Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1861-06-07
CAMr DrNNIsoN. Lnne 2 ls61


EDITOR JoURNAL:-There is nothing, probably
more monotonous than camp life. So long as
the officers exercise lenity and patience by grant
ing "passes" to the men, when asked, the men
may wear away some of this monotony by occa-
sional strolls to different parts of the camp, or
by an adventure into the surrounding country.
The routine of duties very soon loses all at
traction and the genius of the fails to invent
amusements that will prevent many of the hours
from hanging heavily.
The past few days have been rainy which has
worked a cessation of drill and leaves the vol
unteers to lounge at their leisure.
A company of Artillery with six l2-pound
guns, carriages, and forty eight horses, number
ing one hundred aud twenty-five men, arrived
in camp yesterday, from Detroit.
There has been no departure of troops from
camp-the number now being somewhat increas-
ed by new recruits in old companies
Uniforms are being distributed among the
men, though it seems that they are given at
present only to the three years recruits. The
reason ofthis proceeding am unable to learn
The guns furnished to troops here, are the old
percussion. For service they would certainly
prove very neffective-entirely useless--to use
against the more improved weapons. 1t is ru-
mored, however, that these guns are TO be re-
placed by those of the most approved patterns
whenever the troops are sent forth for active du-
ty. For the purpose of instruction they are as
good as any.
The health of the camp is as good as in any
community of like extent There are very few
cases of serious character; being generally of
dysentery, colds, measles, and the like.
The men lastly recruited by Capt. Tillotson,
were marched to the Colonel's quarters this
morning, and the usual oath was administered,
and they are now in the United States service.
The vices ofeampa are quite numerous, and the
danger of decentralization is not SMALL yet l am
glad to state that the morality of the men here is
very much better than could reasonably be ex-
pected, and better than is frequently represent
ed. The streets of Camp Dennison present a
much better spectacle as regards profanity,
(which by the way is the vice of camp) drunk
enness and fighting than had expected to find
The Governor of this State has the province ofI
appointing person to the position of Sutler-l
one being assigned to each regiment. A man
whom the boys have christened with various
names, but whose real one am unable to gain,
was appointed Sutler of this Eighty Regiment
This individual, having some large lack of prin-
,iple, and great greed of gain, and having as he
supposed secured a monopoly of trade began to
exercise it, by taxing exorbitant prices for each
little article it was indispensably necessary
or the "boys" to purchase These acts of ex
iortion soon aroused their resentment, and
threats were made that Mr.. Suffers 4grocery"l
would come down. Notwithstanding the de-
on the part of the volunteers, the
sutler kept on his way neglecting to profit by
he murmurings around him. This evening
matters came to an issue. Considerable num-
'ers gathered about the Suffers establishment
md tore do'O' and it laid and still lays in ruins
n the storm Let him profit by experience.
JOHN.