Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1861-05-17
VOL. XLIII.
lIofrespondence OF ne DeIaWare Ga7
From Cznp DennisoH.
CAMP DENSIsoS, May 9TH, le6

I entangy Guards, with your permission snail
take pleasure in gratifying them occasionally.
| While We remained at Camp jackson,
! through the kindness Of the worthy SupeTin-
tendent of the Lunatie Asyium. Dr. R. Hills,
and his estimable lady, we were provided with
comfortable quarters in that institution, and
had every comfort and convenience that could
be expected or desired. They seemed to spare
no pains in endeavoring to make our stay with
them pleasant and agreeable, and their kind
ness and attention in that respect Nill not soon
be forgotten.
We left Camp jackson on Thursday the I'd
of May, for Camp Dennison. Camp Denni-
son is located in the edge OF Hamilton county,
near little town called Loveland, which
presume, must have taken lis name from the
surrounding country, for so beautiful is it in
appearance that it might truthfully be said to
be land OF love. You can form some idea
Of the adaptation OF this site for the purpose
for which it is now used as it attracted the eve
Of General Scott, ten years ago, and was poin-
ted out by him as an admirable situation for
military camp. The grounds consist of five
hundred acres of level bottom land, Of sandy
SOIL and are surrounded by immense hills, the
sloping sides of which are covered with forest
trees, which, combined with the gureIing
stremlets which dance from their sides and
steal away across the plain in beautiful mean
derings to the river, make a scene of natural
beauty unrivaled in the State; and if batteries
were planted upon the surrounding heighths
an army here of ten thousand men could defy
the world. We arrived at this place about
dark Thursday evening. No arrangements
had been previously made for us, and we were
compelled to camp in the middle of the road,
and after partaking Of q very scanty supper
we retired TO sleep IN the fence corners Upon
the soft side Of pile Of boards. A bout ten
o'clock it commenced raining and continued
all night. 1t is true il was rather discOuraging,
but it was more calculated 10 excite mirth and
laughter than sympathy to see US dodging
around from one place TO another trying to
keep in the dry. After receiving 4 breakfast
Of dry bread in the morning we went to work
notwithstanding the rain, at building our
shantics, (which in military language, believe,
are called elntonments, although they are as
much like an Irish shanty as one egg is like
anoihcr,) and by hight our comps ny had four
completed. We did not, however, fare much
better the second night than We did the first
We were unable to procure sufficient supply
Of straw, ard what we did get was wet, it
having rained all day, ard our ankcts and
clothing being wet through, we retired with no
very fattering prospects for the night. About
midnight we might have been seen in Grcnt Of
our tents, around cur camp-iireS, irving to dry
cut, and after partially Succeeding, again retire
shivcring 20 TO oar p1-lats, with no other pill
low than that of board, (or as was the case
with friend Warner ANA myself the crooked
side of shovel handle covered with wet
staw. Under such circumstances it is unnc-
ccSsary to say that our visions were not as
pleasant as the dreams of him
'-wl.o dreamt he slept in marble halls, &c.
In addition TO having no place to sleep we
were very poorly provided with rations, and
actually suffered for the first day or two, for
tfant of food. You may think it an exagger-
alton, bIt it is nevertheless true, that if you
had tax, a walk along the row of canton
meuts, on Saturday morning, you might have
seen brave, nobe-hearted boys, who
are wiling TO lay down their lives in
their co1ntry's defense. actually crying
for want of something to cat; but this
Vas not seen in either of our companies, al
though we suffered severely. We do not wish
to be understood as complaining or finding
fault with the management Of thosa who have
charge of the commissary department, and
whose duty it is to provide for the army A
number Of reasons are assigned, see from the
papers, why we have not been better provided
for. Some claiming that contractors are not
doing theft duty and are making speculations,
&c, others that our commisSarics are inefi-
cieut, but allow me to suggest 1t may have been
intended as discipline, Let the cause be
what it may, so far as VIC are concerned, we
are enough for it. Not expecting TO go to war
on fowery beds Of ease, We are prepared for
any hardShips that we are called upon to en-
dure, but think it was almost an unavoidable
/ necessity, for which, perhaps, we should not be
/ too hasty in censuring any one, especially our
cOmmissaries. 1t must be remembered that
it was much easier matter to send FIVE thou-
sand troops here than it was to make the ne
cessary arrangements TO provide them with
| food They were collected here so rapidly that
| although in the midst of plentiful country,
provision could not be made for them. But
l have no doubt as soon as the Necessary ar
rangements can be made, we will be provided
y
are very well provided for row, and we only
feel the better for what we have endured
Just as the sensation of heat is increased by
being contrasted with cold, so is pleasure
heightened by being contrasted with misery,
and we are (by such contrast of the present
with the first three days here.) made to feel as
happy in our present quarters as Lords in their
] castles, ald are as contented with our present
rations as so many epicurcans at "a feast Of
of Kings"
There are many ridiculous scenes in camp
life, which l shall not attempt in my present
letter TO describe, constantly occurring to saii-
ate the appetite of the most ardent lover Of
fun, and assist very much in driving dull cul
away and in banishing all thoughts OF the
dangers of war, which fill with terrible appre-
tensions the minds of those who contemplate
it from distance. Many things are INDUCED
in matters of sport that are entirely wrong
Gu some that amount to crime. All kinds o
and mails for food, from beef down. run slim
p chance for their lives, if they come within
raAge of the camp. Several instances have
occurred in which veals and porkers have beer
sacrificed upon the altar of their country, anC
so far as the question of poultry is concerned
if chickens may be said to run and hide at th'
approach Of minister, l think it may bC
safely said that those in the vicinity of CAM
Dennison have strange sensat tions about the
neck at the sight of a button of brass or
glittering plume. Judging from the number
5 of feathers about some of the quarters ont
would naturally infer that the inmates, although
tnhy have strong appetites, must at least hav
FOWL stomachs. But l am happy to say tina
nothing of the kind has occurred with any o
our boys, and that so far as they are concern
ed, the rights of private property have in al
q 4I,o