DIY History | Transcribe | Civil War Diaries and Letters | Andrew F. Davis papers, 1862

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02_1862-02-05-Page 02

own hook, and evry company broke into to Squads of 10 to 12 and all went to hunting shelter through the town and all succeeded verry well as there ware plenty of vacant houses. Myself in company with about 15 of the boys found a large unoccupied room with a large old fashioned fireplace and it was not many minutes before we had an excellent fire burning thanks to a boad fence which stood close by and which furnished good fuel. Monday morning, our company got together and took possession of a large vacant house containing 4 large rooms with a fireplace in each, where we remained until yesterday (Tuesday) noon when the Regt was called together and marched 2 miles immediately South of town where we are now encamped but will move forward tomorrow morning at 8 Oclock. 
I will now undertake to give you a slight description of the town of Bowling Green, Which is a town where in its best days contained a population of 7,000 or 8,000 inhabitants and is situated on the South Side of Barren River which is a narrow but verry deep stream and navigable to this place part of the year. The Rebels have had a verry large force stationed here and have built some of the Strongest fortifications that I have ever saw. On evry side of the town there are some beautiful hills or eminences which command a view of evry house in the place and also for miles in the country in all directions. On four of the principal ones of these hills are built 4 of their main fortifications, and which have cost a great amount of labor to construct. Then in all directions we come across smaller works and many of them have been constructed for masked batterries as you often come on to them when least expecting them, as they are concealed by houses or trees or other obstructions which would look like anything but a battery of cannon until you come immediately on to them. By all appearances they must have had over one hundred pieces of cannon planted in and around the town and many of them of quite large Caliber. All of this they have abandoned and what they could not take away they have destroyed. Oh the misery and desolation of war even in this one place. The town has been one of extream beuty as it is situated in a beutiful location ad in the midst

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own hook, and evry company broke into to Squads of 10 to 12 and all went to hunting shelter through the town and all succeeded verry well as there ware plenty of vacant houses. Myself in company with about 15 of the boys found a large unoccupied room with a large old fashioned fireplace and it was not many minutes before we had an excellent fire burning thanks to a boad fence which stood close by and which furnished good fuel. Monday morning, our company got together and took possession of a large vacant house containing 4 large rooms with a fireplace in each, where we remained until yesterday (Tuesday) noon when the Regt was called together and marched 2 miles immediately South of town where we are now encamped but will move forward tomorrow morning at 8 Oclock. I will now undertake to give you a slight description of the town of Bowling Green, Which is a town where in its best days contained a population of 7,000 or 8,000 inhabitants and is situated on the South Side of Barren River which is a narrow but verry deep stream and navigable to this place part of the year. The Rebels have had a verry large force stationed here and have built some of the Strongest fortifications that I have ever saw. On evry side of the town there are some beautiful hills or eminences which command a view of evry house in the place and also for miles in the country in all directions. On four of the principal ones of these hills are built 4 of their main fortifications, and which have cost a great amount of labor to construct. Then in all directions we come across smaller works and many of them have been constructed for masked batterries as you often come on to them when least expecting them, as they are concealed by houses or trees or other obstructions which would look like anything but a battery of cannon until you come immediately on to them. By all appearances they must have had over one hundred pieces of cannon planted in and around the town and many of them of quite large Caliber. All of this they have abandoned and what they could not take away they have destroyed. Oh the misery and desolation of war even in this one place. The town has been one of extream beuty as it is situated in a beutiful location ad in the midst