The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-11-05

CAMP SIMMONS, Oct. oath, 1862.

CAMP SIMMONS, Oct. Oath, 1852.
As l agreed with you. now proceed
to post up to this date in regard to our
whereabouts and condition. After very
tedious ride to Wellsville we were put
into duty, hog, pen of car, compound
ed Of the itch aud small pox, which, for
tuuatelq for US broke down in ? few miles,
when we were transferred TO decent
carriage, and, with the usual vexatlons of
night ride arrived at Harrisburg on
Tuesday about two o'clock and marched
to Camp Simmons Immediately. There
was but little of the enthusiasm manifest
ed that was shown towards the volunteers
year ago, Occasionally, at towns where
the drafted men were ready to take trans
portation with US to this place we were
received with cheers and parted with by
Tho waving Of hats, hands and handker
chiefs, but generally settled gloom ap
pearcd on the faces Of spectators; proba-
bly, they were thinking Of the time when
their turn would come.
We we're the first draft in Camp; the
record of our acquisitions leading the reg
lister. The volunteers in camp showed a
decided disposition to rdicule the drafted
men by cheers and shouts of derision.
There were many exceptions, however,
apd gentlemen among them fastened to
our quarters to apologize for the rudeness
Of their men and thank US for the timely
aid we were likely to afford them. But
this soon wore off, aud to day there is
probably twice as many drafts in camp as
volunteers. And the cry is, ''stlIl they
come" The roads are everywhere full
of them from morning until night land we
have ceased to look at them or their quar-
ters. AS if by magic, city of tents has
grown up around US and we find ourselves
in the middle of acres and acres of canvas.
There is great contrast 10 the appear
aace of the volunteers aud draft. The
former are many of them mere boys-one
large company of cavalry being composed
almost exclusively of them-while the
latter are generally men Of mature age,
aud look and speak determined.
OCT 25.-Since writing the above We
have been joined by twenty men from
Mexican county, under the command of
I'd Lieut.. Mapes. To-day the Tioga men
came in. We are expecting few of them
to join US and fiji up our company.
must confess | had no idea of the
magnitude Of our army arrangements.
Such vast quantities Of stores and provi,
sions cannot be adequately described by
figures but must be seen to be appreciated.
Aud this for only small fraction cf the
army. TO say so many pounds of bacoa
or bread, SO many thousand tents OF tens
of thousands blankets conveys but mea-
gre idea Of them; but to see box after
box, barrel after barrel, cask after cask
opened, and its contents distributed as
fast as thousands of men can carry them
off, all day long, is to get an idea of what
it takes to keep an army. The men are
generally we'll and feel in the bes, of
spirits Yesterday was election day with
US. After the Mexican men came in a
vote was taken for officers, which resulted
as follows:
Captain--Rufus Rice, Potter.
1st Lieut-E. O. Austin, &c
I'd Liem.-Thomas Mapes, Mexican.
The other officers viii be selected as
soon as the company is fall. The follow
ing is list of all absentees of the drafted
men and their substitutes, with the rea-
son for the absence, of all who started
with US, SO far as is known to me.
Allen Shepherd, enlisted in Cavalry.
III Ei.har q AZ = Il