Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-08-20
Sketches i'm the Camp.
By AN Ex-REPoRTER OF THE STATE SENTINEL
No


the encampment and view the scenery around. bad
heard much of Jackson's Battle Ground, and it
great treat to TO tread upon the vast plain where
deeds of glory had been achieved by the brave-where
the flag of Liberty and Republicanism was reared,
and successfully defended by an army patriotic
they were brave After passing an hour or upon
the battlefield, and seeing few musket balls picked
up by my companions, passed by tie burylng ground,
and TO my great SURPRISE observed that intruder
had dug into grave, and water from the marsh COW
cred the coffin. Oh - said one of my companions,
where is the that will disturb the ashes of the val
~ We passed in silence. and then turned
away from with feelings that cannot be described.
The entrenchmcnt was partly filed up, and thrifty
weeds bordered upon its margin. We soon passed OH
the battlefield to look at several plantations. The
buildings were very fne and the negro huts comfort
able-ihe grounds abounded with orange and hg trees.
The orange trees did not appear TO thrive very well,
as more than half Of the branches appeared TO be
either dead in state of decay, but the fig trees
looked remarkably well, and were heavily burdened
with fruit The shrubbery and flowers were beautiful
and arrayed with taste. but unfortunately
the weeds were so much overgrown that the floral
scenery showed but dim. l know not whether to
attribute this to the want Of skill in the negroes IN
killing weeds, or the supposition of that the
white people too lazy to make their slaves work
l certain, however, that if you could some of
the gardens the battle-ground you would conclude
that they had been desertedand left to the prey Of the
bats and the moles. Il returned by the way of the
Railroad track just after the car had passed along.
There was a small piece of timber this route-the
trees were very small-the land low rshy, abound
ing with stagnant ponds, and inhabited by algators,
snakes, flies and some. yepomous insects But mag
nolia in full bscnf>woud strike the attention of
the Observer showing they did, that even the mud
holes and swamps not without splendid scenery.
The Mississippi Volunteers arrived to-day. They
were in fine spirits, and were glad TO meet their Hoo
sier friends in the encampment. They jolly set
of boys and will always be hand when there is
any fighting to be done.
On the 18th, company fountain Rifemen)
elected Finley L. Maddox First Lieutenant. Lieut..
r. w. Lyon, resigned his commission at Vicksburg,
for the purpose Of going home. He said he sat
isfed that he could not stand the trip We all re-
GREETED this circumstance. We had been Boosting
that not that had volunteered in company had
gone back; but now, all such bOastng had 10 cease
stand at the mouth of the too, if necessary.
As he is believer in scriptural matters, he will
doubtless think of the Proverb Remember Lots rife.
A boat containing troops from the Sd Regiment, ar
rived on the 18th. Two soldiers were lost this boat
One died of the measles-the other fell overheard.
On the 18th three more boats arTived-one contain
ing Tennessee troops another troops from the Sd
Regiment of Ohio-another from the I'd Regiment of
Ohio-another from the second Regiment of Indiana.
The first Regiment from Indiana shipped to-day for
the seat of The Putnam Blues, Fountain Rifle
men, Wabash Invncibles, Mad Anthony Guards,
and Wayne Guards, went on board the FIavia. The
Marion Volunteers, Cass Volunteers and Hendricks
County Volunteers, went on board the Sophia Walker.
The Montgomery Volunteers and Wabash Rangers
remained behind and got a barque. While
were getting aboard the Flavia Henry Elliott of the
Fountain Rlfiemen, fell through the hatchway and
was so badly injured that he died the next day. He
was an upright citizen, and temperate mantle
passage at the foot of the stairs being dark the
cause of this misstep.
We had lucky trip on the Flavia considering the
great disadvantages labored under. Oar fare was
too rough for Hooser boys who had always been well
fed. We had a kind of stuff called smoked neat-it
was sides of hog, half liquid and half solid. When
ever piece picked up you could see something
ooze out that resembled lard OIL learned lcho
purchased it, but it was taken on the boat at New
Albany. destroyed about the sixth of ration day,
while we were crossing the Gulf The pilot bread
was of inferior kind. We had sugar and coffee,
but only had two fires for five companies to cook by.
Our accommodations for sleeping were still worse.
] The place below was so much crowded with freight
that but little room left to lie down. and those
that were fortunate to find place to lag their
heads, were nearly sufocated. The best chance to
sleep upon the upper deck, it was much more
comfortable to be stepped few times than to be
" suffocaed all night One night had some difficulty
in finding lodging place. but accidentally observed
vacant spot on the anchor chain and took possession
of it as quick as toad would catch fy. Four
hours sleeping of this kind was enough for me.
would have been glad TO have exchanged my bed for
Yankee stone wall and given little boot. How
ever, the good people of Indiana will be happy to
learn that their officers well fed-they slept in
the cabin and lived rdiSin pudding, chicken fix
ms, beef pork Irish potatoes and other Injuries. As
half loaf of bread is better than none it must
follow inevitable consequence that it better
to feed portion of the volunteers (the ofcers) WE'LL
than none, and we have reason to rejoice that some
of the volunteers received good treatment and Jared
sumptuously every day."
The Flavia cast anchor off Brazos Santiago Texas,
on the 21st, and we taken ashore steamboat
the next day. The Sophia Walker came in on the 10th
and the troops got ashore the day after Col. Drake
came on the Sophia Walker, but he used the utmost
exertons to get off the Flavia As the ship was
much higher than the steamboat, we had to go down
upon the outside of the ship and jump on the steam
boat. As it was considered hazardous BY some, Col.
Drake stood at the side of the eamboat and took
every man by the hand, and helped him from the ship
to the boat Lieut. Col. Nave performed the Hercu-
lean task of helping his saddle off the ship. We
were all glad to get upon land number of as had
been seasick and could the kind of provisions
we had on the ship. The Captain of the ship was
great arstocrat but the mates and sailors were whole
souled fellows, and gave the soldiers all the liberties
In getting places to sleep that they dare. One of the
sailors made place for to sleep in his cabin when
was sick. Some others gave some of their allow
thing fit 10 eat. We pitched our tents when we
got ashore, and felt like new creatures After fixing
the sick as comfortably could, we commenced
drawing our rations for four DAYS. We drew
picked pork, beef, coffee, beans &C. &c. We cook
ed ate and began to feel though a new was
about to dawn upon US.
On the 25th Henry Updike of the. Fountain Rifle
men, died of the measles He was ffst taken on the
ship and suffered them to strike in. There are but