Year: 1863




MOUNT VERNON, Kentucky, !
April 80, 1868. I


Ed LEADER:-We are now out Of Co,


lumbus quarters and refreshed by our re.


spite are once more in active service


We are not anxious to be taken prisoners


again. While at Columbus we were m


easy; we wanted 10 be going home, and


handy being in or out OF the service, we


were like fishes out Of water, But now we


imagine that there is something 10 be done


and that We are to help in dOing-we are
more eOntented and do not desire another
experience Of parOled life. By the way
there is not better battery in the Volun-
teer service than Konkle's battery. This
bOasting Of the superiority Of ones regi-
ment or company is often INDUCED in, but
that this battery is of superior order
there is no doubt at all, and is conceded
by all who have seen the battery. Pieces
and carriages have been dismounted in ten
seconds BY full cannoneer detaehmenIs of
the battery. Captain KonkIe is q finely
disciplined officer and holds the confidence
Of all his men. We have been assigned to
Colonel Gilbsrt's brigade and General Cur
tis' division. General Gilbert is rather of
a quiet and unassuming cast, but as we
have seen, he has his own ideas and is not
afraid to let folks know their nature. He
goes about generally in citizens dress and
one would think by looking at him that he
did not notice much. Bat we know that
often many of this nature are the most
observing and that scarcely anything es-
capes their attention.


If soldering is disagreeable in many re-
spects yet it has one advantage, viz the
opportunity presented of seeing the cOun-
try. a great many of US before we en-
listed had never been out Of our States and
had been confined to the circle Of few
counties. And what is more Uncle Sam
charges Us nothing and we often ride either
on the cars or boats. The soldier has also
a fine field for the study Of human nature;
when thrown together from different States





can not but be something learned in this
inportsnt branch Of study Good old fell.
low is Uncle Sam although he has on his
hands great work in subduing his rebel !
lions children; although some play mean I
tricks and steal at wholesale from him; 4
although others have no help to give him 1
in his hour Of trouble and stand passive /
and only care to tie his hands together 1
Y et he giTes better treatment in every re- /
speet to his soldiers than any other SOL /
diers on the earth receive


The battery is now in front of the army /
of Central Kentucky. The country about /
as seems destitute Nothing else could be /
expected, as it is naturally poor and has
been run over time and again by armies. 4
Il is stated that forage for single horse
can not be found between Crab Orchard 4
and Cumberland Gap. while the battery |
was ct Lexington the right section of the
battery under command Of Lieut.. Pease |
to Frankfort to reinforce the troops at that 4
place. We found on our arrival the boys 4
of the 103d regiment at work building a
fort on hill overlooking Frankfort, which 1
by the way they did not have chance to /
use as the regiment left when it was com
pleted.


The capital Of Kentucky is an old look
ing town and small in size. It falls be-
hind many an Ohio village in thrift and
Il is situated in q valley and /
on every side by high hills
The Frankfort cemetery near the city is
pleasantly located and exhibits much taste
1t is decorated with costly monuments
which have been erected to Kentueky's il
lustriOus dead. The military Monument
which has been reared to the memory of
Kentucky officers who have fallen for their
country is a piece Of exquisite workman
ship. We visited the grave Of Daniel
Boone. On each side of his monument is
by cave with gun in hand and dead
deer at his feet; in another killing an In
dian in another as a boy and as an old
man; and in the last, Rebecca, BOOne's
wife, is milking q COW near a log cabin
On one side Of the grave stumps aud rocks
are arranged in the form Of semicircle
for rural and romsntic effect Several
Of the monuments have been defaoed,
pieces having been Clipped off by visitors.
II is surely robbery.


There seems to be much good feeling to-
ward the Union among the people where
ever we have been. Undoubtedly rebel
raids and inyasious have done much for
the Union cause in Kentucky. Many who
have been secesh in sympathy, on being
rebbed by the rebel troops, are now good
for the Union. The rebels are said to be
in some force across the Cumberland river,
but they do not wish to fight and only in
tend TO scout and plunder the country
which they know so we'll With the forces
now in Kentucky under the CONTROL Of one
so much their confidence, and
who dares to fight, something good maybe
from the department Of the Ohio.


Truly, Yours, ORALLY"