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Below a Newspaper article from the Ohio Journal from a letter from the 49th Regiment
Letter from the 49th Regimen
Camp Andy Johnson, Nashville, Tenn
March 10th, 186
I.M. Kekler,--Once more I take the privilege of addressing a few lines to you and to your readers, that you may know of our where-abouts. On the morning of the 23d day of February, we broke up Camp at Bell's station, and bid a final adieu to Camp Fry. We left at 9 o'clock, a. m., and marched 19 miles to Camp Rousacau three miles North of Bowling Green, arriving there after dark. We pitched our tents, and remained there until the 26th, when at 7 o'clock, p. m., we received orders to prepare to march on twenty minutes notice with two days rations, without knapsacks or tents. At the appointed time we started; the night was cold and dark. We went three miles and slept upon the ground all night. The road was in a horrible condition, the men actually mired some places where the mud was knee deep. It was the worst road I ever traveled, but thank God it was only three miles through this mud. It beat Black Swamp in its plamiest days. It was midnight when we halted at Bowling Green. We had nothing under us as we slept except mother earth, above us nothing but the canopy of Heaven.
We crossed Barron River by making a bridge of steamboats. On the 27th we marched twenty-one miles, and halted for the night at Franklin, KY. The town was nearly deserted by the inhabitants, and had apparently contained about 1,200 population.
On the 28th we left Franklin and started forward. Seven miles from Franklin we reached the Tennessee line, at a village called Mitchellsville, and which is situated to the State of Tennessee. From there we marched 16 miles farther and halted for the night - out of provisions, and many of us about out of breath.
On the 1st day of March we marched twelve miles and went into Camp for that day, and got a supply of rations at a town called Goodlitsville. On the 2d we marched 14 miles, and reached Nashville, Tennessee, amidst a violent rain storm. I never witnessed so heavy a rain storm in all my life before. We went through the city of Nashville - got on the wrong road and had to grand counter-march - got on the Franklin pike, and marched out three miles South of the city, and camped for the night. - On the 3d we moved two miles farther South, where we are now encamped.
During the whole of this march we had to do without knapsacks, blankets and tents. Our tents and blankets reached us last night, making us feel cheerful and happy once more. During the whole night of March 2d it rained severely.
Nashville is a city of much note and has, (or had,) a population of 25,000 inhabitants. Of the people and institutions I will speak in my next letter. The remains of Zollicoffer are buried here. Hon. John Bell, formerly United States Senator, is in the city.
Our forces, on taking possession of the city, captured a large amount rebel stores. Cannons, mortars, guns, powder, shot, shell and other articles contraband of war.
Our present camp is the most beautiful and healthy location we have as yet found.
The country from Green River to Bowling Green is excellent, and might be considered a second Garden of Eden. From there to Nashville, the scenery is not so grand or pleasing to the eye. Near Nashville, magnificent structures and elegant residences greet the eye. The yards in front of residences are large and commodious, and are ornamented with evergreen trees, which by culture assume every possible shape. But these Southern homes and sunny skies do not compare, in hospitality and happiness, with our old homes on the Sandusky. The talk of Tennessee hospitality is all moonshine. You can get a poor meal for fifty cents, and enjoyment and friendship are not to be found here. Peter Kessler accompanied us so far on our onward march.
(Right here we are compelled to omit a portion of the letter, giving a statement of the number of our troops at Nashville, and their probable destination, as such statements are forbidden to be published by the War Department.--Ed. Journal.)
Today we have had a snow storm; snow two inches deep on the level.
The Paymaster has left another installment of Government Treasury notes with us. We have got paid up to the 1st of January, 1862.
"Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof.
RED STIC
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