Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1861-05-30
From Camp Deunison,
CAMP DENNlsoN, Hamilton Co., o.
May 24th, 1861. (
Messrs. EstiH q:

Mcssrs. EstiH
Some two weeks ago, | wrote to you from this
place, after having been here three or~four DAYS.
AS we are still qnartered here, have been able
at intervals, to look around little, and make
some observations and it is natural to suppose
that have by this time, formed some opinion of
the place and surroundings. For my part, con
slider this pleasant and healthful locality we'll
calculated fora Military rendezvous for Ohio's
brave and loyal sons. We are situated in the
prolific valley of the Little Miami are almost sur-
rounded with slooping hills, whose sides and sum.
mits are covered with towering forests and green
verdure To sum it all up in q nutshell, it is a
heartsomc place. anc is so voted by the most of
those here My feelings, however, have under
gone wonderful change since coming here, for
when our Regiment came, we were literally
"dumpd" down in mud of the muddie>t degree !;
besides that, we had no houses to lodge in, and no
time to build any that day. for evening was draw
ing on apace, and the "windows of heaven" ap-
peared to have benn opened, until the rain came
down in plentiful abundance. You may rest as
sured our opinions were not very exalted or fiat.
tering, but, in the language of Scripture, (modi-
fcd,) we could exclaim: THE foxes have holes
and the birds of the air have nests but we have
no where to lay our hea is.'
a Regiment had preceLcd the Sth, few days,
and had provided themselves with quarters, and
through their generosity and much crowding we
20 lay down on trrd trina, with no other covering
than blanket, and the "canopy of heaven" but
which would have been too leaky for lis on that
eventful evening. During the night the weather
changed and in the morning the sun rose bright
ly in the East, and we all fell to work to fix up
quarters to accommodate us during our stay here.
BY working hard, we were pretty well situated
against evening, and since then we have enjoyed
ourselves reasonably well.
The buildings we occupy are IA feet by 81 re =
quirlng Tor company from 10 to 10 persons
to each, according to necessity or inclination. In
external appearance, these buildings, or cantom-
mcnts as they are called might possibly cores
pond to II stable ; but the soldiers endeavor, as a
general thing, to keep the inside as clean as the
circumstances will permit
Our fare consists of Bread Pork, Beef, Coffee,
Beans, Rice, Sugar Vinegar, Salt and some
times Potatoes. We draw our rations every
morning, being divided among the Companies by
the Commissary of the Regiment the Orderly
Sergeant of each Company divides among the diff
terent messes. At first, much complaint was
heard concerning the quantity and quality of the
provisions. being considered altogether insufficient
Some change for the better has been noticed in
this department, and | am not sure but that there
is still room for improvement. We do our own
cooking; or, rather, one is selected in each mess
to dc the cooking for that mess, the rest paying n
trlfe to the cook as n remuneration for his arlu.
Gus duties for difficult it is to prepare vituals for
dozen differently disposed individuals, so as tc
render entire satisfaction.
We dine off rough tables of our own construc-
ton, being providedby Government with tin plates
tin cups knives, fork and spoons, so as to make
the matter of mastication of n little more con
venience than it otherwise would be. Our other
furniture, what little we have, is neither Rosewood
nor Mahogany. but such as we can knock togeth-
er, with the aid of saw and hatchet.
The health of the troops in Camp is tolerably
good some are sick, rs a mater of course to be
expected in community of $4,000 men, as it is
, estimated tat number is here. understand
that the melases are somewhat prevalent but
everything is being done to render the situation OF
the poor fellows as comfortable as possible The
Hospital is admirably managed aud the inmates
humanity treated
pWe are required to drill about four hours
, DER day, and this amount of time, advantage
lusly employed, will soon render the troops
for effective service and ready for action
: when called on. The boys are all anxions fo'
sight OF the rebels and an opportunity to show
them their grit.
e When not on drill the boys amuse them
I selves in various ways, such as running, jun
ping, dancing, pitching quoits, a'd some, too
engage occasionally in game of eucher, o.
seven up for pastime but thus far | hav,
r seen little or no gambling.
Az times, SOluler having fancy lot III
good things of lie, goes on an exploring eX
petition through the neghborhood, and
I certainly is miraculous the way inanimat
e objects walk Off nnceremonionsly immediate
o ly atterward, Chickens and o thcr fowls toe
. disappear nysteriously, and il plump POI
ker should have the temerity to stray insid
the line of scntinels without giving the cour
c tersign, dearly does he pay for his folly
|. Should Madame Brindle, conscious of her 81
perior importance, gravely conclude TO tax
a stroll through the Camp-ground, deput'
ton of soldiers is sure TO wait upon her f
purposes not herein named but l leave Il
Intelligent reader to draw his own conclusion
Occasionally, some one receives a gift fro
"sweet home," and it certainly would
amply remunerative to the donor to see Il
/, boys upon receiving these mementoes, as tht
a siledfly Thank those they have left behin'
IN whose hearts and memories their rene n
;, perance is still fresh and promises continl
d ance.