St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1861-08-01

Supposing Mrs. S. to be witness and
jury in this case, and that she entertained
such an opinion then, what do you think,
Mr.. Press, she would say mow, could she
see our men in their andres uniform, as
described by our correspondents in the
army columa ?-ANas.
The people of St. Cloud know that E.
Ball, B. Noel and +. Schafenburg, Saint
Cloud volunteers, privates, came up for a
visit to their friends, preceding Col. Mil
le1's command. They saw and know that
they were substantially clothed in dark
blue cloth pants, grey woolen shirts, black
felt hats, and stout ankle shoes that they
said this was Uncle Sans rig. They had
capital nuskets, bright as a new dollar,
kuapsacks, canteens and all the usual out
fit Of a soldier. Mrs. Cram, of Lake
George, sent for Schafenburg, as he had
no parents here, to learn if he needed
anything to make him comfortable, and
was told he did not. Ball and Noel went
down on the boat with us and after they
went to Fort Smelling their new grey
shirts were exchanged for bright red, such
as all the Others, except the two companies
uniformed at Fort Ridgley, had received
during their absence up here. These
shirts were of heavy twilled flannel and
from their very bright color gave the reg
imens very showy appearance. Of this
We complained personally, particularly
again and again to Colonels German and
Miller, stating that these red shirts made
good targets and must increase the NOR
tality amongst our men.
They replied that this was matter over
which they had no control, that:the cloth
ing was furnished by the General Govern
ment through Lieut.. Saunders, Of the reg
ular army; but that the men were not to go
into battle in that dress. The other eight
companies were to be uniformed like the
two we saw, at Harrisburg, when their
present outfit would be their undress
about camp. We know that both Cor
man and Miller confidently expected the
regiment to be completely uniformed at
Harrisburg, as the agents Of the General
Government had promised. We cannot
see how they or Gov. Ramsay are to blame
for the failure to keep that promise. But
as the men vent from Fort Smelling to
Washington in five days travel by boat
and cars, we cannot see how it is possible
that they could have arrived there in rags,
as King, Of the Atlas, says they did. We
can very we'll understand that they may
have torn their clothes since, on picket
guard, in the Virginia woods; but that
they went to Washington in rags must
certainly be false. If King thought them
so he must have been taking little too
much Of the ColoncPs Bourbon.
In another article in the same paper
the Atas says:
We know that Mrs. Swisshelm, in he,
lengthy account of the departure Of ou,
troops, Maid it on very thick" With
this we find no fault but had it been
good clothing for the neei,, instead Of soft
soder' for an epauleted fcw, it would have
done more good to the regiment, to say the
least.
IF the editor will take the trouble to
read the long account he criticises SO
aippantly, he will find that the "epaulet-
ed Jee0'' had very short mention compared
to the unepaule ted many. We comment.
ed on tho horsemanship of the three
mounted officers, and otherwise giving
their whereabouts and whatabouts without
comment We spent the greater portion
of our time there in tho quarters and tents
of the common soldiers, without the attcn-
dance of any officer, in order to learn their
wants. We found much fault with the
ventilation, the arrangements for sleeping
and the samencss of food. On these
points we did and do think there is great
call for improvement; but the faults that
occurred to us we learn arc universal in
the army, and arc matters beyond the
control of our State authorities. The
men, we thought, should have larger,
heavier blankets, with an India rubber
cloth to spread on the ground. We said
and think they should have a much great
er variety Of vegetable food with fruit and
pickles. We said and think their tents
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