Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1861-09-11
Camp Correspondence.
CAMP KALoRAMA, near WASHINGTON.
d. c., September I'd, 1861.

ID. C., September "a, 1901
FRIEND Lutte Last Tuesday, the
9th ult General Kings Brigade was
reviewed by Majo, General Clellan, on
the extensive parade ground on the East
OF our encampment. 1t was truly very
brilliant affair. The l4th and 18th
Massachusetts regiments had been trans
ferred and the 10Th New York and
PENNSYLVANIA regiment put i'll their ? h
ces The ID New York Fire Z"uarcs,
who are encamped close to us, were re-
viewed at the same time. The 9Th aDd
9th Wisconsin and 10Th Indiana were
the other regiments. We formed at 8
o'clock A. NJ. in three lines. In the first
line were the 5th Wisconsin and Penn
sylvania regiments. In The second were
the 10th Rev York aid 10Th Indiana.
The 9th Wisconsin and 2d Fire Zoua,es
formed the Sd line. AT about ten o'clock
the Major General rode up the road from
the direction of the city. Hewas mount
ed on q splendid bay horse and accom-
panied 10y Colonel Van Nleet, Captain
Marcy and other aids. a squad of Cav
airy followed a short distance behind
Ae took his position abont hundred pa
ces i'm front of the lines, when immedi-
..tely the ranks wero opened by com
maud of the Brigadier General. The
Major General then approached, aud
when within sixty PAGES of the front line,
was salutet by tue whole Brigados COM
ing to present arms and the music play
ing. We had no Artillery, and there
fore could not fire the accustomed thir-
teen rounds. Tho whole suite then rode
down the front of each line from right 10
left, passing around the left and return
ing to the right by the rear. When they
approached the third line the Major Cen
oral called the attention of bis aids TO the
straightness and beauty of the line of
our regiment. and upon arriving at the
left of it instead of passing Immediately
to the rear, rode up between The ranks,
| taking n mllsket here and there from the
privates and examining it and speaking
kindly to the men. When through he
proceeded to where the Colonel stood,
before the centre of the Regiment. and
told him that his men had kept their
! muskets in the best order of any Regi-
mont in the service having the same kind
of arms tina: they deserved better arms
and should have them; and furthermore,
he wished him to tell the boys what he
had said. May be you think several
rounds of lusty cheers didn't go up for
Gen. Mcclellan when the Colonel formed
the Battalion in close column after re-
turning into camp and informed the boys
what the General had said If you do
then You yet have much to learn of SOL
dier life and character. On Friday the
Colnonei took his requisition for the
promised arms and proceeded to to Ar
senal to have it filled. Whom should
lie meet there but General Mcclellan,
giving orders to the military store keep
or to furnish the 9th Wisconsin with
the best Rifed Musket in the service -
Accordingly, on Saturday, the 3ist alt. :,
eleven hundred Belgian Rihed Muskets.
from the other side of the Big Drink,
were sent into camp, aud aext day the
old altered mt locks were delivered up
and the new muskets distributed among
the companies. re grey uniforms fur
nishe.l us by the State of Wisconsin will
soon be laid aside and replaced by the
regular blue coat and pants of tho u. S.
Army. Those who were at the Balls
Run fight say tho rebel solliery arc
dressed in grey. and that it is not desira-
bic on the battle field to look like tho
enemy. The 81 Wisconsin, ar, now al
tached to General Kings Brigade, and
are encamped close to the 9th. They
say Il at in the fight they were taken
several times for rebels, aad actually fred
into bv the Union forces, hence the he
cessity for the blue suits.
Captain Dll's company is ia good eon-
dition. Private Malerv is still unwell.-
Sergeants Ellis and Converse are both
confined to their beds Mt present, bnt are
not seriously i'll. They are in good spT-
its and anxious for fight. cannot re-
frain Just hero from giving a remark |
heard Rev. Mr.. Knapp of the Govern
ment Military Sanitary Commission
make. He has visited all the campo
around Washington. and it is bis duty
to make reports of the cleanliness and
general sanitary arrangements of Them
He was asked bv Mr.. Bates what aegl
ments be should take VIM. II. Russci TO
visit, as Mr.. Russell desired to visit some.
and says he, al told him to take him to
Massachusetts LIST and Wisconsin 9Th.
Yours truly,