The Yazoo City Whig., 1846-08-07
Extract OfaLetter.


bad went to press. 1t will, however, be IN
teresting to many of cur readers if it is
little "behind the times.
Dear Sttrers:-I send you an extract
from letter received from my son, a VOlun-
teer in Shurp's Company from YazOO, be-
lieVing that every thing will be interesting
from that quarters especially what concerns
our Yazoo Volunteers.
'When we arrived here New Orleans
from Vicksburg, they encamped US q; the
battle ground about six miles below the
city Of New Orleans. low, wet, marshy |
piece Of ground, scarcely ever dry, and par.
ticularly unpleasant while we were there
on account Of the rain, which fell almost
continually for three OF four days, the whole
Of which Sine we were wet, our tents leak.
ing like sieve, our baggage wet, our blan~
kets wet, and the ground inside the tents
wet; on the outside, about three inches
deep in mud and water, some Of the tents
were full of mud and water inside. This
was pretty rough beginning Of soldiers
I.hfe, SO all thought, but there was not the
least down heartedness-al were laughing
aud jOaking at our situation, with the ex>
cepton Of some few boiste1ous men who
were for riding the Quartermaster on a rail,
for he was the man who located our en-
campment. A few days ago they moved US
up into large warehouse in the lower part
Of the city, where everything is very com.
Portable, except the annoyance caused by
the noise Of the mosquitoes, but they trou>
BILE me very little; wrap my head up in
my blanket, and sleep independent OF them.
The most ( dreaded in this Mexican cam
Paign was being lousy, which was led to
believe was inevitable, but trust this is
chymerical: we are divided into messes Of
six in each tent, and as all of my mess are
cleanly, we have heretofore kept free Of
them, and We will, fatter myself, continue
to do so.
DaVis, the Colonel of our Regiment, ar
rived here a few days since. We are all
pleased with him. He is man Of fine per.
sonal appearance, military in his style. and
gcntlemanly in his department; he is, you
know, graduate Of West Point, and serv>
ed (they say) some six or eight years in the
regular army, until he attained The rank ol
Major. II is clearly evident that be will
protect the rights Of his Regiment, and at
tend to their aUefare. We were provided
here, by Gen. Hunt, with wrelched tared
domestic knapsacks, and tin eanteeRs.-
Col. Da Wis has provided GoF ns, at the ex
Pense OF the Gove4nments good weather
: proof knapsacks and wooden canteens, ,whicI
: ATE far preferable to tin, the latter alway
n spOils the water when il gets warm in them
Col. Davis has also procured rifles for tn
! whole Regiment if they prefer Them t
q muskets. The right and left wings of ou
: Regiment, at all events, will be armed wit
rifles. The company am attached tc
,fI commanded by our amiabIe Capt. Sharp
n constitutes the right wing of the Regiment
e the post Of honor. prefer the rifles my
At self, as being more effective weapon, on
!. that we are accustomed to; and with whic
of we associate the remembrance Of our great
i. est victories. The only objection to ou
D, rifles is, that they have no bayonets.
nt Davis had not been so pressed for time i
n. Washington city, he would have had L
ID bayonets made for our rifles; spring bayc
,e net something in The shape of bowieknil
ur and fitting on the under side, so as not I
as interfere with the sights.
of We are to leave for Point Isable til
,y evening or tomorrow morning.-Ou who
re- Regiment are looding anxiously forward
the Mexican campaign. Ii Mississippi
does not redeem her reputation among h.
:" sister States, and elsewhere, rest assure
u sn opportunity is not offered: for no 9th,
: Regiment is composed Of more fghtin
- material. Sometimes think it will be hal
for me TO distinguish myself where all al
~ pear so anxious to do the same. But
rI~ have determined that if there is any fgh
ds ing, | will make name or die in the a
sh tempt. You will readily perceive that
he am not gentleman of leisure. Farewell
be Your afFectionate Son,
&. New Orleans, July 81, 1916.
e. P. S-Our friend Miles, has preceede
tn US, and expect by this is in Gen. TAYLOR