Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1862-10-22


Brilliant Military Norsments-C Con-
cfusion go E
DEAR Lure On Monday last thought
would pay visit 10 the city situated on The
two lakes, the fair Capital Of the State of
Wisconsin
Accordingly at Gas A. NJ embarked on
the cars, clad in clean linen and integrity of
purpose and was soon gliding smoothly along
through the fine timber that covers the West
eru shore of Lake Winuebago.
The day was fne-clear and sunny-and
just cool enough to make travelinY--we had
almost said agreeable-but Mt least tolerable !;
the woods were rich in their fading autumnal
beauties. the last effort of the year at gay tints.
and surely its most successful one sir clear
and pure. the blue sky overhead unspecked by
cloud or mist, and the blue waters of the Lake
rolling up in many a shady bay, almost to
the track beneath us.
Why should autumn be called the rnel.n-
choly time of year SceJ-tme, aud harvest
have succeeded one another, and the year puts
! on its autumn slories and even ~ his deeds
! gid and glory the memory Of good man.
and add lustre to the declining years Of his
] life, 50 nature having accomplished her work
/ OF benefitting man with bounteous harvest,
arrays herself gorgeously in ripe fruit and ia
ding leaf.
There always seems TO ne air of glory
and triumph about those bright autumnsl
tints, an earnest of the perfection Of the sea-
/ son, promise of future blessings
Bet come we shall never get to Madison at
this rate. Fire up there, Mr. Engineer Let
her s moke,' whiz, rattle, jolt, jerk, snatch.
jun p. roll, sprawl. skim, blunder round curves.
through cuttings, up grades. down grades.
no grades at all. Quick change, and here VIC
are looking across Lake Monona at Madison
long piece of enhancing over rart Of the
Lake, two bridges. do. do. and we are in
Madison.
Strolling quietly along past the august por-
| tails of the Capitol House our ears were salu-
ted by well-known voice, eAclaiming in
dulcet tones, d" Well, if there amt Capt. Bob
r. But one look was necessary, Lutte, 10 con-
vince me that those words proceeded from the
| graceful and fragile form of your Infant. He
was stan ding on the stsrs of the Capitol
House, exposing himself in all bis fair pro-
portions, to the admirng gaze of the citizens
Of Mad ison. Due recollections of "seroHd
sight" and vague iGca hat this was aspirit
from the "oiher world. an unsubstantial,
shadowy JoHN DALE from the unseen realm,
were quickly disPelled by hearty grip OF
the hand and a genial welcome from a voice
that had nothing in common with the spirit
world except slight smell of-well, LEMON
! ade.
! On enquiry we found that the Goth Wis.
Vol. had that evening arrived in Madison, A
| fond recollection of many q good man and
true who we knew were to be found there,
urged us to the camp, thithcrwards we accor-
dinghy directed our steps. We found the boys
"virtuous and happy" little used up by the
fatigues of the road but there was no ia
tiguo in the hind, hearty welcome of Arthur
"Kox," Sid. Starr, George Merrick, Dav.
Fulton, and many other " star performers, -
(nothing personal to Sid.) of " Gideon's
Band"
Our military EDUCATION, LUrE, has been
somewhat neglected. the drilling portion of it
hayirg been mainly confined to the blue arti-
Gle generally used for ovcr-alls but still, we
have, here and there, seen troops drilled, and
in our private opinion. the drill of the two
companies from st. Croix and Pierce counties,
Capts. HARTMAN and FULroN. can't be beat,
for the time they have been at it, We did not
see company in the 29th, which was on Bat
talon Drill shortly after. that could anything
like come up to it. have the less hesitation
in saying this from. the fact that heard the
same opinion expressed by an officer OF the
29th, who was standing near me, toa friend
The Fair Grounds at Madison. is a beauti-
full site for a camp, as from the rolling nature
of the ground the barrcks are well drained
and dry, and the same PECULIARLY gives a fine
view OF the men at drill. parade, etc.
After having inspected the various beauties
and celebrities Of Camp Randall, still in COM
pany with the Great John, reiterated slow
lv on the ctv. As we amounted the little hill,
just outside the gates of the camp. ard turned
to look on the scene behind Us. could not
help thinking, as I'saw the long blue line,
topped with the glistening bayonets, wheel,
march, and counter-mareh, and reflected on
the material of which that and most of the
regiments formed III response to this last call
were composed. i could not. I say. bclp
thinking what an wf,ilsolemn thing this war
is. 81 -
Not that the thought then presented itself
to me for the frat time, but a knowledge of
the high talents and abilities of many who
stood in those ranks, ready and willing to lay
aside all that those talents entitle them to, and
to take their chance with the many. brought
the fact nearer home TO me than it perhaps
ever has been before But one more last look,
and farewell to Camp Randall.
Two men up to the Tempt" mot TO pray.
but TO exchange repartce~ith Fuller, at his
Temple of Art-on understanding that we
ere from Prescott, and friends Of the JorR-