OSHKOSH COURIER

March 14, 1862

Our Army Correspondence.

CAMP ANDREW JACKSON,

Eight miles South of Nashville, March 2

After remaining there one day, we took up our line of march for Bowling Green. The first day we made fifteen miles. Some five or six miles of our way was completely obstructed by trees that had been thrown across the road to impede our march. The Wisconsin 10^th boys were so active in cutting their way through, that the infantry were never brought to a halt, but kept steadily on their march. – That night we slept on the ground, so as to get an early start in the morning. During the early part of the evening, it was very warm, and commenced raining; but before morning it turned to snow, and from that to freezing. It was one of the most trying nights to the soldiers that they ever had to undergo, but there was not a single murmur, for all were anxious to advance. Before daylight next morning, the entire army was in motion; the 4^th cavalry being in the advance, immediately followed by Loomis’ battery. – Gen Mitchell ordered the cavalry and artillery to push ahead as fast as possible, and they arrived on the heights opposite the city at ten o’clock, having marched twenty two miles in less than five hours. This is considered the fastest time ever made. The object of the forced march was to prevent the rebels from burning the railroad and turnpike bridges. We failed in our object, as the afternoon before they had blown up the railroad bridge, and by daylight they had burned the turnpike bridge. When we arrived, we could see some three thousand of Hindman’s Legion getting ready to leave. The celebrated Texas Rangers were with him, (by the way they don’t like the 4^th O.V.C., and have sent us word that they will not take us prisoners, nor show us any quarter – the thing is mutual.)

Capt. Loomis planted his batteries, and sent his compliments, in the shape of a round of shell among them, which made them put Hardee’s double quick in practice, very lively. The depot was shelled to keep them from taking away their stores. There were two locomotives steamed up, one was disabled, and the other left for parts unknown. As it was impossible for us to get over the river, the Rangers were busy in setting fire to the public buildings. They burned the depot and round house, containing six loco-motives, and a large amount of corn pork, &c. The next morning our cavalry were enabled to get across by going down the river some three miles. – This was done by means of an old flatboat. – Upon our arrival there was not a rebel to be seen. The appearance of the place is terrible – all the people having fled to the country for safety. They were afraid the Rangers would burn the place. The city looks like the three last lines of a poor man’s will. If one desires to see the fruits of civil (or as I call it, very uncivil) war, just let them come to this place and survey the scene. I know the impression would be lasting. A detachment of eighty men were sent down the Nashville turnpike, to see if they had stopped anywhere; they found the road all covered with hams, beef, buckets stoves, clothes, tent poles, shot guns, and everything else imaginable. – The people on the road said they rushed down the road like mad men – it was a perfect stampede. Bull Run is not to be mentioned in the same chapter. Our men tore up the rail-road sixteen miles out, and stopped a train with a large amount of provisions.

Tuesday evening, Capt’s Robie and Megrue of Co.’s A and B, with three companies, started for Russelville, some twenty five miles from Bowling Green. We arrived in R. at daylight next morning, and found that two hundred and seventy-five of the rangers had left six hours before. We raised the old flag and took possession of about $25,000 worth of contraband goods; but we were ordered back to our regi-ment, where we arrived the same evening, and started on our march for Nashville. We marched until 12 o’clock, when the halt was sounded. We slept on our arms until morning, when we took an early start, and marched all day in the hardest rain that the heavens ever sent down. We arrived within twenty miles of Nashville same evening. The rest of our division, about twenty miles in our rear, have camped, to let them come up. We sent twenty men ahead as an advance guard which went to Edgeville opposite of Nashville, and took possession of the steamboats. The Mayor of Nashville came over and made a formal surrender of the city to Col. Kennett of the 4^th. The next day, Feb. 23d, our division, with gen. Nelson’s, crossed the river, and are now stationed along the road between here and Nashville, our regiment being four miles in the advance. McCooks division is also encamped near Nashville. The rebels are said to be at Murfreesboro, 22 miles south of here, and about eighty thousand strong. Our regiment is doing scout-ing and picket duty. We have taken any quantity of prisoners, and have made some of them bite the dust. They killed one of our Captains night before last, and have wounded several of our men. The rebel old Floyd is there. He burnt the Railroad bridge, and cut away the Suspension Bridge at Nashville. The Rail-road bridge cost $250,000, the Suspension cost $150,000, and was mostly owned by Zolicoffer’s heirs. We are waiting orders. The Wisconsin 10^th, 4^th O.V.C., and Loomis’ battery are Gen. Buel’s favorites, and the rebel’s terror.

OSHKOSH BOY