The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1861-06-05
Letter from a Volunteer.
CAMP JOHNSON,
Lancaster, May %, 1861.

Dear Sir.-Sometimes
while thus away old associations will be
brought back to mind, therefore, while re-
viewing past times ! thought of The pleas
ant associations | formed while engaged
npon The STAR and thought wonld drop
line or two for its columns, thinking it
might prove of some interest to IFS readers.
Camp Johnson is beautiful and healthy
place Ii is situated abo1t mile and a
Ealf from Lancaster city, and about qnar-
ter OF mile from the residence of Ex-
President James Buchanan, and is as fine
a place as we'll could have been chosen for
The purpose OF drilling and disciplining raw
recruits for active service II was formerly
used by the Lancaster County Agricultural
Society for holding their Annual Fairs 1t,
as drill ground, is far superior TO Camp
Curtin, but when we first arrived the roosts,
especially the "Buzzard's," were in mis-
erable condition, having been partially de-
s,royed be the Ohio boys and never having
been built waier-tight, the straw had become
rotten by the rain, and we were compelled
10 lay upon the boards, out the next day
we were abundanily supplied with "Irish
feathers and have had them renewed about
every other day since.
Now, a word as 10 our provisions here.
We received very mean, low, and coarse
fare when we FIRST arrived, but il has now
been so that we have had enough, such as
i; is We are told !ha. we receive Govern.
ment rations, and il we keep on receiving
wing. The exposures made through the
Press OF this city has had the effect of max
ing these army swindlers tremble in their
boots. We cannot say that we might have
been served worse when we first came, but
when we ask the reason why such things
then existed, we are told by those above
us, The superior officers, that il was owing
10 the fact that they had so short time 10
make arrangements here for us. The meat
is mess pork, corn and fresh beef. We
have bread, rice, coffee, and beans, there
fore You krow that your humble servant
can get along, for he is terribly fond oil
"baked BEANS" and can make them ''git."
We received a part of our uniforms TO-
day They consist of blue cap, gray
shirt aud pants. We have yet 10 receive
our cloaks and pants; after we get all our
acoutrements included, lookout for we will
have 10 move. This is just what we want,
for came 10 fight and fight we will lave,
if they will only show US chance, and we
will show them the spirit Of the 18th dis
irict.
We are fast becoming perfecl in drill,
and are now under the immediate command
of Brigadier General Megley, who is good
kind and pleasant spoken man, and is in
every respect well fitted for the pos: he
occupies
There are now two regiments here, and
when they are all in the field on dress pa.
rade, they make fine appearance, and
believe present as good material as can
anyw here be found in the United States,
for hard service. THERE'S but one band with
US; il belongs to the 18th regiment, and they
play we'll considering the time they have
been practicing.
We all hoped that we might be in the
.ame regiment with your boys, for here lei
ne tell the people of Bloomsburg and Cat
tawissa, that they presented as fine an ap-
pearance as any company that came into
Camp Curtin while ! was there, yea even
exceIsd all others.
There have teen two or three shot suce
we have been here by the senlinels, while
they were trying to escape by getting ovel
the ience. There was also one man sho
by one of the Lancaster county farmers
while in the act of stealing chickens. He
was out oil the 18th regiment.
The companies here are remarkably
healthy; there are now but Is on the sics
list out oil the 1000 here, and they are no
10 say very i'll, only enough 10 keep then
from performing duty.
must now close but hope you will sent
the ''Siar' along this way occasionally.
Yours truly,
JOHN T. HOWE