The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-10-21

ST. Charles. Ark, Jan. 80, 1865.
d. W. Moore.
Dear Brother Il received yours of
Jan. 18th Yesterday. 1 had almost
come TO the conclusion that you had
forgotten your army correspondence.
But you're excused for the delay and
for fear that might neglect too long.
will try to pen few lines in reply
at once. 1 am also pleased to learn of
your prosperity and the manifestations
of the church and people in their re-
spect and esteem for you, and trust
prosperity will ever attend you in all
your labors.
My regiment left the city of Vicks-
burg on the 10th Of October under light
marching orders with ten days rations
for the purpose of relieving some troops
at the mouth of the White River who
had been ordered to Memphis, Tenn.
to operate in conjunction with General
Thomas against Hood. Shortly after
reaching the mouth of the river.
! this place were ordered to Memphis
and my regiment with others at the
river was ordered here. When the
regiment left the city. was ON de-
tached service as President of the Cen
eral Court-martlsl, and as il was sup.
posed that the regiment was only to be
absent temporarily. was not relieved
and did not accompany it.
SOm-time after the regiment arrived
at this plsce. everything seemed to IN
4, dicste that it would remain here dur
ing the winter and made application
to be relieved from my duties on the
Court with orders to join my COM
msnd. / failed to receive such orders.
however. until the first OF December.
at which time / embarked for this
place with the camp and garrison
equipage of the regiment and a small
detachment OF men that had been left
in camp. After a very disagreeabls
trip we arrived here on the 10th of De
cember and since that time / have
been IN command of the regiment
The garrison of this post consists o
two regiments of infantry, two sections
of artillery. squadron of cavalry; com
manded by Col o. c. Risdon of tn,
53rd regiment. he being the senior Of
ficer present.
think ve will remain here thi
winter. We may, however. return I,
the city. Gen Hawkins. our old Di
vision Commander. is using his infiu
ence to have us return to vicksbur,
and Gen Reynolds is doing all he cal
to nave us remain in this department
presume our fate will soon be decide,
by Gen Candy as in his judgmen
seems best.
am lonesome here and almost home
sick. 1t seems like living clear out
side civilization. When we first cam
here all the supplies for Little Roc
were shipped on this river to De Vail
Bluff and from thence by rail to Littl
Rock and there. was scarcely day but
that steamers were passing. But 70
the past two weeks the Arkansas rive
has been navigsble and the supple
! for Little Rock go that way; conse
, quently we are sometimes six or eigh
, days without a steamboat. mail or pa
! pers. This may change at any time
, however. as the Arkansas river is sci
, dom nsvigsble longer than a few day
4 or wseks at time and as coon as tn
water falls, the supplies for above wi
take this route again.
The White River is one of the bss
navigsble streams in the south at tn
! present time, having sufficient dept
, of water for the largest Mississippi
! steamers. / will not undertake I
. give description of the country as
! would be of little interest to you. Tt
, , inhabitants are few, the more wealth
q having left the country with the Reb
. Army. Those left are generally poo
miserable looking creatures, unlearne
and almost uncivllized. The wome
all use tobacco in some way, eth
n chew, smoke or snuff and the mo-
: : refined use it in way they call "dil
ping" The mode is this: they che
\ the end of a small stick until it b
n comes soft like a brush, or else 'tie