The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1846-09-03
Correspondence of the Evansville Journal.
FROM THE VOLUNTEERS.
CAMP BELkNAp, August IL, 49,

CAMP BELKNAP, August IL, 1916.
FRIEND CHANDLER:-By chance it sol
happens that have few moments leisure
from duty and will employ them in writing
you Few lines. don't expect 10 be able
10 communicate any Intelligence ofimpor-
lance, as you must know more OF what is 60
ing ON in this country than we do ourselves;
YET it may not be undressing TO you to hear
from US. Our first encampment after leaving
New Albany was at camp Jackson below
New Orleans, where we pitched our tents in
mud knee deep and remained one day pre-
vious to embarking. On our passage across
the Gulf we were all sea sick, which think
was rather benefit than an injury 10 u.s.
We reached Brazos ST. Jago after shoE;
passage, and remained there nine days in the
hot sun and sand up 10 our knees; but as we
had pleasant breeze during the day, our
suferings were not so intolerable as they
otherwise would have been. Our present
camp is about ten miles above the mouth of
Rio Grande, on sandy ridge, one mile and a
half from the river, from which we have to
bring all our water, through mud and wet. If
we had been stationed three miles further up
we should have been directly on the bank
of the river and have had wood and water in
abundance; but that did not suit our field of
ficers, who seem TO have picked out in
every instance the most wretched places for
our camps, but as the boys say, it can't last
alwsys-twelve months will pass away, and
on our return home no one of US will fail TO
remember there those who forgot US here
There is great dissatisfaction in our company
towards The commissioned officers. They
are are lazy set, lying on their back all day
fighting mosquitoes and flies, compelling
the men 10 wait upon them, bring them wa
ter, &C., while the Sargeanis do the drilIinn
We vUruHseereq as soIdIers, they would like
10 make servants of US, but think | see il
sticking out that the men will give the Off
GERS to understand they won't submit TO such
treatment much longer We don't like to
complain, but the truth should be told-the
commissioned officers don't know anything
oftheir duty, and won'tlearn, and the privates
suffer in consequence. can't tell you when
we shall move from this place, or whethe
we shall ever see the face Of an enemy. We
are AL anxious TO do something and do il
quick and be off for home, for to tell the truth
sogerin' amt what it was cracked up to be-
no how. had rather be sticking type il
your office than eating beef aud mouldy
bread and drinking brakish water on the Rio
lGrande; and there are SO many who think a.
do that if our Regiment was at home a cor
porafs squad couldn't be induced TO retur
The Louisiana troops were lucky-let then
make what fuss they will at being discharged
still say they were lucky, and they know
il. We have lost one man, Jacob Taylor
and have several in the hospital, and shall
have more there if we are not moved iron
here soon. Peck is recovering from his i'll
ness, and owing TO informality in being sworn
or not being sworn, one or the other, he los
es his office OF Sd lieutenant. Geo. w. Be
of our company, has been discharged on &C
count of sickness and will return home.
will write you again soon.
Yours, THE SARGEANT.