Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1861-12-18
e,,,sD correspondence.
ARLINGTON HEGHTs, Va. D
December %, 1861.

three or four weeks YOU must ascri"e TO
the fact that our huindrum life during
that period has not furnished ANYTHING
either Of interest to your readers or
WORTH to appear in the columns OF the
JOURNAL
Just one week ago to day, Almon
Warren and Samuel Wells procured a
PASS to visit Washington and return that
day. Day after day passed. and the
sufmise that they were IN the custody OF
the Provost Marshal in Washington gave
place TO the suspicion that they too, had
followed in tho footsteps Of Smith, Swan,
and Reed, and become deserters, which
suspicion was confirmed yesterday by
the receipt of joint letter from them,
postmarked Nov 29tb, 1851, in which
thew gave an amusing account OF their
adventure. on their way, and announc-
inc their intention of leaving Boston that
night for Canada. They had about sl6o
hard cash with them when they left.
Yesterday, James and Edward Arm
strong, Seymour N. Colby, and Henry
G. McDouyal, four Of the very best men
III our company, amid the warmest con-
CALCULATIONS and good wishes of their
comrades, left Company b. and in COM
pauy with ten more men, selected from
the various companies in our steady old
9Th Regiment, took up their line Of
march for Upton's Hill to join the Wash
ington Battery of Artillery, under com
mand of Capt. Gibbons, U. S. A.
Thus, within a single week, Company
B has lost six men, four of whom were
the envy and admiration of their com.
rades. while the others have disgraced
their company and covered themselves
with infamv.
Within the last few days, Col. Cutler.
at one blow, put stop to gambling, and
in his remarks to the regiment OH the
occasion showed most conclusively that
he was animated by an earnest desire to
benefit lis "boys." as he generally terms
us, and that he had at heart the good Of
every individual.
The changes that have already taken
place in Company B since we left Pres
colt, little over FIVE months ago, force
one to the conclusion that if the war
lasts three years there will be but very
few Of the men who were in the compa-
ny when we left Prescott with us on our
return. Below l note The changes:-
Private Commodore p. P. McLaugh-
lin, discharged at Camp Randall.
Private Charles Shafer, transferred to
Company II, at Camp Randall.
Privates Smith and Swan, deserted at
Camp Randall.
Orderly Sergeant M. H. Fitch, promo
ted Sergeant Major at Camp Randall,
and now lst Lieutenant Of Company d.
Private Camilus Clark, died at Camp
Kalorama.
Flter George Varnum, promoted Fife
Major.
Private Albert G. Reed, deserted at
Camp Lyon.
Privates Samuel Wells and Almon
Warren, deserted at Camp on Arlington.
1st Lieut. John F. Marsh, promoted
Captain of Company d.
Orderly Sergeant A. G. Ellis, promo
ted Sergeant Major.
Privates James S. Armstrong, E.
Armstrong. S. N, Colby, H. G. McDou
gal, transferred to Washington Battery
of Artillery.
These changes are so numerous that
every time l think of them, I involunta
rIv associate with them the sailors SUI
perstitious idea of rats leaving fated
vessel.
As yet, we have made no preparations
to 90 into winter quarters, and taking
this fact and n statement recently made
in the Washington papers to the effect
that those regiments designed to remain
here were busily engaged in erecting
winter quarters, | think that we may
possibly 90 on an exploring expedition
in search Of winter quarters ere long. 1t
may be that "the wish is father to the
thought"
David F. Jones. Samuel B. French,
and Ole Ginderson are still at the Gen
era Hospital. John Helas is 10 the
RegimentaI Hospital.
Thomas Davies is now doing duty rs
bugler, and William. Pulver as bass
drummer.
Company B is dwarf in comparison
with what it was tho day we left Pres
colt. Since that day, one has died, one
has been discharged, two more have sur
geons' certificates of disability, one has
been transferred to Company H, four
have been promoted to positions in other
companies, two do duty in the martial
band, four have been transferred to the
artillery, four are in the hospital, and
FIVE HAVE DESERTED, making total of
"a.
The JOURNAL of the goth ult. was re-
ceived yesterday, and was most joyfuily
welcomed by the boys.