The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-05-10
THE SOLDIERS FUN.

VAN
overweight hack horse of the daily press
to witness the readiness with which the
Minnesota volunteer relaxes from the tire
some task of soldering into the fun and
frolic of camp life at Fort Smelling. No
sooner is the order to :" break ranks +"
made and five minutes later than the
given. than the wild leap for favorite fun is
order, the housing reporter can find all over
the grounds and barracks, fifty games of
euchre in rapid progress-some on the
sheds, some on the walks, and others scat
tered here and there in the corners, and al.
leys and open spaces. In the great green
within the BARI acks, ten games of ball, with
highest joy of that manly art, are being
played, and all goes merry, as though no
dread command to bloody battle was i'm
pending for the morrow.
HEADQUARTERS MEANTIME.
While thus the merry private makes the
intervening hours of labor laugh at the ex-
uberance of young and hardy valor, the
Commandments quarters are busy with the
notes of preparation for the coming hours,
and the orders and regulations for the i'm
mediate wants of the regiment. The gallant
colonel has little rest from care and calls
for orders, now here, now there-next
everywhere, till we became thoroughly inn
pressed with the fact that his position is no
mere sinecure.
SUNDAY AND MONDAY, May S and 6.
Sunday and Monday were Intensely disa~
greeable, on account of the rain. Nothing
could be done out of doors, and those who
were inclined to be homesick could not have
had more favorable time to feel its effects.
Wood is rather scarce article, but the
foragers managed to get a few sticks to
kindle enough fire to take the chill from the
damp rooms.
The great topic Of discussion was the
orders from the War Department detailing
six companies Of the regiment to garrison
Forts Ridgley, Ripley and Abercrombie.
The "boys" wish that the Minnesota Regi-
ment shall be considered a fighting regiment,
and not be immured in garrison, but will
try and obey orders, with as little grum.
bling as could be expected under the circum-
stances.
1t is common remark of the officers of
the regular army who have been at the
Fort the last week, that no better material
for soldiers could be found anywhere than
in the First Minnesota regiment. Such an
anxiety to learn is seldom witnessed, and if
they do not relax their efforts they will
undoubtedly become well disciplined. But
they must drill, drill, drill, until their mus
kets, and all military movements become
as familiar as the tools and movements of
the peaceful occupations. 1t is not to be
expected that body of men with only one
weeks training will exhibit the confidence
and steadiness of old soldiers. We antici-
pate still greater improvement within the
next week than during the last.
TUESDAY, May7.
We print below the communication of
Gov. Ramsey to Gov. German, enclos>
ing the orders of Gen. Scott, for the gari-
risoning of Forts Ridgley, Ripley and
Abercr0mbie, with companies of the First
Regiment Minnesota volunteers-also, the
letter of Gov. German in reply.
The field officers designated are Lieut..
Col. Stephen Miller, and Maj. William H.
Dyke, and the senior Captain is Alexander
Wilkin, Capt. Pioneer Guard. We have
not learned to which OF the above named
posts either of these officers have been
assigned.
STATE OF MINNESOTA,
Executive Office, May s, 1861
Colonel Walls n. German:
SIR-I have the honor to enclose you CODY
of Geographic communication received by
me last evening from the Adjutant General at
Washington.
You will please at once, in compliance with
request, detail two companies for each of the
Forts, named n the order, and detach them
without delay as rapidly as each company is
supplied with the arms and equipments. You
will also please assign your two field officers,
each to the command of one of the Forts, and
the senior Captain to the command of the
third.
1t is suggested to the Colonel commanding,
that the two companies for Fort Ridgley be at
once detached by steamer, and inasmuch as
the troops are not supplied with camp equip
age. that the companies for the other posts be
detached, one at time, so that one days in
terval may be kept between them, and there
by enable them to find shelter on the road.
Very respectfully,
[SIgned] ALEX. RAMSEY.