Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian., 1859-05-14
Camp Life I'm 'sBig Woods ''---Notes on
Government Survey"

To the Edtt0rs OF the M1nnes0tsd7a A<%-s----7@
Our camp just now consists of fifteen men, Z
and is an epitome of the world in "petto. y
Here are sleeping all the passions-slumber- t
ing, tits true-but as occasion calls them forth, t
peeping out and showing their hydra heads, &
and Withdrawing them only when want of {
food compels them to die. Sef-almighty 8
sef-even here foists its repugnant and bloat-
ed presence in the recesses of God Almighty's |,
forest, thrusting it's Insignificant presence
forgetting that other and as perfect
objects were created before it. Here, breed
ing shows itself in it's true colors-the spu-
rious and guilt covering of the bar and bill
lard room is washed off for the want of the
little restraint put upon it by its confreres OF
the town, and it appears in its naked deformi-
ty and exhibits its natural deficiencies with
scarcely redeeming trait, wanting even the
dignity of the Indian, who appears as he real
ly is, an adjunct to creation.
O, how true it is, that men are but chill
dren of larger growth" Here in these wild
woods comes ambition, halting, it's true, and
of the small potato kind, but still ambitious
of little brief authority, courting popularity
but oh, so grossly, and with such gross prom
ises, that the most gigantic castle builder
g en- Espagne," loses faith in airy spires, and
as he gazes on the needle of his compass,
pointing always unswervingy, unerringly and |
faithfully, to "L' Etoile du Nord,' he thinks
of faith pointing to his Maker-each or either
tells him, "Sije te perds, je suis perdu IF
lose thee am lost and contrasts this won
drous truth, without which all the puny ef
forts of our man of straw would be entirely
valueless, ho completely condemns the imbecile
who would throw aside the book of nature and
loses sight of the holier lessons taught therein,
and brings into the woods party feelings and
party strife, to foment broils and differences
over his hasty plate of SOUP" and to man
ufacture partizans for petty aims, to crafty
the vanity of the Bowery school, "all leather
and prunella."
Contrasting with this vaunting spirit OF the
camp, and redeeming its credit, may be found
unassuming merit, large hearts, with an "es-
prit de corps" and generous types OF human
ity from the east, north, south, and west,-
hearts and minds as yet uncontaminated and
unalloyed with that narrow and selfsh-feeling
party spirit, laying it aside altogether, and con-
tributing all in their power to the general
good. We have in our camp Damon and
a Pythias who would sacrifice each to the
other, if necessary, his share of beans and
pork or give to each other the choice between
pack saddle or bag of boots for pillow.
We have also veritable Yorick, who sets the
mess in roar and also members who bear
the names of heroes and sages, and who
would, no doubt if occasion offered, emulate
the deeds of their great prototypes.
Two large fires are now blazing before our
tents-the men are amusing themselves as
best may,-but patching seems to be the or
der of the day, and old breeches and old hats
are undergoing thorough renovation; and
boots, too, are being overhauled, preparatory
, to being tried in an ordeal more trying thar
they have as yet undergone and shoe-packs
= are brought from carpet bags to try their ca
pacities in the virgin snow. Ever and amor
rolls from the adjacent tents "from Green
lands icy mountains" "roll on ye morning
y dews," contrasted by occasionally kitty
Clyde" and do they miss me at home;
and when conversation lags, epistles are be
ing indlted for mail which will probably
). reach its destination by Christmas, or never
s Our Yorick has gone to the Agency fo
supplies, which have become alarmingly low
and ere he returned on the following day, OF
our returning from the field we found ou
tents rifed of our remaining provisions, ant
e the young man left in charge taken away
The supposition was then, and still remains
'' (since confirmed) that he was carried ava,
by the Indians. At the time this occurred
;, gloom hung over the camp, heightened by tn
u uncertainty of our position. A council Q
u war was held, and after scouting around tn
> camp awhile we decided to send to head-quar
ters for assistance, six of us remaining ii
' camp as a kind of forlorn hope. Two day
> passed away without any tidings of the miss
ing man; but on the Sd, as we began to thinl
y of abandoning our posts, our mules and pack
y men came in sight, accompanied by the broth
er of the missing man, who returned withou
~ any tidings of his whereabouts. On the fol
:" lowing day they again returned to the Agen
u cy to look for him, and ask for aid. Mean
y while we continued our survey with goo
IL progress, when again our provisions gave out
y and the time expiring for our expecting aid
we all resolved on the following day to hea
South; and each and every man was maxim
10 his preparations, when towards evening ou
&c camp dog, until now absent seven days, bound
II ed in, and fawning upon us, said with dog-ik
" eloquence-look behind and looking, 10 =
>. there filed along the trail Corporars guar
=. of Uncle Sans boys, followed by our Com
ts missariat and four mules. Again the cam
+ rang with vious," and the "bould soldie
10 boy" was welcomed heartily, and our youn
men adopted the mottos Li6erte, Equalit
&c Fraternite!" and without ceremony we az
s. cepted their invitation, enough, enough, s.
rt down and share, soldiers couch and a so
G dier's fare" We were both working unde
n the auspices of Uncle Sam, but the spice
he just thenfell to the soldiers share who remain
Of ed with us until finished our tier of towr
" Ships when we returned to head quarters, 9th
old Winnebago Agency where Capt Ste,
!, was stationed with company of soldiers fc
- the protection of the frontier, well protecte
already by tamarack swamps, tangled jun
per, and beds Of fern.
Yours, ARIEL.