely cold and discomforting first,
a heavy fall of snow, and afterwards ex.
eessive freezing The temperature could
not have been less than l00 to l40 below
zero. Yet we had but few cases Of FROST
bitten hands or feet. This was, indeed,
fortunate for us, as since our return we
have reports of distressing cases of death
from the effect of the severity and the
coldness of the weather, from all quar-
ters, two men belonging to the I'd New
Jersey having fallen victims here at
Union City.
On the route, We saw evidences of the
smallpox yellow flag and written
caution below it, on a post near the
gates of the premises where the plague
was located-and it has broken out here
among the troops, though but few cases
are as yet reported. Every precaution
is being taken to prevent its spreading,
the infected being removed to an isola-
ted building
The health of the troops concentrated
here, is generally good, and, with the ex-
ception of ourselves, are in good quar-
ters. We commenced yesterday to con-
struct our winter quarters, but we have
now marching orders for Huntsville, AL
ALBANIA. This is good news, for we desire
nothing so much as to get out Of the con-
troll of Col. ]. c. Waring, Jr., command
ing the cavalry brigade of the 10th di-
vision. r.r,,rrgF-7
Col Shanks is well known as good,
practical, sagscious, resolute commsnd-
er, of the school or class out of which
Gen. Hovey and Gen. Veateh were select
ed, and if he can but have his regiment
under his own control, of which there is
now some prospect, the 7th Indiana cav.
airy will yet obtain renown. Had Col
Shanks been unfettered when we made
our former scout after Faulkner, we
should have overtaken him at Mckenzie s
Station, and found him in licentious dis
order, unanticipating our advance, and
with such an advantage over him, we
should have destroyed him. The oppor-
tunity was lost by the foolish order Of
Col. Waring for our return, and Faulk
ner was permitted to escape-a piece o.