Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-06-17
VOL. XVI.
From rhD sooond CavnItr.
CAMP oP sEcoSD o. V. CAVALRY,
TETT IoES Kansas, May 90 1852

CAMP OF sEooxD o. V. CAVALRY,
Ir7ETE IoLS Kansas, May 20, 1852,
EDIToRs LEADER; An Overruling Prov.
idepoe, always mindful o. tho best inter
ests Of our army, and especially this Reg
iment has seen At to favor as with very
short period Of warm weather, which, in
all probability, is intended as a timely
preparation for our great crusade among
the heathen." Our day of probation is at
an end. The final order has been put
forth. Heneeforth the friends of the regi-
ment in Ohio can have the satisfaction of
knowing that the Second 0, V. c. is duly
engaged in the sacred mission Of regener-
ating the unfaithful and protecting the de-
feneeless. The Second o. V. Cavalry
moves Sunday morning, June lst, for the
Indian Territory also the Ninth Wiscon-
sin Infantry and Rabb's Indiana Battery
To form an adequate idea Of the import
auOe OF the expedition, it is necessary to
know that in its wake seven thousand fu-
gitive Indians viii return to their wig
vans and hunting grounds, whom the
government. Is now subsisting. To rein
state them, y expatriate or slaughter their
enemies, and to redeem the cause of the
Union in that benighted land, are benef-
cial results, the attainment OF which is
worthy the service of our country's best
troops.
Gen. Doubleday is untiring in his labors
to forward the expedition, and energy and
life are manifest throughout the entire de-
partmeht. "A faint hope is rising that we
shall be able to pluck few of the laur-
els in this "bloody contest II victories
over q domestic foe can be considered as
such. Ny humble opinion is that but a
short time will elapse before the cid flag
will again be hoisted over the works of
Fort Smith, and that traitorous rag that
has Haunted to the breeze since the evacu-
alton Of the Fort by Gen. Surgis, win be
trailed and trampled in the dust. Wehope
to have the pleasure Of being transported
down the Arkansas from Fort Smith, and
thence up to Ohio, at an early day l an
aware that the people Of the Eastern States
know but little concerning the condition
of these fugitive Indians that have been
driven from their homes on account Of
their loyalty TO the Government Our To-
cation at present gives US opportunity to
notice them particularly, and the destitu-
ton Of their condition is deplOrable and
pitiful in the extreme. Their encampment
stretches along the NeoshO for distance
Of fifteen or twenty miles, and ride
through one Of their camps gives a soldier,
for the time being, the impression that his
mode Of life is a decided luxury.
Their habits Of life, however, are not
the most fastiduous, and their natural lazi-
ness. pre6liides the idea of very labored
improvement Their time for the most
part is spent in,loitering around, sleeping,
eating, SC. They not unfrequently amuse
themselves with games of ball, terminal
ing in the evening with war dance.
A large party Of officers, among whom |
were Lieut-Col Ratliff, Majors Minor and |
Purrington, and several captains, rode out I
70 lygvsho Falls yesterday, to witness a ball /
play. The eontestants-one hundred on q
side-come on to the ground all armed |
with two paddles, or spoons, with which !
the ball was caught. The game consisted |
in throwing the ball through the open
space made by setting up two posts, about |
four feet apart, and fastening them to-
gether at the top with board. These
frames were placed about fifteen rods apart,
and at the center of that space the game
eommencedg Their wild and uncouth ges-
lures their heetness and alacrity to dodge, /
formed scene not only picturesque, but /
intensely interesting. Frequently they |
would delight you with one, or a series Of |
delicate yells, and then again with laugh /
that would forcibly remind you of the war
bic of particular species Of the feathered /
tribe, called the turkey gobler.p Not the |
least laughable 10 the 0hioans was their |
dress, which consisted Of nakedness, except |
a small breech-clout, worn about the loins. !
1t was pleasant episode for the soldiers, |
and all returned feeling that they could |
much more easily play "Big lnjun." |
In the category Of those now leaving the
regiment and returning home on account |
Of i'll health, have to mention the name |
of Hospital Steward R. D. Burnett. His /
practice in the regiment has been eminent |
ly successful, and great confidence is felt /
in his ability, His tact and skill render |
him deserYedly popular and his loss is
deeply felt More anon. |
- Yours truly, OCCASIONAL.