Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1861-08-21
Sixth Regiment Correspondence.
WASHINGTON, ID. @.
AnonSt. 9Th 1861

DEAR LuTE:-Ihe 9th LETT HafrlSOurgh Ia.
on Saturday Aug 3 at noon and arrived at
Baltimore the same evening at 8 P. M. When
we crossed the boundary line between Mary
land and Pennsylvania we noticed that the en-
tire railroad from the State line to Baltimore,
was guarded by federal troops stationed at the
bridges and along the road at distances of one
or two miles. The troops guarding the rail-
road were partly made up of four companies
of the Wisconsin Fourth and as we mutually
recognized the State uniform cheer upon cheer
for the Badgers was given and responded to
with a will. Our giment occupied three
trains; the first and second trains arrived at
Baltimore some time in advance OF the third,
SO the SIX companies of the 9th regiment then
there were ordered to fall in which we d id
havesacks, knapsacks and canteens on but no
arms save the bowie knives and revolvers car
red by some of the boys. We were marched
four miles without any escort unarmed through
the streets of Baltimore the sidewalks lined
with men, women and children amid cheers
for JEFF Davis. Beauregard. Scott, the Union
varying according to the sentiments of the To-
cality. Women held up in very faces like
nesses Of the arch traitor JEFF Davis and called
for three cheers for him; men inquired where
our arms were, and were told in our pockets.
/ honestly believe that had the same eco men
have attempted to pass through Baltimore with
muskets they would have been attacked, but
we marched along apparently so harmless yet
fill e. t1v
feared we had revolvers and would use them.
We were marched to Pattersons Park which
commands fine view of the Harbor, Fort
McHenry, Federal Hill and Baltimore gener-
ally and about II o'clock the remainder of the
regiment arrived when we threw ourselves on
the ground and slept. Our camp was called
Camp Atwood in honor of our gallant Lieut..
Col and it was beyond comparison the most
comfortable pleasant and beautiful camping
ground we have occupied.
Lest we might think that we were in 10y
al city we received reminder in the shape of
bullets fired at the guard from the cowardly
miscreants of secessionists; they fired one
guards at night and instantly the whole camp
who had that day Sunday )received.their arms
fell in and had two rounds of ball cartridge
served out, one of which we soon rammed
down our gun barrels and then we took up our
line of march for a ride overlooking a ravine
from which the shots had been fired and there
remained from ! o'clock Sunday night till
o'clock Monday morning when we were
marched back to our quarters. For a while
the firing was pretty lively, sentry after sentry
discharging his musket Fortunately no one
was INJURED.
At Harrisburgh D. K. Tenney of Madison
who accompanied the regiment as state agent,
received pretty severe handling at the hands
of some of the officers and men of the regiment.
He insulted two Of our field officers outrage
ously and was Immediately pitched into in
discriminatory by some company officers and
men and had it-not been for the interference
OF the very field officers he had so grossly Ii
belled he would have been killed, as it is he is
in Harrisburgh seriously hurt. learn that he
has been removed from his post as state agent
on account of his conduct.
Last night while preparing for dress parade
we received an order to strike our tents and
be in marching oder in twenty minutes. We
did it, and after having ROUNDS of ball cartridge
served out and fixing" our bay onets we with
out knowing where we were going to were
marched, from Camp Atwood to the Washing
ton depot and at IL p NJ the train started for
Washington where we arrived about 3 this
morning. We marched through the streets
ings, churches, unoccupied houses until our
company being the last was marched to the
park in front of the City Hall where we ar
rived at A. 40 A. NJ Some of our boys inn
mediately spread themselves for asleep while
INDUCED in contemplating smoke and spec
ulative train of thought as TO our destination.
There are now $4,000 federal troops, / am
informed by Washingtonian within circle
of ten miles about Washington, and the ad-
vance Of the traitors under Beauregard is re.
ported only - miles distant, they are report
ed as numbering from 10000 TO 100000 men,
these are reports. ] know not how true or
false they are. We beat the 5th Wisconsin
here, they did not leave Baltimore until this
morning and during the march through the
streets one of the boys was shot through the hip
by an internal seeessionist. Troops are pour
ing into Washington every hour, and l think
we viii have show within the next ten days.
Letters sent to Harper's Ferry Virginia viii
be sent here but for the future address your
letters to Company B. 9th Wisconsin Regi-
ment. Washington, D. c., } . - -.
Our boys are all well, save two or three la
boring under severe diarrhea We are with
out tents and expect orders every minnie to
move to Arlington Heights four miles distant
in Virginia. 1t has eked out that that is our
destination.
must close. The heat is intense, and our
boys are lying around loose among the pass
ages and offices of City Hail. 8
Yours, truly, b. N. Nj.
e~ There are 100000 Federal troops now