Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1861-08-28
Letter from sixth Regiment.
HEAD Quarters OF COMPANY SCI }
SIxrG RRGiAEyT WIS. VOLUNTEERS,
Camp Kalarma, Washington, Aug IL.

EDITOR HERALD Previous to my
departure for the land of Dixie prom
ised to drop you a line occasionally. Per-
haps have been tardy in the fulfllment Of
that promise. AS much as | admire
promptitude, | find it utterly impossible to
at all times manifest that degree Of promp-
tituds that /, as a matter of course would,
/ were we surrounded by circumstances in
their nature foreign to those by which we
are now surrounded and controlled.
Submitting this as an apology for my
tardiness, | will now, in my way, attempt
TO impalt to you an idea Of things in gen
eral, existing at this time IN the land OF
Secession. From the fact that you have
other correspondents in Camp, ! presume
that can communicate nothing ew, con-
sequentIy, as writing is notmy best "hold0
will not trouble you with a very lengthy
communication.
We arrived at the city cf Washington
early on the morning Of the 9Th Of the
present month, and went into Camp on
the evening Of the same day. Our Camp
is located the distance of one mile from
Washington, upon very high eminence,
partially overlooking the city; from our
camp also can be seen, as it meanders
through the broad valley, the grand old
Potomac, apon whose broad and placid
| bosom float at all times vast numbers OF
steamers, sloops and men of war, and upon
whose cedar-fripged banks lie luyuriant
fields and howery meadows, while still far
! ther in the distance, as far as the eye can
see, stretches the lately forest robed Ar
lington Heights, which now being cleared
off and dotted over with encampments,
forn perspective as grand and varied as
it is beautiful.
The number of soldiers in our encamp-
ment now amounts to about ten thousand,
the number being augmented by additional
troops every day. The Wisconsin Fifth
and Sixth Regiments are encamped side by
side; the Wisconsin Second is encsrnped
three miles from US. Everything goes on
like clockwork in our camp; good feeling
and good order prevails on all sides, every
man maniiesting an eagernees in fitting
himself properly for the great battle that IS
anticipated soon; each believing himself to
be the hinge on which the whole thing
will turn, acts accordingly.
The health of our clmp is remarkably
good Our fare thus far, though course,
Is wholesome; it consists Of loaf bread,
hard biscuit, pork, beef, beans, rice and
coffee, extras being furnished at our own
expense.
The hustle and excitement incident to
camp life agrees well with me. | now
prefer gunpowder to butter on my bread,
and can sleep perfectly comfortable upon
the sharp edge Of raj.
Within distance Of eight miles from
here there are now encamped one hundred
thousand soldiers, and every man is a
brick TN. nearest rebel eucampnent
isatS entysiliIes. Our Regiment has bad
but one little brush with them as yet; that
occurred While we were encamped in Bal
timore; it resulted however in our favor;
not a man Of us were touched, while three
Of theirs were carried from the field dead
and fourth minus a leg. We are under
the necessity Of laying aside our gray uni
forms furnished by the State, and be fur
nishe1 with blue, as great many Of the
confederate troops have the gray; they
take every advantage ia tncIr power; some
Of them even carry tie stars and stripes
for the purpose Of fighting advantageousiy.
furnish you with list of the Grant
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