Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1861-10-30
Letter from Seventh Regiment.



Letter from Seventh Regiment.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Oct. z, '6l.
FRIEND CovER:--I told you in my last
that would write 10 you again soon, but
have filled to keep my promise up to this
time, and should have written sooner but
| suppose that some Of the boys had writ
ten to you.
We are in the same Brigade with the
I'D and 9th Wisconsin Regiments, which
with the 10Th Indiana, are the ones consti-
tuting Sem Kings Brigade. We are in
Gen. McDowell's Division Of the army.
We started from our last camping ground
near Chain Bridge last Saturday about |
o'eiock, and arrived here about shutdown;
the tents did not get here in time for US to
pitch them that night, 50 we laid on the
ground and it went yery-well. We all are
getting used to sleeping on the ground and
can now get up in the morning rested, al
though at first we thought that in more
WAYS than one, it WAS rather hard.
The boys with the exception of a few,
who nave the measles, are all we'll; there
are some of them who are in degree tired
of soldiers life, but that is not to be Won
dered at, Cor if anything else but love Of
country induced them to come, they might
better have said at LONE, fer there is moth
inc very funny about it, as far as | have
seen. We are Wei taken care Of as far as
clothing, provisions, DC, are concerned,
and have no right to complain, as every
thing is done that can be done Tor our
welfare. We hayenot seen any "seceshers7
since we LEFT, but in every place there was
displayed the good old Stars and Stripes.
This is the greatest country for many
reasons, that have ever been in, and it is
a unanimous vote that the "sacred soii' is
4 humbag. 1t is rs hot here at this pres
eut tine as il WIS IN Wisconsin last har-
vest. The water is very poor and scarce
at tbat we carry all we use over half a
mile; il is very much like poor rain-water.
The wonderful Potomac is but a slough,
which can be easily thrown acro5s by any
one; it Is deep however; the water is not
clear and clean like the Wisconsin, bat Of
dirty yellow color. The little streams
(wheu foupd) are not like those at home,
IN any respect, and everything around US
puts us in mind Of the fact that we are not
in "Old Grant" any more. One Of the
boys came near being put into the guard
house for singing Garry me back TO Old
Vmginny," and | think that he should be
put in the the guard house as confirmed
lunatic. We 90 along, however. hoping
for the good time that IS coming; every~
body tries to feel lively, and 10 judge by
the noise, they succeed to charm. If
jokes are free in harvest, they are more 50
III camp; here is a conundrum which will
show for itself:
Why is Capt. Calls like honey comb?
Answer, Because lie IS full Of sells,
(coils.)
Our position at present is one of almost
perfect security, hundreds Of acres Of tim
Der being cut down and left as they lell,
thus giving a sure aim and preventing IN
approach, except by the regular rod,
which is guarded by forts with guns plic-
eI so that in enemy approaching would be
ii most dillltibtlcNss ~ you SEC vi thS =
is not likely to be any more Bull Run runs
very soon. AS for The number Of men
here, there are enough to give old jeff !
the acquaintance he wants with the ''nud-
sis Of the North How long we stay
here or where we 90 to next it is not pos
stole for any one 20 tell.
1t will not do to believe any reports you
may hear. We leaned from letter to
one of the boys, that we had been ia battle
and were AL cut up,if it was SO we were
not aware Of it. You get all the news
long before we do, 50 that all | write must
bs Of our own crowd, for we do not hear
from any other source than the papers.
There is one thing more and then III
close this long letter: | am asked by the
boys to get you to request the friends Of
Volunteers, Off they have any,) to answer
their letters, as it is a source Of satisfaction
to hear from those they left behind them,
and | am sure that if they could sse how
glad we are to get a letter, they would write
ottener than they do.
The boys send their best respects to ali
and hope that all is well.
Yours Respectfully,
john w. MCKENZIE.