Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-05-22
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MANY soldiers mere strut about with hiCh
founding titles, dressed IN a little brief an.
thOriiy, from whose gracioas mhjssties one
can scarcely get a bow. 3di s4an ni9o r.
In the ranks, throughout the various reei-
ments, may be found thousands Of soldiers
who have fought 4 score Of actual battles !
veterans who, as they falter out the thrice
told tale Of siege and battle, shake their thin
locks, and speak with Indignation OF the
boys that are put over their heads. Many
Of these are men Of education and inteIlfa
eencei and would grace any position, yet
wear the red shirt of a common volunteer
without complaint,
Among tho corporals and serReants, are
those who were fighting men In Mexico,
and among The brave volunteers, who brought
victory to our glorious standard, after
General Taylor had been twice whipped,
Your dashing boy-Oaptain Of the forty ninth,
fresh from some rural trimming store, passes
such heroes by, without SO much ss q nod.
There are hundreds and hendricks Of our
captains who have brought from the wars
scars of wounds, as mementoes Of many a
bard fought battle, and several Of our higher
officers are men of practical military expert
epce; but evidences Of favoritism In the
disposition of q majority of positions are 80
palpable that l cannot but mark il. q
A standard is presented by the ladies, ap.
plieation is made TO the Governor, and away
they start, off to the wars.
This is the way in which captains are
made. OF course, an election for officers is
held, but that Is managed Ia the same way.
II you will come with me / will show you
whole row ofthem, as they pour over Hafdee
IN their Quarters. They may make good
men. Many of them, with proper i~nstrue-
ton, may attain to eMinence; but if the ex-
igencies Of the times required leaders there
were thousands upon thousands of expe-
rienced, practical soldierE who would have
represented US better, and who were entitled
10 positions without the ranks. They are
sleeping with their red shirts upon straw. 1
would rather follow one Of these hardy men,
who have seen war with all its horrors, than
trust TO a mere young beau.
But It's a common proof
That lowllness Is young ambitions ladder,
Mbereto the climber upward turns his face;
But when he oLoe attsins the upmQst round,
Looks in the clouds scoTniBg The base degrees
By which he aid ascend.
At nine o'clock this morning the quarters
of the Third Regiment were officially in
spected by the officers of the staff. I am told
that the result was highly satisfactory.
At about eight O'Clock of the previous
evening the boys took it into their heads to
prepare for the visit. Huts were thoroughly
clesnsed, carpets u taken up, sofas and otto
mans re arranged, and an extra polish put
upon the tin queensware. Not q straw was
suffered to bangle from the berths, nor a
single cobweb to display the buzzing tro-
phies ofdishouest warfare. Here a stal%art
folder might have been seen clutching the
remnants of a suspicious looking cast off
garment, with which new luster was given
10 ponderous pots and pans; and there an
other, armed with a mateless shoe, standing
guard over an inhabited orihce, lest some
trusnt mouse should rush headlong upon
spotless sheets and immaculate pillow-slips.
Every-where was noise and hustle, and when
tattoo sounded the work was not half com
pleted. Permission was granted the soldiers,
however, TO continue their preparations.
Squads repaired to the adjoining woods
with axes, hatchets, and everything in the
shape of edge tools, and returned bearing
boughs, branches, and even whole trees.
Carpenters were set to work by the commit.
tees OF different companies, to construct
frame. work for the support Of the orna
mental.
This morning the camp wears a gala day
appearance. Trees seemed to have sprung
up within the space of a single hour, and in
the most convenient of places. In the quar-
tiers the decorations display much ingenuity
and taste.
The Inspectors, I believe, award especial
praise to Company +, of Hamilton. Their
passion for the initiating of bird music has
given them the title of Canary Birds" by
which they are Familiarity knownsthrough
ont the camp. Over the entrance of their
main avenue, which had been nicely graded,
a handsome arch was stretched, from the
center of which hung q beautiful wreath.
Within this the distinguishing letter sFn
was pendant. The framework of the arch
was concealed by branches of cedar, and on
its outer edgewere placed the words Canary
Birds" and below the word Hamilton p
the wreath and the letter "F'' joining the
sentences. These letters were formed of
boughs, &c, and were cleverly arranged. A
roof of larger branches was next stretched
from house TO house, over the entire street,
mskipg a sylvan bower, whose inviting
shades formed a pretty retreat for the chirp-
ing Birds" Strange to say, the architect
OF this happy cage was q supposed Spy"
who, upon the night of his arrival, slept IN
der the kind protection of a special guard
Of eight" detailed to protect the sleeper and
the camp from the unknown diversions of
an over.fed nightmare. Thanks to our youth
fnl Captain, he still lives.
The quarters of Company A OF the Gov
ernor's Guard, were also in fine trim. A
handsome arch was suspended at either end
of the principal t~horoughfare, aud in the
center, between the two, q pondrous A was
placed. Each hut was shaded by ~evergreens,
and every musket was Ornamented by a tWig
of cedar. Lieutenant w. A. Swazer, Of this
company, tells me that there is a species of
TtDiggs the boys would rather put before
their guns. l am indebted to this gentleman
for many kindnesses.
Company II introduced a different style OF
arch, which was at once novel aud pretty.
This company has the nickname of Tigers,
and are quite expert in mimicing certain
animals with immodest names. They are
probably better supplied with necessaries and
ipxuries than their ~neighbors, Captain Nc
Dougal being in daily receipt Of boxes, bales
and packages, fst p
The quarters of CompanyC Q, Captain D ana,
pTopIiate notices, put up in every available
location. Company b, Captain Wing, was
not behind, and where yesterday the sun
shone upon the unprotected roofs Of goyerR.
ment mansions, to-day thrives and blooms
a grove of trees, whose Verdaney is not sur
passed even in the wild old woods.
Thesesare but a few Of the companies who
prepared for inspection As much rivalry
existed, / have described them as best /
could, that you may see how, upon extra oc-
c~asions, the poor starved, half clothed, half
fed soldier Wcanwork.
The Third Regiment was duly supplied
to-day, with gray shirts, drawers, shoes and
stockings. Early next week, uniforms will
be distributed to the entire regiment. Goats,
pants and caps, sufficient to equip one thou,
sand five hundred men, are now in tie
Q~uartermasters Department, at the depot
The shirts, drawers and stockings are, o
gray, substantially made, and the shoes, o
course, are made for wear.
General Cox left us on Saturday, on
brief trip 10 Columbus. Brigadier. Genera
SLEIGH oficiates in his absence.
Yours STEPHE.
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