The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-12-13

platform Of the railroad car, and, as you
were waited along, view the surrounding
scenery, as you passed it in rapid sue
cession Here the old farm house, with
its out-buldings, and next the stately
mansion situated upon some commanding
eminence still onward, through deep
cuts 10 the solid rock, and around short
curves, over green meadows, With their
browsing cattle, and then along aud over
some flowing river and foaming cataract,
in and through some dreary tunnel you
emerge once more into the bright light OF
the MONDAY sun, and a feeling OF dread
passes through your mind, as some grim
monarch of the forest, with ouistretched
branches, seems like some wizard in fairy
tale, intent upon clasping you in its lone
some embrace, and, before you have en-
tirely regained your wonted composure,
the shriIl whistle OF the engine signals for
down brakes, and you are nearly thrown
of your feet by the sudden application
thereof, and, ere you are aware oi il, the
train has stopped. and you are at the
end Of your journey.
Camp Dennison has been so often de-
scribed that there is but little occasion for
me TO say much in the description thereof,
but, at the present time, a few words about
our quarters may not be uninteresting to
many Of your readers, who have friends
and relatives here encamped.
Upon our arrival at the station, a most
dreary prospect opened TO our view. I'm.
agine, if you can, a large fiat, surrounded
by high hills upon every side, crowned by
stunted trees and underbrush, the fiat
itself dotted in every direction with tents
and rough board buildings in the shape of
barracks, with large number OF uni
formed men wading through mud from
the depth Of the ankle 10 the knee. Our
quarters are those used by the three.
months men, and are ia a very dilapdated
condition indeed. The hunks were all
down, and windows the whole length of a
board were plenty, while there were nu-
merous skylights in the roof, through
which the sun shone most beautifully, and
rain and snow fell most plentifuIly. We
all set TO work, and have reduced the
windows 10 a respectful number, and have
blot;ed out all the skylights, and now the
"chiebang" wears an air of comfort that
makes us all cheerful, il not contenled.
Since our arrival in this camp, there
has been decided improvement in our
provisions. During our stay at the Fair
Ground, we had salt pork served up to
us, which, like "Banquo's ghost" would
not go down, but, at every meal, we were
assured OF its presence, both by taste and
smell. Burnt peas were dealt out for
coffee, and bread tina: was harder than the
head Of a contraband, was daily dealt out
10 us. For long time. we were nearly
destitute OF clothing. and we were SO re-.
duced that some Of the boys were in
daily expectation of being obliged to live
upon hay, and wear no clothing, except
spur upon the left heel. Owing to the
bad quality Of provisions served out to us,
many Of the boys were obliged TO pur-
chase their meals at the Suffers, who fur.
nishes them with checks in advance Of
their pay, redeenable in goods at his
counter, for which he charges an enor-
nous profit. This is only one OF the
many ways which are used by those in
power to take advantage Of the brave vol
unteers, and do them out of their hard.
earned wages. When payday came,
which it did as we were leaving the last
camp. the Suller was the richest man in
the Regiment, many of the boys having
spent with him half their wages and some
more. We were paid, on an average,
$50 TO each man.
Every man in the Company enjoys
good health, there not being man from
Co. 6 at present in the hospital We all
think more OF our officers as we get better
acquainted with them, from the Captain
down TO the 9Th Corporal We all honor
and respect them, and we do our best to
please them. Yours, DC,
OLD PO'KEEPSIE,