Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-05-15
IOhr Camp Correspondence.
spseIaI Lsners lrem oamp De.nl.su.
HoIEL DE PRIoE HOUSE,, I
CAMP DHNHIsON, May Ia

IL Is seldom that the people who put them
selves hastily forward to please arc those
most worthy Of being known-a truth l
should have recognized many years ago.
With all my experience, my knowledge Of
human nature and practical observation of
men and things, / have been made the dupe
of smooth-spoken CorpOrals, shrewd Ser
geants and sagacious commissioned officers,
in this military encampment. knew that
with our boosted loyalty, our Unborn patriot
ism, love Of country and devotion to pure
democracy, there existed behind all a lurk-
ing vanity, a desire for distinction and hon.
age, which started eur young soldiers in
search OF titles, regardless Of past experience,
and subservient only to future glory.
! am the more impressed with the conVic-
ton of the general prevalence of this aristo-
cratic feeling as j witness the daily conduct
of many of our new officers. The love of
display, the desire TO accumulate gilt trap.
pings and Insignificant stripes, the assump.
ton of military knowledge and the constant
indulgence in the use of military techuicali.
ties, go far to strengthen my belief in the
existence of that love OF praise and distinc-
tion which is as useless as IL is dangerous.
True, you will find Col0nels, Majors, Gen
erals and Captains, with coats off and
breeches in boots, hurrying here aud there,
looking after the interests Of their regiments,
and performing labor which might safely be
entrusted TO a servant; disinterested patriots
who came to battle for their country aud
the honor Of our glorious flag, but these are
exceptions to the general rule.
There is a pedantry peculiar TO young
military men,, who, living much together,
are apt to think themselves and their ac-
tons tie subject of much talk and rumor
among the public at large. This originates
a narfownegs of mind which is never com
mepdabie. And ! would say TO the young
soldier, avoid an exclusive attachment TO the
peculiar habits Of your profession, for such a
course will but serve TO add to that foolish
pedaDtry which ever renders the young pro-
~iessional ridiculous.
began with an aphorism which l in
tended 10 continue, Ia my sketch, of the
woman affair yesterday, / introduced the
initial letter CT a young Lieutenant who
bad no connection with the affair whatever.
Private b., Of another company, was tde
unlucBy hero of the romantic incident add
| hasten to make the dmende honorable. The
gentleman mentioned in my last note is the
popular Lieutenant of Company =, who,
through my W duplicity and the designs
of young jokers, was made to figure in an
sfiair of which he was totally ignorant.
This correction is due the Lieutenant, and l
promise you never TO be sold again.
We have many experienced soldiers upon
ground heroes of the Mexican War-com
panions of General Walker in Nicaragua.
Officers and men are drilled regularly every
day, under the direction of experienced tao
ticians; and every effort is being made to
perfect the military discipline of our troops.
Speeches ere nightly made also, and the ut
most enthusiasm prevails. As trains pass
upon the railroad, handkerchief are thrust
from the windows of the cars, waving con @,
aAsAna -. Al1 MI -
evidences of sympathy, never fail to receive
hearty responses from the soldiers. The
troopsaTe anxious for a bout with the enemy,
and will not be found wanting when the
suspicious time arrives There are nine
thousand as brave and determined men at
Camp Dennison, as will be found anywhere.
Preparations are being made for the re-
ception and accommodation of the boys"
from Camp harrison, who are expected to-
morrow. Crowds loiter around the depot in
the intervals of drill with the hope of a
glimpse of Major or Colonel Anderson as he
passes. An artillery company arrived TO,
day from your city, and a brisk firing has
been kept up since morning.
As ] write, Captain Sill and Major
McCleary, of the regular army, have the
officers of the Third Regiment out upon
drill Each is armed with a musket, aud
they make quite an imposing display. This
exercise is to be kept up morning and even
ing of every day.
There are twenty.fiv v names upon the
sick. list at the Hospital, Mrs. McMeens, the
accomplished lady of our Surgeon, together
with O young relative, Hiss -, ~oficiate as
nurses. There is a held here for Florence
N~ightingales, and | know there are many
fair daughters of the Queen City, who will
gladly volunteer in this humane service.
Hospitals are being erected in each regl-
ment for the convenience of the sick, and
able surgeons are in constant attendance.
Wagons, carts and drays, may be seen al
all times, running over the grounds laden
with goods for the suffers, or water-cart:
supplying the various companies with thai
useful liquid. While upon this topic / mus
confess, that since my s%ojourn at Camp Den.
nison, / have witnessed little or no dissipa
ton on the part of soldlery. Missbapen pack,
ages find their way, at times, into certain
"quarters,n and recently a quantity o
poison % was discovered secreted in a keg o
pickles, while an occasional cauteen of zine
gar is seen peeping from beneath some roomJ
"%bunBi' but nothing in the way of ~intoxicat
ing beverages is allowed upon the ground.
Lines of soldiers make frequent trips "a
the adjacent woods in quest of fuel; this is
not the only log rolling that is done upon the
grounds.
Enterprising engineers, and ambitious sap.
pNIS anu mlnois arc buSl 10 Jay III uFdlQllg
bitches dug near their quarters, for the pur.
pose of drainage. To put aside all jesting
the recent rains, and the probability of more
have rendered this precaution necessary.
There is no quarreling or contention
among the men. The chosen officers ART
treated with the utmost respect, aud all or,
ders, be they special" or general" are
obeyed with promptness and ~alacrity.
A Colonel has kindly promised me a writ
ten "OIder of Exercises" which forms the
soldiers daily programme this you will
receive with my next.
At night we have camp diversities. These
consist of circus performances, lectures
speeches, sermons, &c.
When the soldier has finished supper, anG
his tin plate, cup, knife and fork, arr
c eansed and put away for the night, he fill
his pipe or his mouth with tobacco, anC
s~aunters leisurely to the rendezvous. Here
are gathered volunteers of every size ani
description. Red shirts, old fashioned blue
coats, and brooches with doubtful stripes
form a part of the uniform, and q crowd soon
forms into a respectable ring. A dignifed
VOL who perhaps has figured for years al
the Bar, acts as Ring. master, and the
performance begins. Injun Rubber appears
a supple boy, who, with a mock bow, proceed!
to double himself upinto all manner of posi-
BILE and impossible shapes. At one time hi:
left great toe pays a brief visit to his nose, a
another, both great toes perform a trapel
upon the back of his head, and when his
audience is convinced that he has no bone:
in his body at all, a Canary bird, with fee
encased in paper shoes, and an immense
plug hat balanced upon a large head, enters
the arena as clown. he throws a somer.
sault, springs from feet to hands alternately,
when Corporal Casey is announced for
song. Verse after verse is introduced t.
assure the audience that said Corporal ha,
been "haId up" when the ~Ring-master gives
orders for the passage of the hat. Thi
usually creates a stampede on the part G
the audience, and we obey the cal! of tn,
TATTOO to repair 70 strdV. III
Home Sweet Homep "Red, White anC
Rlna y or the uStAr. snannled RannarW mar