The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1864-03-16
Letter from the Illth o. vi.

Inc lolloNlnN icWCt ltNul llcNttudNl " =.
Thurstin, Of the lllth Regiment, was received by
5. l.. Boushton, Esq, of Bowling Grccn, through
whose Kindness we are enabled to lay il before our
readers. 1t will well repay a careful pcrusal;
KNoxvtLLE, Tenn, Feb. %, 1861.
FRIEND BoUGHToN Tattoo admonishcs the
many members cf the llltl family that quiet must
be observed in our nomadiac city for TIC balauc, Of
the night. My tune during the day belongs, by
contract to that venerable parient" Of ours " I'm
culpsalm;" but during the quiet ofthe night can
dispose of myself in any manner suited to my fan.
cv-either by boring you with a long letter, as
propose to do at present, or Furnishing some other
unfortunate in like manner. Our camp is at
present located near the East Tennessee and Nr-
ginia Railroad, two miles northeast of Knoxville.
and the front line in this direction the regiment
being chgaged doing picket duty. Our line extends
in seniicrcle from the Hoston River on the South
tn sharp range of hills on the northwest Of the
city, the radius Of which is about miles On the
south side OF the river the luc is more distant,
connecting with line OF troops stationed at inter.
walls in the direction of Chattanooga, and answer
ing the double purpose ofa reserve for both posts
aud guard to our line of communications. With
in this circle, described and Immediately around
the city, is chain of forts which completely COM
mand all the approaches tn the town. as well as the
hills within caunsn shot of the intrcnchmcnts.
These works have been strengthened very much
since the siege was raised | do not rccullcCt hav-
ing seen any place. during the campaign, so well
calculated for defense. with the assistance or light
eirthw0rks as is the city of Knoxville. \ success
sion ofsharp wooded peaks upon the left bank Of
the river command the towu-whCh is upon the
right bank nesting among the small hills which
SKIRT the river, upon that side while from the
HOiston, above the town, there stretches success
sion of hills skrtinc the town to point about one
half mile below, where they again approach
the stream. Just outside Of this range there is
milstream which, ON its way to the river. strikes
the base OF the hills above town and near the llu-
ston but meeting tho obstruction Of the bluffs
along the bank, turns off nearly at right angles
from the river bearing back, and sweeping around
the outskirts Of the town, making natural mOlt
Tor the entertainments upon the hill tOps-and at
last escaping through narrow gorge Of the hills
and passing through the centre of the town to the
main stream. During the siege, an cmbankmcnt of
earth was thrown across this stream where it cuts
the hills thereby increasing the depth Of the water
IN front otthc works, that it was impassabc
therefore, we fell back to this position hoping that
our trend-Petor Longstreet Esq.-would follow
up and offer to arbitrdtc the claim to East Tcnnes-
see ON our own c.cscn ground for it is our opinion
that the "rcbs" eau whn one side Of us here
and from late developments, they appear to be CON
'lnced OF the same fact
About week since the Colonel requested
me to select some men from the Regiment
ana go ON scouting expedition, for the pGr-
pose oi aSccrtaining the position and number Of tho
enemy III our 'front.' Selecting TWENTY-FIVE men,
started about noon. clyingo front line and ascend
ing the low range OF mountains running to the north
east, which course was pursued until about dark,
whcn,belng opposite camp of the enemy, we left the
mountains captured reb citizen and Obliged him
to act as guide towards the rebel camp. ordering
the citizens as we passed on to remain within doors
under penalty orbcng shot, at the same time COM
mandIng one of the party to remain behind and
guard each house, with orders to shoot any one who
should attempt to lcaye-all of which was calcua-
ted To prevent the i'll disposed from notifying the
enemy of our preseccc aud movements This ar
q iph pi
was merely imaginary, for the guard had been pre-
YluuSy instructed tn leave his post a. soon as the
people were completely frightened into the belief
mat they were prisoners IN their own castles, aud
relnin the main party. When within three miles
OF the encmy's camp, LETT sentinel to give the
alarm IN case an enemy should com, up IN roar
there being cross road AT that ptint-wh iustruc-
tons To take cover and by no means to show him
self, or permit himself to b. captured without fir
ing his gun. | then took the direct road toward
the rebel camp, going as near rs possible without
alarming them, AMI having gut the desired
returned bv the post where | left the
sentinel There halted and Sgnuicl Tor him, but
could not find lIim-and suppo,ng that hr had IL,
serted his post and returned to camp. | went uE.
got to camp about midnight and found that hc had
not returned; nor has he returned up to this tiH,-
What became of him, OF if taken prisoner how il
'"Gld have occurred, Is all mystery to us. H.
was mcmbcrot Company +. from Fulton County
\ few days since Il Captain, Lieutenant AMI s,y-
'ral ScrgcantS of the Sh Tennessee volunteered tn
% through the rebel lines and burn several imrpr-
amt Railroad bridges in the direction of Richmond
They hat their cdnt'cnS tul of tuIpgutinr, and .
were conf jcn of the success of the Undertaking.
cs'orday we learned. through refugees and desert.
'rs, that LolliculHr bridge, tn. Virginia ,o
Iad passed through the ordeal anil came out-a>h-
: and further, that the rebels, conr,uln that /
III attack in rear our programmes, tnnk manic /
pulled up their pontoon at Strawberry Plains-Ii T.
niles above us -ind rcrcdt"d hastily to the South
,ide of the river. /
fhrrc is an Indian settlement in North Carolina.
Instant about S"vcnty-tve miles from this place. |
Early ia the org iuiaacn of thu rebellion the United
States Indian agent Thomas being Of rebel pro- /
'IlvlticS, proceeded to recruit baui ulthcSr Cher
kccs under the title of Thomas Legion. to the
number of ZOO m,n. This legion served with |
he cIivalrous Longstrcct until since the siege,
when they were taken with pasSi for skclad- |
Hing. and returned to their native haunt, in the
'inc-ldud. Recently party was disuatchrl r.
eorganz2 The dcmortliz,d legion. They establish
ID a camp an. were fast filling mp the copper col
lrcd ranks, when an expedition was sent iIn,n our
'orpS to supcrintcnd ths business iur them Our
J0ys were well mounted and succeeded in cvadinrr
hc rebel cavalry, riding into the camp of the lie
ZION, unheraldcd by friend or foe. Tie rebel red
men stayed not upon the " orierof their venting"
'ut rcH. leaving their guns, camp and garrison
quipage lying about loose: the cavalry pursued
aluting them from carbine and revolver, until 2UO
# them had fought their last fight and murdered
heir last prisoner. The party returned witt, G;,y
Prisoners having lost only two men killed, and
ew wounded.
We are confident Of hold;ng Ea t Tennessee, not
short ratons, in which respect we are
nw tlring better than we have heretofore done
lncc crossing the mountains. The huvS have Spcut
early all their wages for food, aud have suffered
acre, think, than amy portion of our army has
vcr done in that respect.
The boys from Bowling Green are all well, as
ar as am aware. Yours, &C.,
W. 5. TIIURSTON.