Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1862-06-25
From the llth Wisconsin Regiment
BATEsvhLE, Ark. June 9, 1862.

Though but q short time since last
writing, hope you viii not deem he pre-
snmptious in again addressing you, for
the truth is the ennui of camp is such as
to compel one to do something to kill
time
The weater is oppressively warm, and
there being nothing but the regular rout-
inc of camp duties to perform from day
TO day, every species Of amusement IS
resorted to pass time Some Of these, |
am sorry to say, are calculated TO produce
| anything but good morals and virtues in
| those who participate therein. Some al
lowances, however, for the habits con-
| tracted by soldiers, should be made, re
Numbering that there is no restraint of
| kind parents, and no pleasant home and
refined associations, to which we can have
access at pleasure, but the SAM monoto-
nous round Of almost total idleness from
the time we are called out for roll call by
reyillie at sunrise until the beating of
tattoo, at . clock
Our camp being in the woods, no drilling
can be done, more than IN the manual Of
arms, which occupies only one hour per
day, and is the only time we are in any
way engaged The chief Of vice in can p
is gambling, and this to no great extent
Undoubtedly when this unhappy war is
brought to close, the boys will drop these
| habits as readily as they acquired them,
and make citizens Of whom any country
might be proud.
The news of the defeat of the rebels at
Corinth reached us only a day or two
since, and now we have no particulars Of
the affair, no mail having been received
since that time. OF course we are all
anxiety to hear the news, as we feel
| deeply interested on the subject. The
/ last two DAYS rumors Of a battle at Rich
mond have been circulated; one rumor
! has jeff Davis whipped, and another has
/ him driving Our forces lack with great
/ loss. No confidence is placed in either.
4 IS quiet hereabouts with the exeep-
ton Of an occasional meeting Of our cav
airy scouts and rowing bands Of guerillas,
with which the country is infested. A
few days since, party of 90 Of these
robbers were surprised by a party Of our
cavalry, and the whole force taken or
killed. On one or two occasions, our sup
ply trains from RolIa have been attacked,
one train of 10 teams being totally de-
stroye3 by them Other attacks have
been only partially successful These
troubles are, however. growing beautifully
less frequent, as different bands are being
dispersed Gen. CURTIS Is confident that
this section viii soon be thoroughly purged
Of these banditti
On ID inst a small rebel gunboat came
up the White River to Jacksonport, %
miles below here, and destroyed some
cotton, sugar molasses, &c,-contraband
property IN store there,-then dropped
down the river again as quietly as she
came We had only few cavalry men
with two 6-pounders Of the 10Th Ohio
battery there at the time, aud they hay-
ing orders not to modest her This viii
doubtless appear to your readers as to US,
very singular, but we all have confidence
in CURTIS, and think he knew his business
when the order was given
While writing, dispatch telling Of the
capture of Fort Pillow has arrived If
this is the case, we expect to see some of
Uncle Sans transports up the White
River soon. When that occurs, there will
be no more lack Of rations, and our mail
can be taken to and fro with some regu-
larity and safety.
The health of our Regiment is remark
ably good. The country in this vicinity
IS the most pleasant of any we have seen
since leaving Wisconsin. Water is cool
and pure; land rolling and dry, ana the
air, though warm, is balmy and health
full The nights are cool and pleasant,
with heavy dews. Rations, of late, are
more plentiful, though still Of coarse
nature.
Please continue to forward the TRIBUNE
1t is always interesting, and is expected
10 be more 50 hereafter when those let
ters from the gold diggings make their
appearance. Occasionally a newsboy
with St Louis papers 9 days old strays
down here, selling his stock very readily
at 20 cents per copy. Any reading mat
ter is eagerly received at almost any cost.
We ali entertain the hope of being
able to partake os the next Christmas din
ner at home, trusting we may not be dis
appointed, | remain,
Cordially yours,