The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1865-02-07
Letter from the nth Mich. Cav.
HEADouARrrRs lst Brig. lst Div. Mill. Dis. Ky(
Lexington Ky. Jan. 9Th. 1865. (

'
! FmEND--:-I wrote you afte
BIS arrival from Mich. in Nov, inst a,
we were starting on our late raid int
South Western Virginia. Thinking
perhaps an ac count of our proceedings
from an eye witness would be NOR,
gratifying to you than newspaper ac
counts, concluded to give you a briet
description of our travels and doings
hoping you will only remember tha,
such a Regiment as the llth Mich. Cav
also still exists, Notwithstanding we have
been out of the reach of the civilized
world, among the mountains that cover
Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia as
the blue waves cover the ocean.
/ believe told you in my last of the
arrival of our much loved Colonel and
DIR. WooDMAN, and also that the for,
mer had been assigned to the command
of all the troops of the Division in the
field, he being next in command to Maj
BUEDRIDGE. After two nights and one
day spent in hurried preparations fol
the field, on the morning of November
21st we left Crab Orchard. The col
umn of troops under the immediate
command of Col. Brown commenced
moving at daylight. The weather the
afternoon previous had changed from
rainy to clear and cold-some snow fall
ing. Gen. BURBRIDGE and staff pas
sed to the front. The command was,
" Forward !" and our little force OF
2,500mounted men,representing 0 Reg
iments, and two sections of Battery A.,
9th Ky. Light Artillery, comprising the
First Brigade which had been drawn
together in three days from all parts of
Kentucky, where they had: been pro-
tecting the property and lives of the
citizens of Kentucky from the lawle SIS
acts of guerillas who have infested the
State since its first occupation by I'm
Gle Sans blues, started on one of the
hardest marches | have made during
nearly four years field service. l dis
like partiality being shown by any one
connected with our army, but | can
not give the location of other troops
that comprised the command, than our
own Regiment as we were Stationed
away from the balance of the command.
They have all been equally concerned
in assisting the civil authoritiesi III en-
forcing the laws throughout the State,
and are gaining favor daily even from
our most bitter enemies and opposers,
rebels who live in our midst and have
the full protection of United States bay
oncts. Our Regiment was located rs
follows, Nov. 18th, the day we started
to join the command at Crab On chard:
three companies at Hazel Green under
command of Capt f. G. MILES, anoth-
er battalion at Flemingsburgh under
Capt. ID. ID. Buck, two companies at
Owingsille, our Company at Winches-
Ter, three more Companies returned
from 4s hour scout just as we were
leaving camp with what remained of
the Regiment. This was a cold, rainy
day, everything without was cold and
wet, and the rain which fell in torrents
the previous night had abated but lit
tie. Everything looked dark and
gloomy and reminded us strangely of
our quiet, comfortable homes, away up
N Michigan. / have no doubt but that
others, like myself, half wished this cru
Fl war was ended, and we all at home. |
But Life at best is full of troubles and |
-rials for us all, as much for the poor
soldier as the more favored ones who
i've in the full enjoyment of home and |
friends. Nobly and without murmur
lid these brave sons of Michigan re-
;pond to the sbrill call of'S Boots and
Saddles. J" from, the well known bugle,
md, without needing the weather, we
we're soon on the road, supposihg we
we're to make another short scout and
'cturn within n week ut farthest. Lit
lie did we dream of the many days and
lights we would pass in the saddle,
sleep before we again returned
o our tents. | will pass over the
vents of our march to Grab Orchard,
where we arrived about four hours
ahead of our gallant Col? and DIR. w.
know all hailed with Joy the news that
'ur best friend had rejoined us, if not
% take command of the Regiment, we
Knew he would have us under his watch
ul eye. And / believe for a soldier to
,now that he is in sight of a man in
whom all can trust, is to him the great
'st,holp he could ask for s1ds
But to resume the thread of my sto-
" We marched from Crab Orchard
0 London on the 2lst of N.oy., arriving
It the latter place about midnight, after
!, very tresome march. Wood was
carce, and the weather so severely
old that we began at once to expert
nee in earnest the trials of soldiers
lfe. On the 22nd, at 10 a. m. we again
'dshed forward to Rarboursville, dis
ance OF % miles; where we arrived
bout midnight. The roads. were in an
Iwfa condition, being half frozen, and
he mud, which alone was bad enough
vas made worse, as though for our es-
'ecial benefit. Our march TO Cumber-
n r 81 I n +. |