Litchfield enquirer., 1861-10-17
Camp Correspondence.
CAMP ELLSWORTH, 9TH REG. c. ", l
 Go. L. Sept. 2d, 1861. 1

Go. l., SepI Au, 1OO1.
 EDITOR L1TcHF1ELD ENQUIRER. Dear Sir:-
 Being member of the above Company and
 knowing that any scrap of information in regard
 to it would be gladly received by the many in
 Litelield Co.,, who are bound to it's members by
 the various ties of husband and wife, parent and child, and other bonds of affection.
 Ny present purposes, then, will be, to relate whatever may be of interest, either of accident or incident, though I am happy to say that no very serious casualties have occurred in our Company before or since it's arrival in the land where Secession stalks not altogether triumph ant, but rampant, where it dares. In this part of the Country, the rebeli;ous ones, with discre- tion truly commendable, have unbounded re- spect for U. s. hired merceneries. The discre- tion they exhibit may be (however) attributed in part to the fact that number of prominent secessionists are in dUrance vile for giving ut terance to sentiments not altogether in accor- dance with the established principles of the North. To others of the same stamp and for their especial benefit, I would recommend the venerable adage, "An ounce of prevention is worth pound of cure."
 Our company is in g fine condition and pre- pared for any charge the enemy may deem pro- per to make not excepting, Charge Bayonet!- That, disorder which properly belongs to child hoods years, the measles has been raging to quite extent in the Co.,, hut all who were so afflicted are either we'll convalescent. Our number at present is somewhere near 90 men, several having been discharged since our arriv- al here being unable to undergo the fatgues of Camp life The generally healthy state of the Co., proves the fact that Old Litchfeld Co. hills and valleys can send forth men whose robust constitutions are far above the influence of the malasia laden atmosphere of Southern Climate. Men who neither fear the climate nor the chiv- alric Sons of the Sunny South.
 Besides being in good condition, content ulcnt, that, inestimable virtue, seems to have fallen to the lot of Co. l. said dcontented but al- ways with the proviso, however, that the appetite is sufficiently appeased to prevent them from de- vouring raw beef, which stern necessity q am happy to say) docs not seem very often for. al though U. s. has paltiality for plain living, very likely believing that it is most conducive to health and long life. The food that is furnished us is, as I observed, very plain,. sometimes of bread which the cock bakes, the flour being.sup- piled of course, and sometimes we have kind of cracker which is very properly styled, Pilot CT hard bread, it being about the consistence of flint, which you will observe requires most ex- cellcnt teeth to nasticate into particles succnt- ly to be disestcd agreeably Ne also have beef which, in my humble opinion, much respect is due ill consideration of it's age, and think that u s. ought to esches0 altogether, promptly re- primanding any one so culpable as to offer 10 the government the services of poor otd cattle who have done their owners good service, when there are so many young ones who are much better calculated to undergo the fattgues of war Not wishing to tire you, will omit any further detail of the quantity or quality of the edibles that are provided for us.
 Although camp life is usually monotonous, yet there are times when that monotory is brck- en- Such times occur when we are detailed to- perform some special duty which takes us out of Camp a duty which we were called on to do a few days since. We were gono but day, but the time when off duty was employed in ramb- ling about the surrounding country, seeing what we could, hearing what VIC could, and doing what was not in direct violation of the laws we live under. Our demands were simple, extend ing no further than claiming moderate share of the peaches that grow in abundance in this l ceded to with grace, emitting. however, to bid, those who declined to furnish us with the fruit, good bye, slight which was not very deeply regretted. At night few of the boys were sta toned on the highway as picLets. whose duty it was to halt all night travellers, and inquire into the why's and whereforcs of their travelling when people of honest proclvities had retired for the night. If satisfactory answers were given, they passed on if not, they were detain- ed for future examination.
 I will relate a few incidents that occurred du- ring the night. Being :some ways from head quarters, we had not received the conntersign which is the one thing needful in order to pass, unmoested, through line of sentinels. But duty must be performed password or not
 The guard had not stood long before they brought to stop some dozen horsemen and de- manded the word which was given, and of its correctness there could be no doubt, for it was soon discovered that it was Gen. Banks and Staff that had been halted and were just return ing to quarters. In little time after and at a speed which too timid people would have seemed highly reckless, a battery hove in sight, whose errand it appeared was to form junction with another battery, in order to repel rumored at tack of the rebels on Poosville and which final ly proved to be without foundation. On giving ! the password, the two were found to be totally different; while one was numeral, the other was the name of state, explanations were given and all was made right, and the battery hurried l on.
 1 The next visitor was one whom by the diff culty he exhibited in the articulation of his mo- ther's tongue seemed to have gotten the best of the ardent for he had taken it in. The pass word was demanded, and of course the individu- al aforesaid was entirely in the dark, on that point. He loudly declared his innocence of any foul intentions, and most solemnly avering that his wagon contained no powder, magazines or
 rifed cannon Taking for granted the truth of
 this assertion he was passed on rejoicing at his
 escape. no doubt, from the hands of the Philis- tines and mentally yowing that he would be a