Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1864-07-07
Army Sketches. No. g.
FROM CAIRO TO HUNTSVILLE.

been leading with the teams, wagons, guns,
baggage, rations and forage belonging to
the various regiments and batteries compo-
sing the 18th Army Corps, which, under
its new commander, Major General Frank
P. Blair, had been ordered to report at
Huntsville, Alabama, and now the troops
were busy embarking, and steaming to
Pakucah, at the mouth O. the Tennessee
river, the appointed rendezvous. During
the period included from The 9Th to the
18th insts. all had been embarked, rendez-
vouscd, and prepared for general start
the fleet consisting of II transports with
several barges, conveyed by two ''tin-clad
musquitos."
About o'clock P. NJ, the fleet got under
way, the bands of the different 'brigades,
filling the air with stirring music the boys
loudly cheering, while the citizens on the
shore waved their hats, handkerchief, &C.,
in lively sympathy, many wishing the sol
diers God speed, while others wished them
never to return TO grieve them by their
summary mode of confiscating the eatables
and drinkables, which came under their
notice.
For, two days and nights the feet steam
ed up the rapid Tennessee river, passing
Forts Henry and Hickman, ruined railroad
bridges, and many lonely looking groups of
housless ch;mneys, turning and twisting
tortuous channel of the river, and landed
at Clifton, on the 18th inst.
On Monday the l 9th ult., the Corps took
up its line of march, over good macada-
mixed road, via Waynesboro and Pulaski,
distant some go miles. Although the road
was excellent to draw heavily loaded wag-
ons upon, it was very severe upon pedes-
TRANS, especially when in heavy marching
order, as were these.
Through the fertile valleys and over the
rugged hills, the boys took their way,
sweating and toiling under their heavy
loads, and staggering from the bruises given
by the sharp edged stones composing the
road, to their blistering feet, for II long
miles, before they bfvoucked for the night,
to prepare for a renewal Of the dreary task
on the morrow. In charge of the Corps
was a drove of 2,4OO head of beef cattle,
which was driven amongst the sections of
the columns of marching men, without re-
tarding their progress, and furnishing the
boys with fresh meat nightly, preventing
great deal of unauthorized foraging
The country along the route, appeared as
if no hostile foot had ever crossed it, houses,
fences, and buildings, in good repair, smil-
ing fields of grain or grass on either side,
thrifty orchards giving promise of heavy
crops, stock grazing contentedly at us, and
the citizens standing by their gates and
door-yards, giving cheerful welcome to
their brave defenders, as they look upon
our soldiers as being, telling of sons, hus-
bands, brothers or lovers fighting in the
ranks of the Union army, forming a pleas
ing contrast to the scowling faces and
ruined homesteads of the rebellious Mis-
sissippians, among whom the boys had
passed the last few months.
Next morning, the heavy knapsacks were
shouldercd at an early hour, and the boys
moved off, foot and shoulder-sore, but cheer
ful as usual, crossing a range Of hills, re-
ported to be without spring or creek for
~ long and thirsty miles, and having again
travelled their II miles bivouacking near
small rocky creek, during peting shower
of rain, which gratefully tempered the
otherwise intense heat of the day. Many
men had fallen out of the ranks during the
march, overcome with fatigue and heat, one
of whom died by the wayside, and several
others were reduced to condition of utter
so as to need the assistance of
medical skill and ambulances.
We passe large, iron furnace, six miles
beyond Waynesbore, where large quanti-
ties of pig-iron was corded up awaiting
the ore from which it had
been smelted having been dug out of the
hills, where it lays in mex
haustible quantities and o. excellent quail
ity. e
This country, so rolling and rocky is |
well supplied with water-power, and mills
for different purposes, are found very often |
generally driven by breast or overshot
wheels. We passed two large cotton mills |
on our next day journey, about one and |
hall miles from Lawrenceburg, and another
one at Naples near Pulaski, beside saw,
grist, and other mills every day.
On the 18th, the Corps reached Pulaski, |
going into camp for "a hours to rest, draw
rations and prepare for the rest of the jour
ney. During the day, the line of march |
had been down very fertile valley, with
fine farms and improvements upon it, and |
the scenery around the city was very fine
indeed
The city, although comparatively desert
ed, possessed many costly residences and
lovely gardens, several fine churches and
large brick Court House. Lawrenceburg,
another county-seat through. which We
passed, was entirely deserted-every house
seemed empty, doors and windows gone,
fences burned, chimneys torn down from
houses, and houses burned down from Chin !
neys. The citizens being intensely disloyal |
had skedaddled on account of victory |
gained by our cavalry, near the town some
weeks before our arrival. Near its Court
House stood tall obelisk, dedicated to
those members of the 1st Tenn. Vols, who |
fell during the campaign ending with the |
capture of Monterey, in the Mexican war
On the .21st, the Corps again set out,
some 10 miles to Elk river,
deep, wide stream, into which the boys
plunged in all conditions and stages of I'M |
dress, yelling, laughing, falling, staggering
or stumbling, but enjoying the fun hugely |
Elkton, on its banks is also deserted, and |