Year: 1862

that hopos IN fo,nded The thin clouds
dlspced ara IL hall hour the surface Ct the
earth dry sand and ashes. Not, however while we
were crossing honteSa1o From the loot ~ this moun-
tam the side next Huntsville W that upon the other
i distance o i've miles by ne road and upon this por
tcn OF route had dust, for eveTy paticl OF
nothing BIT bare rocks In fact neither DIRT gravel
VIII rest upon this steep mountain road Nothing less
than a Two or three pound boulder viii resist the dc
scending floods during rain anc except where you lind
tue naked limestone rock Itself Of such bouders that
the road composed TIE operation Of riding ever the
elevation on horseback, OF taking empty
son is disag eeable and difficult and from this
could anticpa the labor before when we shouldr
with the loaded


1h to he west from the summit OF Montesano,
is justly celebrated for its beauty The whole basin n
which Huntsville is situated is spread out like map
rise st high enough 10 excite sense OF the picturesque
leaving quiescent the feeling ot the sublime The basin
itself while its surface generally level interspersed
with eminences which, from the lofty position OF the
spectator regularly shaped and smoothly rounded
that they convey the impression Of artificial mounds,
erected 10 the prospect ia the midst OF garden Of
enormous size. To the right the view is closed by
range which extends miles level throughout
the whole distance the marble 1oor Of palace and
resembling nothing 50 much vast fertilization; while
TO the lott The eye Is attracted by bright gmmer from
the Of the Tennessee.


Turning to the east, ncthng appears but an irregular
group OF mountains, arranged that you nowh
to the bottom OF the intervening valleys. required
some faith TO realize that amidst those eDinences
farms and cattle, and cultivated fields and the absdes
Of living men, and still more, that there should load
wagons with corn and return rejoicing to camp


Upon reaching the eastern foot oi Moi found
ourselves IN extensive basin called ssBig Cove and
edately enycoped IL binding clouds OF dust.
Horse loot and wagons all combined their power to in
crease the quantity OF powdered earth sent whrling
through the airs and all our blue coats were turned 70
yellowsh gray.


seemed blight had fallen upon the country. The
rains last week too late than small
thing planted occupying almost every foot Of available
ground. Hundreds OF acres will not be worth going ever
for the scany number Of insignificant 'nu6bins which
they will yield Garden vegetables and fruit will be
somewhat abundant and upon these the people during
the summer will be able to subsist. On account Of the


immense quantity OF ground which they have planted in
they may have enough live upon throughout the
winter but they will have but little 10 spare for the
armies Of JEFF Davis, for whose benefit they originally
put in the crop.


weadvanced far Flint river sixteen miles from
Huntsville. encampng there for the night. Upon the
regular Western Virginia town, consisting OF mill,
storehouse backsmiths shop ashoe shop and church.
the whole rejoicing in the eaphonous title Of Raccsako,
Jones Mills.


The Cuartermastsr who accompanied us, Lieutenant
Rfenberker Of the Fourth Ohio cavalry, had by this
time found enough load the teams, and 1t was
determined TO here during the night and start back
IN the morning, gathering up the corn as returned.


Ta rx grove % , a 90 we we were a ana
zest ate supper Of crackers cold meat hot coffee
and roasted ears Of green corn and after it
selves the ground and went soundly to sleep, amid
the glittering OF millions Of fire dies aud the singing of
nnpmerable katydids.


The greater portion Of the cavalry were sent with
Captain Long toward Vienna discover the any
enemy who might be lurking about. About two O'Clock
A. NJ. corporal sent in by Captan Long, who re-
ported the enemy n force in Our Immediate peghbor
hood.


Dispositions were acocvdngy made for an attack and
with breathless anxiety the whole force waited eagerly
for the coming OF the enemy. But enemy came and
at daylight Colonel Ksifer sent small scouting party
across the river TO find out what his intentions
accompanied this party first proceeded up the Vienna
read rousing up from his bed an old gentleman. who
stepped out OF doors in his shirt sleeves looking some
what frightened He questions freely, how
ever told that he had no enemy along that road
during the night denounced guerilla warfare and de.
cared bGshw hacking in that region about played
OUT because nearly all the inhabitants had signed Gen.
Mitches pledge against il. He further assured that
he was unconditional Union man; that he hoped we
would sucreed In efforts put down the rebellion
that his immediate neghhors quite poor; that they
all loved the old flag, that they looked upon General
Mitchell their protector and friend and all sorry
when they heard that he had gone away believed all


the old man said for several OF the from his neigh
borhood have recently shown their faith by their works.
gathering up their rusty relocks coming forward into
ourDes and Offering to enroll themselves among the de.
tenders Of the Union.


Returning to Jones Mills we took read leading up the
river discovered numerous traces OF the rebels and
were nformhd by the people that two hundred Of their
cavalry had come down in the night TO within sight Of
picket posts. but upon hearing buglc sounded by
Captain longs mon, when they returned from toward
Vienna, had retreated in haste.


All the inhabitants with whom conversed had sgrcd
General Mitches pledge against bushwhackng; all ce
as, sya o s os saR hat 0 G AZ
had selshy led them the brink OF ruin and generally
evnced more intelligent; appreciation OF the issues in
voved in the war than have ever before found amongst
the shareholders Of the South II my candid belief
that hat General Mitchell remained here three months
longer half OF the nonslaveAoders Of Alabama would
have been in arms tor the Union.


When the scouting party returned, the long train
put in motion. and we commenced our march TO Hunts
vile. The most OF the people are poor and own but few
slaves There some toleraby wealthy slaveholders
however These all rebels, and IT from half
dozen OF these that we obtained our corn Every bushe
n uai ID.
and orders 10 leave each abundant sup
ply on hand for his wants.


stopped Mr.. Grayson's, from whose cribs we took
hundred and sixty bushels OF Ninety six dollars
in sreen backs were given him in exchange.


after long struggle in ascending Monessno with load
ed wagons the exTedon cot safely into camp yesterday
evening and the dearly purchased forage turned
to the District Qlarterrnaster.


Colonel Keller regretted exceedingly that hs orders
did allow him to follow the rebel force Of which he
had heard but he confined TO the simple protection
oi the train.


The General Court Martial of which General Garfield
President, s still engaged upon the trial Of Colonel Tur
question to what effect Colonel Turchns promotion has
upon the Jurisdiction Of the Court Martial engaged in his
trial when his promotion took place is curious and
occasions much discussion. The members of the
at stof the opinion that 1t took hi entirely
Of iheil hands Oh: believe General Bus! has decided
differently, and consequently the tedious proceedings
still continue.


when they viii end one can form conjecture and
even after they are over in Colonel Turchins case the
court has out sufficient keep IN session
remainder &c the year. Colonel Stanley Eighteenth
Ohio Colonel Gazlay, Thirty seventh indiana; MAJOR
Overton, of - and Captain Edgarton, Of the First
Ohio artillery all to be tried upon similar charges
those adIuced against Colonel (Genera) 1ur-
chin. Large numbers q officers are daily
called upon 10 testify before the Court. Mean
time their commands parayzed by their
absence and the Of inactivity savc upon the
Of the rebelsl still Continues. II interesting sight
peep the where this is session.
bali dozen Union oceEs nearly all OF hi. rank
whose hands are hardened andfaces bronzed by more
AN n llrd Of cOun rv
standing before their brother officers arragncd crimi
nss because they tbcir soldiers have been
less Ia handling rebel property.


scHoErFP's BRIGADE.


About twelve O'Clock 10 day General schoepns brigade
arrived at Huntsville, and will leave to morrow for
some other place. They were several times assaed by
the enemy along the route, and Lieutenant Harmon u
the Thirty first Ohio, had quite asht Trinity,
the line ~ the Charleston and Memphis Railroad He,
with twenty-five OF the Thirty lfst was guarding
bridge creek that believe s called the Big Nance,
when they set upon by large force of rebel