The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-11-06

CAMP OF INSTRUCT. on, L. s.. S. s.,
WASHINGTON Oct % 1871 (

EDITOR REPuBLIcAN-I had intended to have
written you upon our arrival here, but sickness
together with pressure of business has heen
the cause of my not having fulfilled the inten-
ton. We arrived at this camp On the morning
of the 18th, about 9 o'clock, and were soon
busily engaged in striking our tents, leveline
off our grounds, &c, and at about 4 o'clock
we had ourselves all fixed up for convenient
and comfortable time, in anticipation of stay
ing here for few weeks. We have not yet
received our rifles, and probably will not re-
ceive them for the next thirty days The Colo
mel was called on the other day for three com
panies OF Sharp-shOOters to go over the
Potomac, and l understood he told them as
soon as their rifles were ready the men could
60 into service, and not before, whereupon an
order was Immediately issued for the manutac-
ture of the rifles.
We LETT Weehawken on the evening of the
l4th, at 4 O'clock, and landed at Elizabethport,
n. j., at 6, where We took very poor and I'M
comfortable class of cars for Harrisburg. We
arrived at Harrisburg at o'clock, and en-
barked in rather better cars for Baltimore, after
having been showed and backed around upon
all the side-tracks of two or three different
lines of roads centering at that place, for about
three hours. We found ourselves fairly under
way for the "city of riots" however, at last,
and short time after daybreak we came in
sight of tho guard tonic of che -es;me... ,-h.
guard the railroad track all along from thence
to Washington. The sight of the tents and
the soldiers, as we passe them, gave US such
feeling of delight that we could not keep from
swinging our hats and cheering at the top OF
our voices. All along this route any quantity
of Union flags were flung to the breeze, and in
many cases the ladies would appear at the
windows of the houses and sometimes come
down to the track of the road, and swing the
Stars and Stripes amid the cheers of the SOL
diers and the waving of hats, handerchefs, &C.
could not but think from the evidences saw.
that this section Of the country was strongly
Union. We passed through Baltimore about 9
O'Clock on the morning of the 18th, and took
up our line of march over the Baltimore and
Ohio Road soon after, on board Of a freight
train variously estimated by many to be from
onehalf to two and a half miles in length, and
all the cars nearly filed with soldiers and their
baggage. The distance from Baltimore to
Washington. hnlious, SO 40 n,iiee. ana .ish u5h
we left Baltimore about 10 A. NJ. We did not
arrive in Washington until p. NJ. This is
rather slow travelling for railroads. but is only
a fair sample of the time we have made since
we left home.
Our camp is located about ten miles north
from the Capitol, and is really very pleasant
location. The water is excellent for this local
ity. and the grounds are high and pleasant.
We hear great deal about fights, &C., with
the enemy. but they are generally roorbacks,
are told. think We do not know as much OF the
4. hts and skirmisbes going on here, in our very
midst, as you do in Lansing. We have, on two
or three occasions, heard heavy firing in
different directions but could only guess as to
where and what it was.
saw the Peoples Ellsworth Regiment, Of
n. Y. (44th) yesterday in Washington, where
they had just arrived. This regiment is made
up by one recruit from each town and ward in
the State, and is, think, the best regiment OF
men yet mustered into service. judging from
what have heard said Of them. For able
bodied men they certainly excel anything
have ever seen.
Charles Foster, of our company, has been
quite sick for a a week past, but is able to b.
about to-day. All the balance of the company
are able to be around, although some of the
ague is occasionally visible. Several of the
boys have been under the Surgeons care for q
day or so at time. but nothing serious has oc
CURED in regard to sickness. We do not antic.
ipate leaving here for six weeks yet, and
perhaps not then, as our regiment has now only
three companies, and one of them has only 65
officers and men. More companies are expected
every day. Our company has the second posi-
of honor in our regiment. We are Company
3. I'd Regiment Z. S. Sharp-shooters. aud all
letters directed to that letter will be received
without delay. We look for Lieut. Caulkin.
early next week, when we hope our company
will be filed to the maximum. Should any
matters OF interest transpire within my knowl
edge, shall endeavor to give them to you
the earliest moment
Yours. as ever, JACK.