Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1858-07-09

The Columbus Gasstte publishes some
extracts from letters Of young soldier in
Utah, 10 his mother in Columbus. To
young men Who have hankering TO 60 10
the wrrs, the letters open up the true pic
lures Of a soldiers lifc in the Rocky Noun
taius, and should be read before hurrying
10 enlist in Uncle Sans grand army
The pay Of tho common soldier is eleven
dollars month, and on the 2sth Of Febru-
ary the son writes home that tho rations of
-four had been reduced to nino ounces a
day; that tho rations are drawn every FIVE
days; that after feasting three days on
their scanty allowance, the soldiers are COM
PEELED to go without anything more for the
balance Of tho time, unless thoy buy pro-
visions at such Government prices as ls
cents per pound for -four, 274 cents for ba-
con, beans 81 cents quart, rice 20 cents
per pound, sugar 37t cents, and other things
in proportion.
May 5th, the young soldier writes from
Camp Scott as follows:
"Our rations of -four on the 1st Of April
was raised one whole ounce, and at tho
samo time the ration Of homes, sarcastically
called beef, was decreased TO pound and a
half. Out of this ration of beef the men
cannot actually get enough for single
meal There is not a particle Of the carcass
Of tho animal killed wasted. The hide goes
to the quartermaster. Tho head and neck
sells from $3.50 to $3.50 piece. Tho
liver has been sold as high as SIS, the heart
for $3.50, kidneys 81, and othor portions
of the offal arc greedily sought after by
many of the men. Tho sergeant of the
company buys head, neck and feet of the
butchers every day, and makes head cheese
for us at 25 cents per pound. Now TO
give you little idea of my own way Of
living. For breakfast piece of bread and
some coffee; dinner, soup and beef, no
bread; supper, bread and coffee. This NOR
ming have no bread for breakfast nor will
| have any for supper, nor tomorrow for
breakfast. In the afternoon we draw ra-
tions for seven days (6 lbs. 2 ozs of flour,)
when / can have bread for supper. There
is no saleratus nor baking powder of any
description to be had, and tho weather is
too cold to raise bread, and therefore we
have to 60 without them, and do the best
we can. Still there are some officers who,
in writing to the States, will spin long yarns
about the comfort Of the troops, and all
that. They have the pick of the beef, the
hind quarters, &C., and we poor devils must
content ourselves with the fore quarters
If their rations run out before ration day
comes, they can draw on the next, and
keep on drawing, getting perhaps a month
ahead. five get short we can go without
And then the duty bere-full dress parades
every evening. During the severest wealth
er this last winter they would have full
dress parades every Sunday morning.
Guard mounting in full dress, drills every
day from one to three hours, marching us
round the bluffs and through the sage brush
at double quick time-duty which would
be called severe even at Newport. To be
sure tho mules haul wood for us now, but
when they have taken off the duty at one
place they have put it on in another; they
eased the back but they put more on the
legs. This is what call robbing Peter to
pay Paul, with vengeance. Thank hcav-
en-, have only seventeen months yet to
stay, and if live to see homo again, | can
bless the Almighty for having brought me
safely through fearful ordeal"