Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-05-14
LETTERS FROM THE 1NFANTRY-No IS.
ELK RIDGE, Nd, May 10, 1861,
Head Quarters 9Th Req NJ v NJ


camp conveniences after atorty hours drench-
ing in the rain, and l now write you under
the most pleasant circumstances that have
surrounded the regiment since it left home,
though on Tuesday last our company came
near losing by death one of its young mem
bers While engaged in the regimental drill,
one of our men named Minter, fell in the
ranks, and was sent to his quarters. On our
return, we found him in violent spasms, and
he was Immediately sent to our little cosy
hospital it taking four of his comrades to
carry him thther. Soon after his arrival
there, word was sent to Col. Jones and Capt.
Pratt that young Minter was dying of poison
from strychnine, and you can easily guess of
the CONSERVATION it created in the camp,
where pedlers of pies, cakes, &C., were gath
cred in great numbers. By order of the
Colonel every one of them was cleared from
the camp. In the meantime Minter suffered
intensely, it requiring four persons 10 hold
him, but strange to say, after vomiting freely,
he fell asleep, and to-day he has walked out,
much to the Joy of us all, for as yet death has
stricken down none OF us, and our general
health is excellent excepting bad colds, re-
sultng from our exposures here and at the
capital.
The general superstition in regard to the
poisoning of Minter is, that some person pass
ing him when he was on guard, gave him
something to drink from bottle in which the
strychnine was placed, but happily no one
else was caught and while Minter is so de-
blitated that he will have to be discharged,
still he will ultimately recover. The same
evening of the poisoning affair, young Leon
ard, of the New York 9Th regiment, was bu-
ried under arms, he being accidentally shot
Withdrawing the charge in his rifle. AS his
comrades, that bore his body, passed cur
camp, we were all drawn up in line, and
more solemn scene l have seldom witnessed.
Many a heart turned away sad'enough from
the funeral pageant, as it moved on at the
sound of muffied drums to the neat little GEM
etery in the village, where he was buried.
Gen. Butler and staff, and Col. Jones followed
the corpse to the grave.
Yesterday passed as usual, excepting that
last evening was gala one for the regiment
The ladies in village lying in the valley some
hundred rods below us flung to the breeze the
''stars and stripes" aud just as it reached the
top of the flagstaff, three hundred or SO of us
made Elk Ridge valley ring with cheers such
as only soldiers situated as we are can
give, and after that two hundred voices sang,
with cheers and shouts intermingled, the
"Star Spangled Banner" Columbia, the
Gem of the Ocean," and "God save America,
and need say we made the hills and valleys
ring with these glorious songs and our Nation
al Anthem. AT nightfa there was uneom
mon activity in the camp, for the Baltimore
roughs shrSs+sfey pro- come down anu glve. US
S SsntaSt Nth mt siS
for the devils at any hour they chose to come.
Twenty-Five men of Co. B went down on an
extra guard at the bridge, while twelve extra
scouts were sent out to the roads leading TO
our camp, and at some places sentinels were
doubled. and every soldier went to sleep with
his arms ready for use at instant notice. But
the night was passed quietly, though the SEN
tinels fired three shots, which the "boys" say
were aimed, one at the railroad switch, which
would not answer when challenged another at
rolling stone that would not "halt' when the
sentinel told il to, and the third was fired at
"a noise" but each of them brought the wake
full ones to their feet, and made every sentinel
the more watchfuk
The next day was most charmngsone. AT
noon we learned that our tents, that had been
laying at Washington ever since Monday, had
come up; and by P. NJ. we had them in
camp, and those for our company we're pitched
on the extreme south end of the ridge we oc-
cupy We have allotted to us fourteen tents,
which gives us the most ample accommoda-
tions. When our straw comes, as it will to-
day, we shall once more be comfortable. In
the meantime our commissary department is
being well served, and we now have three
meals per day. As matter of some interest
to our friends at home, give you an account
of the rations that are drawn by and served to
the company each day viz. 100 pounds fresh
beef, or 1875 pounds salt meats 100 pounds
crackers, or the same number of loaves OF
bread 6 pounds coffee, II pounds sugar, 6
pounds of soap, 10 pounds OF rice or 10 quarts
OF beans, quarts Of vinegar, pounds OF salt,
and candies. This supply is ample, except
in one two particulars, and first, our men
are all fond of rice and we are now buying it
out Of our private funds but ! do not hesitate
to say to tie citizens of Worcester, that it is a
duty they owe us, who are denying to our.
selves every comfort Of life, to aid us in this
matter, as the expense for the three months,
for extra rice and molasses, will be but about
500. On some rations we can save some
thing, and buy a few comforts for our tables !;
for instance, on coffee we can save a half, and
buy tea with it; we can save some soap and
buy candles, and exchange bread for sugar or
molasses yet as we sometimes want eggs,
we can not do without the pecuniary aid l
name.
This leads me to say word in regard 10
the general management of the quartermaster'
department. under our quartermaster Mon
roe and do say, and but speak the voice Of
the whole regiment in saying it, that it ha:
been most ine6fciently, neghgenty, and recktessi,
managed, and not regiment in the service hd
suffered SO many pricatiOns Of hunger, net, anc
cold. as ne hare; and while l have dsliked t
charge every sin to him that is laid to hi
charge, do say,-and ask you to make j
known, and l stand responsible for its TRUTH
that he is unfit for his place, and ought TO BIT
removed. For four days we have lain here
In a drenching rain, exposed to the cold, damp
night air, with nothing but the most miserable