Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1861-12-28
ARMY CORREsPONDENCE.
CAMP BUrTSRFIELD,
Halls HILL, VA, Dec. 10th, 1861.

HALLS HILL, VA, Dec 10th, 1861. J
Editor Sioux City Register :-Prssum.
ing that l am the only resident Of Wood.
bury county in the army of the Potomac,
and that you have no correspondent here,
I have thought that perhaps letter from
me occasionally. might be acceptable to
you, and your readers.
was just leaving Iowa last spring on
visit to friends in the East, when the news
arrived Of the fall Of Sumter, and the toe
sin of war was sounded, summoning the
brave and true to the defence Of the Union
aud constitutional liberty for all coming
time. By the time I had got through Wis.
ting my friends, it was too late to enter
the three months service, 50 waited
patiently for good opportunity to pitch
in" Soon after the assassination of the
gallant Ellsworth, prominent citizens Of
the Empire State instituted movement
to form Peoples Regiment iu honor of
the youthful martyr-to be composed Of
one man from each town and ward in the
State; the recruit to be FIVE feet eight
inches in height, unmarried, and Of good
moral character. Being possessed Of the
requisite longitudinal proportions. and not
having been endowed with the personal
attractions and winning way necessary to
caphvate the fair sex, the great rebellion
found me bachelor-and thanks to the
hunanizing influence Of frontier life on q
naturally generous disposition, was
found to posses the required moral quail
6cations, and l was chosen to represent
nay native town, Collins, Erie county, in
the Ellsworth Regiment. Reported my.
self at the Albany barracks on the Sth of
August, and Was soon promoted from the
rank of high private to that Of Third
Corporal, and was decorated with the en-.
sigma Of two stripes in the form Of a
swsllow-tail on each coat sleeve, which
stripes l stll wear with honor and pride,
and shall continue to, unless they are
taken od, or until my discerning ,uperiors
see f. to give me long coat with cou.
pie Of gilt straps on the shoulders.
After some two months, with some mo-
difcatiou of the original plan, the Regi.
ment was fully organized and equipped,
and ready to march for the seat Of wat
Arrived in Washington about the 10Th o!
October, and were assigned to General
Bu,terfeld's Brigade, Porters Division
and were stationed ut Halls Hill, Virgi-
Ma, about four miles from the Potomac,
opposite Georgetown. We have been re-
viewed several times by Gen. Mcclellan,
and was present At the great review o,
Babies Cross Roads on the Goth Of Nov
We are probably one Of the best drilled
Regiments in the volunteer service
have received the highest compli
from the Gensralin Chief. We hav
nothing Of course, in the way of is Sl
for there has been nothing to speak 8
doing in that line since we have been here.
When We first came down here the
weather was so raw and cold, that the
boys we're inclined to ridicule the idea oil
the Sunny South and thought it nigh,
be . fine thing to talk about, only they
couldn't see it, but the past week has
been so pleasant, that all unite in praisiug
the soft, bslmy moonlight nights.
hope the country will not have to
wait long to hear of something being
done by the grand army Of the Potomac
and when that time comes l trust you will
hear Of the 44th n Y, or Ellsworth. The
soldiers as far as am able to observe, are
as anxious As their friends ut home 10 see
this wicked rebellion crushed out, and
peace restored to the country. And when
this result is accomplished. the writer Of
this will be perfectly willing to exchange
his musket and bayonet for Il pillow and
hoe, rs cultiva,ing the fertile sol! of the
Little Sioux is fully as congen;al to my
6stes as marching and counter.narching
q double quick, even on the ''sacred soil
Of Virginia. More anou. +. l.. II.