Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1861-10-12
From the 5tn Regiment.
CAMP ADVANCE, !
Sent. 2Sth. 1861. [

may not be a masterpiece, letter from
here is not unwelcome to our old friends
in Wood county.
Since we have moved over to this
side Of the Potomac, our BOYS have
been kept buster than when on the 9TH
or, as we have had to dig trenches,
chop down trees, and drag the tops of
trees, with the limbs cut long, and poir-
ted, forming an abattis over which cav
airy or infantry could not Get. Caval
~, of course, would not attempt it, as
there Is ditch to jump; but infantry
would get badly cut up in trying it
The 2nd Wisconsin had the most
digging Of any one regiment to do, they
having to chop down the timber around
Fort Corcoran, and doing the most of
the digging around it, or at least their
share; besides, they have done their
share around here, and | guess the big
geSt share too.
We started just afterdark from Camp
AaIorama, and arrived here about 3
o'clock. and the next morning had for
/ breakfast two or three hours of choD-
ping to DO. We have got the Fort
completed, and now all that we have to
do is to fight (when there is any fight
ing to be done, stand on picket and on
guard III camp, bring wood and water
for the cooks, eat and sleep, both Of
which latter we do our share of, though
our sleeping has often to be done at in
tervals, Just as we can catch it.
We are just about q mile from Chain
Bridge, and 6 from Washington, the
former being 5 miles from the latter ND
the river, and is one Of the two places
where the rebels can cross the river
without ferrying. We are encamped
on hill right opposite the Philadelphia
Zoo-Zoos, Penn oath, the Maine Sd.
and several other regiments.
[ have to finish this letter while on
picket guard Right in my rear runs
creek, which forms deep ravine. AS
IL usual with the ravines in this coun-
try, it is filed with heavy growth of
timber. Across the ravine, and to nv
right, is the house of an ex-senator or
Congressman, but I forget his name
He is now In the secesh army. and some
OF the boys who have been there, say
that the house has been finished in the
Dest style. In fact, that is the case
with good many Of the houses around
here, and then good many more are
poor, miserable novels. One old man
told me that he had lived 50 years on
his place, and had not been SO miles
away from home in his life, nor had he
never Subscribed for newspaper
/ Il sit on a pile Of posts, with my back
against the tence-my gun on one side,
and canteen and haversack on the 9th
CT. My accoutrements, such as car
tridgc-bo1, cap ditto, pistol and pen
KNIFE, | keep hung to my side, accord
ing to orders. [ have one eve on the
paper, and the other looking out for
squalls.) Up on the hill south Of here,
is the house Of Union man, who has
over 800 acres of land and a large
house, and yet he cannot read. They
say that those who are rich can send
their children to school, while those
who have no money cannot go to school
at all, as schools are scarce here.
Sunday Norning.-I fell asleep wri-
ting your letter yesterday, and perhaps
1t IS lucky, as can relate another item
III brief, incident to the soldiers life
Last night was very cold, and I didn't
have much trouble to keep my eyes
open, but had to walk to keep warm.
Layf Buck, John Brady and Frank
Brown were on the next post to me-
Early this morning we made q good
fire, and then John Brady, jim McIn-
y, A Turnbnll, Sergt. Douglas, coup
lie Of Co. 3, and myself, went over the
hill about a mile and had good break
fast, which cost ns a quarter. Our hos
tess and her daughter, and u couple of
sons (boys, about 10 and l2) had to
flee from the secesh, and have got moth
ing but their bedding. They are east
ern folks, and heartily despise slavery
and its polluted institutions, having had
a chance to see them in every light
l..