Urbana Union, 1862-12-10

Ws have received a very lenghty letter from this regiment, giving an account bf its ' travel and adventure" from the day it left Camp Chase., We have only room for the concluding portion, this week. Tbe writer after giving an account of the regiment's ffrst march to Lexington, and its somewhat hasty return to Covington, on orders to fall back before Kirby Smith's advance, much to the regret of the boys, says of their second march to the interior, &c: Camp Ella Brsnop ) Lexisgton, Nov. 28th, 18G2. J Editor Union: Os the 8th we left for Benton, at which place we went into camp. 1 mile below that place there was a bridge to build and we hav having - ing having the man in our regiment to do it Major Hill every one knows he is one of the best engineers in the army in a few days he had the road open to Falmouth. After building two bridges, the regiment moved down to the latter named place and arrived iu the af afternoon - ternoon afternoon about 3 o'clock. We crossed the river and went iuto camp and remained until Major Hill had built the bridge there and one between Falmouth and Cynthiana, when we received orders to move to Lexington. On the 25th and 26ih we started on eur long journey, and that eveniug about dark we went into camp in a meadow, pitched our tents and then some started after water which was scarce in that section. It was 1$ miles to where they had to go after it, and then had to dip it out of pools where it was stagnant. Through that section large streams had dried up and not a drop of water had been running since last June, and the citizens say that they have not had enough of rain to wet the ground one inch deep since last may. Coffee was made and supper ready. At daylight the next morning, 27th, we were on our way towards our former field ot battle (Cynthiana.) During that day's march we traveled over enough hills to do us through our term of en enlistment, - listment, enlistment, and that evening we camped up along side of our old camp (Tod) and passed between it and our stockade. ' It looked as proud as the day it was built, but the camp look rather "negative."' We halted, divided the company into platoons, and then the next thing was to mike a display. Tbe mar martial - tial martial music played some national airs, " Star Spangled Banner" &c, and the old Stars and Stripes floating proudly over the heads of tbe sealant 45th, we passed through the principal street and we could see some faces that look looked - ed looked cheerful and some that looked blacker than midnight. We crossed the river and camped on the rebel Perm's farm, who has aided tbe rebels so much through '.hat country. Tbe next morning found us winding our way towards our place of destination. This day's travel showed us that Kentucky was net exactly like the day previous, as the country looked much pleasanter as we near near-ed - ed near-ed the county line of " Old Bourbon." That night we brought up at fans. Here we made preparations to make a display, also, and as we passed through the street the ladies made a great display in showing their loyalty to the Government by waving small flags and other emblems. We marched out to the Fair Grounds where we pitched our tents and made preparations for supper. The next morning we started to finish our journey; we were detained several times through the day as the Colonel mustered us for pay it being the last day of the menth, but we made a march of 18 miles and came into Lexington at an early hour in the aftsrnoon. We halted in the street, stacked our arms and were wait ing to know where we were to camp, Dut it was not long, as the Colonel got orders to march to the Fair Grounds, where we are en camped at present. The next day there was a grand review of all tbe troops around the city. It was a grand thing. Our Regiment was said to be the best in the Division, and moreover they are the pride of both Brigade and Division. Our Col Colonel - onel Colonel is the ranking Colonel and I think it wont be long before he is Brig. Gen. It is well known throughout both county and state that he is a fighting man and will make a fighting General. It would do you good to see us out on drill or dressparade; you would take us te be a regiment of Regulars. In fact, the regiments around us thought we were until they learn learned - ed learned better. The discipline cannot be much stricter than it is with us, but all that is ask asked - ed asked of us is to obey and do our duty. Our Lieut.-Colonel got excited and resigned on the strength of it, and gave our Major a chance tor promotion. He (the Major) is one of the finest officers in the field and will make a good Lieut-Colonel. He is beloved by everybody ; is mild and sociable with all. I can say that much for all of our field officers. Since I have commenced to write, it has blown up and getting cold. It has snowed enough already to give the ground a winter winter-ish - ish winter-ish apperance, but It is too cold to snow much ; but if it moderates it will make it dis agreeable to those that never experienced such a life. It would make them think of their homes; but soldiers must not let such ideas trouble tbeir minds at it is the worst thing they can do. They must forget that they ever had a home, and imagine that they always were soldiers. - v . ; Major Hill wa3 called away last week to look out a new camp where wood is more plentiful, as it is rather scarce in these parts; we hardly get enough to cook with. The Major has selected a camp down some where in the neighborhood of Big Springs, near Midway, Ky., and we expected to move )ast Wednesday, but have not received any orders 1 to that effect. Two Batteries passed our camp J

last Tuesday; they were the 9th Ohio and 21st Indiana ; they had the large rifle guns; they were splendid batteries, and I think if an opportunity affords them they will make ter terror - ror terror ring in the rebels ears. Drill time has come and the command is fall in, which has to be doDe promptly as we had a general or order - der order the other day that every man bad to be in the ranks, and if be was tardy he was to be drilled in a squad from one drill time to another which is not very healthy to those that are not fond of sport, and the boys have come to the conclusion that it is much better to be prompt, as it always decides in their (avor. Guard duty is very heavy on us just now as there is so many points to guard, but the Colonel has taken a plan to make it light lighter - er lighter and that is every man who has got the cleanest rig gets clear of doing guard duty in camp, and you can pass along the tents and every fellow is hard at work cleaning his gun. In fact, they are better off as it is not pleasant this kind of weather, it being raw and cold, and they feel it much more now than heretofore, it being then like summer than autumn and such a sudden change will naturally make them feel it more than if it had come on them by degrees; but it wont be long before they become hardened; I think another application or two will make them all right. Thanksgiving day was with us yesterday and we did nothing but clean up our quarters." The sun raised this morning with all its splendor casting its rays over tbe dark and bloody soil of Kentucky.' hope the day is not far distant when Ken Ken-tuckians - tuckians Ken-tuckians can hold up their heads and say that Kentucky is free from being polluted by rebels and the destroyers of the noble old Stale and Government There are as good Union men in Kentucky as there are in Ohio and just as strong secesli. Tou can pass along the streets of Lexington and meet with the different classes of society and you will run against some aristocrats that will give a look that you will never forget; and if there is ever a day of reckoning it ought to com mence at Lexington and end at Covington; and those that have aided the rebellion ought to have their property taken from them and and turned over to the hands of the soldier who has given up home and all its comfort'1 and placed his life on the altar ot his country to save it from the foul grasp of these demon? of H 1, if I may call them so. I'm think ing they will get sick of the Yankees be fore another twelve months roll around. It is my prayer before that, the disease may get contagious among them and they will have to fly to old Abraham's bosom for a cure. : - '''' I cannot see why we are troublesome as we don't disturb their property we come here to protect not destroy, and moreover no soldier or officer 's allowed to go into a private house whatever and if he does and is found out he is confined and put under arrest. To day we were re reviewed - viewed reviewed by Gen." Wright and it was a grand affair. Major Gen. Granger, Brig. Gen. Gil Gil-more, - more, Gil-more, Brig. Smith, Brig. Gen. Judah and Brig. Gen. Beard; it is a grand sight to see all of them and their Staffs it is a good deal of labor and amounts to nothing but it is one of tbe forms that the different departments baa to go through. I will tell you how our camp got its name. (It was named after a young in Lexington.) When the rebels came here they destroyed every emblem that favored the Union, and as they can.e pass the Court House there was a large flag hanging from the steeple. They tore it down, and were trailing it at the head of their columns when this young lady. (Miss Ella Bishop) stepped up and very politely ask asked - ed asked them for it thej gave it to her and did not ask her in regard to her sentiments whether she was loyal or disloyal. She took it and passed up the street when she met some se se-cesh - cesh se-cesh Ladies and they told the soldiers that she was a Unionist. The soldiers demanded the flag back, but in the place of giving it up she wrapped it around her person and told them that the first man, that undertook to seize it she ivould lay him out, and the flag she has yet, and she says she is going to keep it. Bully for Miss Ella Bishop! What do you say, reader ? - C. H. R.

We extract the following sketch from J. Ross Browne's " Poland Over-ground and Under-ground," in Harper's Month Monthly - ly Monthly for December. Mr. Browne gives a deeply interesting account of the Polish Salt Mines, illustrated with admirable pictures. This alone is worth the price of the December Harper : I was greatly impressed by the pro found silence of these vast caverns. When we stood still, the utter absence of sound was appalling. Not even the faintest vibration in the air was percep- tible. No desert could be more silent no solitude more awful. I stood apart from the guides and lamp-bearers in a separate vault, at the distanco of a few hundred feet, in order that I might fully appreciate this profound inertion, and it really seemed as if the world were no more. From some of these tunnels we emerg ed into open caverns, where a few work men were employed at their dreary la labors. - bors. labors. I was surprised that there were not more to be seen, but was informed that they are scattered in small parties through miles of earth, so that the num number - ber number is not apparent to the casual visitor. As we approached the places where they were at work the dull clicking of the picks and hammers produced a singular effect through the vast solitudes ; as if the gnomes, supposed to inhabit pits were busily engaged at their diabolical arts. - We came suddenly upon one group of workmen under a shelving ledge, who were occupied in detaching masses of crystalized salt from a cleft in which they worked. They were naked to the middle, having nothing on but coarse trousers and boots, and wrought with their crowbars and picks by the light of a few grease-lamps held by grimy little boys with Bhaggy heads members, no no doubt, of the same subterranean fain ily. Some of the men were lying on their backs punching away with tremendous toil at the rugged masses of salt over overhead, - head, overhead, their heads, faces, and bodies glit tering with the showers of salt grit that fell upon them; while others stood up to their armpits in dark holes delving into the the lower crevices. Seeing our lights, they stopped to gaze at us. Was it possible they were numan Deings, these beaded, shaggy, grimmy-looking monsters ? Surely, if so, they well re represented - presented represented the infernal character of the place. Never upon earth (the surface of it, I mean) had I seen such a monstrous group ; shocks of hair all powdered with salt; glaring eyeballs overhung by white lashes flashing in the fitful blaze of lamps; brawny forms glitteiing with crystal powder, and marked by dark currents of sweat? No wonder I stared at them with something akin to distrust. They might be mousters in reality, and take a sudden notion to hurl me into one of their infernal pits by .way of pastime; in which case the only consolation would be, that, where there was such an abun abundance - dance abundance of salt, there would be no difficul difficulty - ty difficulty about the preservation of my remains. After all there was something sad in the condition of these poor wretches shut out from the glorious light of day, immured in deep dark pita hundreds of feet underground ; rooting, as it were, for life, in the bowels of the earth. Sure Surely - ly Surely the salt with which other men flavor their food is gathered with infinite toil and mingled with bitter sweat 1 Yet, strange as it may seem, I was in formed by the guide that these workmen are so accustomed to this kiDd of life that they prefer it to any other. By the rules of the directory they are divided into gangs as on board a ship. The working gang is not permitted to remain underground more than eight hours ; it is then relieved. The eurrent belief that some of them live in the mines is not sustained by the facts. , In former times it is quite probable such was the case. At present the administration of affairs is more humane than it was at an early period in the history of the mines. The operatives are free to quit whenever

thickness of the lower plates, which were nearer 6J inches than 5." The plates were made at the government dockward, and were perfect as regarded material. '. These plates, were lined with a teak becking of, transverse timbers of 12 inches and 6 inches thick respec respectively, - tively, respectively, and an inner skin of wrought iron plate, five-eighths of an inch thick The sides and top were also enclosed, so as to make what is termed a box target, like the between-decks of a ship, in order that the explosive effects of the shell, if it got inside, might be fully seen. The first shell which was fired struck the thickest plate, (5 inches,) pierced it, complete completely - ly completely bursting in the passage through, then smashing the wood, and, tearing througli, the iron skin, scattered 27 fragments of the shell, pieces of the skin and of the plate in every direction. Several bolts weie started, and large bits of wood were hurled some distance behind or through the deck of the target The appearance of the hole in the ship's ide, as seen from the inside, was as if the skin as it was burst through had been stuffed with old brooms or thatch, so completely shredded was the strong oak. This shot was made with the largo gun forged at Woolwich upon the coil-hoop plan, rifled with a hexagonal bore, the diameter of which U seven inches, as all the Whiiworth guns are ; 'it is called a 120 pounder, but the shells fired were 150 pounds, and its weight is about 7 tons, the charge being 27 pounds of powder. The bursting charges of the shell were 5 pounds. The shell was flatheaded, and similar in form to that which was tried with such remarkable results before. An im important - portant important improvement, however, had been made by Mr. Whitworth, in making the cen tre of the head as hard as the outer edge, and allowing it to project a little beyond the peri peripheral - pheral peripheral portion. By this means the punching or piercing power of the projectile is vastly increased. r A series of experiments, similarly success ful, wound up with the greatest feat of all ; shell of one hundred and thirty pounds going completely through the t-xrget with a burst ing charge of three and a-half pounds of pow der. The increased velocity of this' smaller projectile produced a terrible scene of des destruction - truction destruction ; the whole target having been smash ed. J':.-- : L , . : -r . It is said that Air. uitwortu himselt was astonished at the unexpected power of these projectiles; and as for Sir Willani Armstrong, the English journals unanimously snuff him out. 'The iron men are at their wit's-end, and the controversy which has raged so bitierly for a year is, for a time at least, stopped by this extraodinary victory of guns over plates.

" The magnificent dome of the Capitol, de designed - signed designed by Thos. U. Walter and now in course of construction under his direction, is rapidly progressing to completion. The principal frame oi the structure has been completed, the ribs of the cupola have been put in place, and the plates, which constitute the outer cover covering, - ing, covering, are being pet, and will be finished belore the close of next month. After this shall have been done nothing will be left to complete the exterior of the dome but the construction of the lantern and the placing of the ornaments on the upper windows and around the spring of the cupola. These ornaments are now be being - ing being cast, and one of them, representing a honeysuckle, has been placed in position, and presents a very handsome appearance. The castings of the inner dome are in course of preparation, and will soon be ready. " The present height of the iron work above the basement floor of the Capitol is two hun dred and fifteen feet, and the height of the portion yet to be constructed, including the crowning statue, is about seventy feet. About two hundred and seven thousand pounds of ron have been received during the past year, and in the same period about one million one hundred and eighty-Sve thousand pounds of the same material have been put up. The whole quantity of iron received from the be ginning of the work up to the present time was about seven and a half millions of pounds, and, according to the estimates ot the archi tect, about eight hundred thousand pounds more w ill be needed to complete the work. "The dome will be crowned with Craw ford's gigantic and imposing statue of Free Freedom - dom Freedom which is nineteen and a half feet high, and weighs about fifteen thousand pounds. This statue is made entirely of bronze, and is composed of five sections, the weight of the heaviest of which is about five thousand pounds. It may now be seen on a temporary pedestal in the east grounds of the Capitol. The screw-bolts which now blemish it will be removed when it is put in place, and a rich and uniform bronze tint will be imparted to it. Tbe entire cost of the statue was about $25,000. Tbe sum of $700,000 has been ap appropriated - propriated appropriated by Congress for the dome, the most of which has been expended. The original estimate of the cost of the dome was $945. $945.-000; - 000; $945.-000; but the distinguished architect, by rig rigid - id rigid economy and a redaction of the weight of the structure, has been enabled to bring down the whole cost, including that of the crown crowning - ing crowning statue, to about ?900.000." National In' leUinmcer. - - -

they please, as in any private establish ment. . Plenty of others are always ready to take their places. The pay is good averaging from thirty kreutzers to a flo- rin a day. Wherever it is practicable the work is done by the piece. Each man receives so much for a specified re suit. Good workmen can make two or three hundred florins a year. The salt is gotten out in various forms, according to the depth of the stratum. Where it is mixed with an amalgum of hard earth it is cut into cylindrical blocks and ex ported in that form to Russia. The finer qualities are crushed and packed in bar rels for exportation to various parts of Prussia and Austria. How little do we reflect upon the tre mendous aggregate of toil by which the commonest article of human food is pro cured ! Thus, as we sit at our pleasant breakfast table the sunshine shedding its cheerful glow through the curtains up on the social circle ; the white cloth, the clean knives, the buttered toast and boil ed eggs, so invitingly spread before us with what charming unconsciousness of labor we dip a little salt and sprinkle it upon our eggs and butter ! how merrily we chat over the topics of the times ! To be sure there is no good reason why we should make ourselves miserable because what we relish so highly cost labor; but would it not bo instructive to dwell a mo moment - ment moment even upon a pinch of salt? Not to go into a history of the silver-mines, which have served to garnish our table ; the iron iron-mines, - mines, iron-mines, which hare furnished us with knives and forks ; or the coal-mines which afford us fuel with which to cook our food what a world of salt seas, and brine springs, and crystal caverns what an ag gregate of human toil, commerce and en terprise that pinch of salt suggests ! Tet so common is the use of this mineral that, like the air we breathe, we are scarcely conscious of ita existence. " We next visited the stables in which the horses are kept for hauling the salt on the subterranean railways. Many of these horses, it is said, never see daylight from the time they enter the mines, in the course of a few weeks they lose their sight. 4 Aim gradually grows over the eyes from what cause I could not ascertain.- It may be the effects of the salt or long long-continued - continued long-continued darkness though it docs not appear that the miners suffer any incon venience in this respect. I remember reading of some fish without any eyes at all found in the Mammoth Cave in Ken Kentucky. - tucky. Kentucky. Possibly having but little use for sight ' the horses of Wieliczka go blind from a natural disposition to accommodate themselves to circumstances.

The time approached for the train to arrive from Ilagerstown, and we went to the station. I was struck, while waiting there, with what seemed to me a great want of care for the safety of the people standing round. Just after my compan ion and myself had stepped off the track, I noticed a car coming quietly along at a walk, as one may say, without engine, without visible conductor, without any person heralding its approach, so 6ilent- " ly, so insidiously, that I eould not help' thinking how very near it came to flit-, tening out me and my match-box worse than the Ravel pantomimistand his snuff snuffbox - box snuffbox were flattened out in the play. The train was late fifteen minutes, half an hour late and I began to get nervous, lest something had happened. ' While I was looking for it, out started a freight freight-train, - train, freight-train, as if on purpose to meet the cars I was expecting, for a grand smash-up. I shivered at tbe thought, and asked an employe of the road, with whom I had formed an acquaintance a few minutes old, why there should not be a collision of the expected train with this which was just going out He smiled an cfhcii-.l smile, and answered that they arranged to prevent that, or words to that effect. ' " Twenty -four hours had not passed from that moment when a collision did occur, just out of the city, where I feared it, by which at least eleven persons were killed, and from forty to sixty more were maimed and erip pled I ' ' To-day there was the delay spoken of, but nothing more. The uxpectcd train came in so quietly that I was almost' startled to see it on the track. Let us walk calmly through the: ears, and look around us. " ' ' In the first car, on the fourth scat to ' the right, 1 saw my Captain ; there saw I him, even my first-born, wheni I had sought through many cities. : - ' " now arc you, Boy ?" - " How are you, Dad ?'' - " ' ' Such arc the proprieties of life, as they: are observed among ns Anglo-Saxons of . the nineteenth century, decently disguis-! ing those natural impulses that made Jo Joseph, - seph, Joseph, the Trime Minister of Egypt, weep aloud so that the Egyptians and the house of Pharoah heard nay, which had' once overcome his- shaggy old uncle Esan so entirely that he fell on big brother's neck ''. and cried like a baby in the presence of all the women. But the hidden cisterns of the soul may be filling fast with sweet tears, while the windows through which. it looks are undimmcd by a drop or a film . of moisture.

The prisoner in this case, whose name was Dickey Swivel, alias " Stove Pipe Pete." was placed at the bar and questioned by the judge to the following effect : Judge " Bring the prisoner into court" Pete " Here I am, bound to blaze, as the spirits of turpentine said when he was all afire." " We will take a little fire out of you. How do you live ? . " I ain't particular, as the oyster said when they asked him if he'd be roasted or fried." u We don't want to hear what the oyster said, or the spirits of turpentine either. What do you fallow ?" - "Anything that comes in my way, as the locomotive said when he ran over a little nig nig-ger." - ger." nig-ger." . "Don't care anything about the locomo locomotive. - tive. locomotive. What it your business ?' " That's various, as the cat said when she stole the chicken off tha table." " If I hear any more absurd comparisons, will give you twelve months," "I'm done, as the beefstake said to the cook." "Now, sir, your punishment shall depend on the shortness and correctness of your an answers. - swers. answers. I suppose you live by going around . the docks?" " No, sir I can't go around the docks with without - out without a boat, and I ain't got none." " Answer me, sir, How do you get your bread?" ' " Sometimes at the baker's and sometimes eat tatters." "No more of your stupid nonsense. How . you support yourself." ' "Sometimes on my legs and sometimes on cheer." (chair.) " " " How do you keep yourself alive ?" f , "By breathing, sir." "Ijjrder you to answer this question cor rectly. How do you do ?" "Pretty well, I thank you, judge. How you do?" ' , " I shall have to commit you." ; " . "Well,' you've committed yoarself first, that's some consolation. - The Ubbasa Usioa should be in the hands every family in Champaign crninfy.