The National tribune., 1900-12-06
By THE LATE J. Nj. BRANUM.

Camp at Louisville, Ky, Jan %, 1868
We are once more ut Louisville, camp
Ing on the old grounds we left Oct. l. Yes
terday we broke camp near New Haven
Ky, and packed up wagons in the rain
and snow. The mud was aXletree deep
and il was hard on the mules to move the
wagons at all. 1t was understood trans
portatiOn by rail would be had for the
men, but the wagons had to drive through
to this city. The river was high and the
railroad bridge washed away, and we had
TO make long march around by another
bridge to reach the cars.
The men We're slowed away like SO
many cattle and without seats, or stoves
they rode, crowded all the way. We ar
rived at Louisville at IL o'clock at night,
but remained in the cars until morning.
This morning | went into the city with
others, and to boarding house, where |
had an excellent breakfast, the first one
eaten in house for Il long time. 1t was
a treat to be in the streets of a city, after
having lived in the woods for months. On
every corner We're fruit and confectionery
stands. and what a sight was the market,
with its luxuries in the eatable line that
have been out of sight of soldiers for a
long time. At the Gait House was to be
seen crowds of travellers and army officers.
We have tents up in camp, but it is
thought we will so by river to Nashville
in a few days.
DOWN THE OHIO.
On Board the Steamboat Jacob Strader.
Fort Donelson, Tenn. Feb. +. 1S63.-We
are stopping here on our way to Nashville.
and | will take the opportunity TO narrate
our late movements. We are going to a
land where great deeds have been done,
and where a great many more will have
to be done before we can get n leave of
absence for home. After leaving Louis
vile we steamed steadily down the flooded
Ohio making at times almost 20 miles per
hour. Our steamer passed nearly all the
big feet of boats. including the ST. Pat
rick, the flagship of the fleet, with Gen.
Gilbert on board. The weather was quite
cold. The country lining this portion of
the river was heavily wooded, with occa-
sional clearings, where the people seemed
to be in a prosperous condition. The river
was high and many bottoms We're over
flowed and houses surrounded by water.
At Evansville we made short stop,
where We lost some men by desertion.
was the case at other stops made. The
boat continued on her trip. and Thursday
morning found us lying at the mouth of
the Cumberland River. BY 10 o'clock we
were under way again, the feet consist
ing of many sail" The Cumberland
River seemed small for our big steamer
to course her way, and at many places
was not much wider than the boat was
long. 1t is a deep stream, and we made
rapid progress. The shores We're heavily
wooded, and the country back is inhabited
by those of the log-cabin species, who are
generally bushwhackers. At night many
bales of hay were met floating down the
river and all wondered at this circum-
stance. BY 10 o'clock we were nearing
Fort Donelson, where, we were told, we
were to lay TO for awhile.
As usual our boat was ahead of the
feet, except some gunboats, now a mile or
so in advance. When we neared the Fort
large fires were seen on the river, which
lighted up the scene for a long distance.
We steamed on to within half a mile,
when our boat was stopped, the Captain
fearing something was wrong. We did
not know but what the fort had changed
hands, as firing was heard several miles
up the river, and rockets were sent up for
some purpose. We soon after moved on
and found the fire TO be hay-bOat burn
ing.