The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-04-17
From our Regular Correspondent with the
Kansas Regiment.


from fulfilling my agreements with the
Republican, and now upon my return
1 send You brief outline Of events
which, have TRANSFERRED since my last
communication.
When i wrote you last it was ex-
pected, not only by the people of this
Department, but by the coantry gen.
orally, that Gen. Lane as to command
an army, which was to move from this
1 point Southwark. 1t is needless for
me at this late day to state, for what
reason, this expedition failed. Twill
only remark that with such men as
Gen. Lane and the Pathfinder at
the head of our armies, the Rebellion
ere this would have been matter of
history. They labored to remove the
cause Of the war, believing that by SO
doing the war itself would end. The
Government has seen fit to pursue a
different policy, and as consequence,
such men as Fremont and Lane have
not been allowed to take an active part
in the prosecution of the war. 1t
seems however, that Gen. Fremont is
again to take the field, which will be
hailed by the people of the West as a
favorable omen in the policy of the
Government. The Kansas troops for
the last four months, have done what
the army of the Potomac have been
doing ever since its organization, viz {:
nothing. The Commanding General
of the Department some two months
before he took his departure for the
east, issued general order stating,
that he (Gen. Hunter should command
the expedition known in the newspa-
lpers as Gen. Lanes, in person, and
ordered US to do away with all surplus
baggage, and hold ourselves ready to
march on an hours notice. Troops
were hurried here from Wisconsin and
Ohio, and everything indicated for
ward movement. But alas for human
hopes. All at once our "Hunter was
missing, and with him the Kansas De-
partment, and we find ourselves again
subject to the order of Gen. Halleck.
The expedition commenced and ended
upon paper. The troops as general
thing do not feel disposed to murmur at
these sudden changes .andd .disappoint-
ments hoping that all is for the best.
| A consolidation of skeleton Regi.
ments has taken place, which have re-
suited disastrously to many who were
holding lucrative positions. Their pat
riotism cooled off amazing quick when
their only chance to serve their country
was in the ranks.
! Col. Montgomery has instituted a
more effectual mode of suppressing the
sale of intoxicating drink, than any leg
islature that legislated upon the subject.
The following circumstances will illus
trate his method. The soldiers were
in the habit, Il do not mean all of them)
of getting liquor at a grog-shop in
Mound City and become intoxicated,
which generally resulted in disturb.
ance of some kind, and in two instances
the results were of serious character
one of our gunners became drunk and
when returning to camp, a distance Of
nine miles, fell from mis- horse and froze
to death. Another soldier while drunk
shot one of his comrades. The rum
'. seller had been warned that unless be
desisted from dealing out death, as i,
were, that he would be dealt with in q
severe manner. He paid no attention
to these warnings, but dealt out the
deadly poison by the wholesale. Col
Montgomery sent squad of Cavalry.
one day to Mound City and brought the
gentleman into camp. A hearing was
had and the Col. sentenced him to re.
ceive thirty-nine lashes upon his back,
the following day at O'Clock. This
decision created quite an excitement
among the soldiers, great many being
opposed to the kind of punishment to
be inflicted. When the hour arrived
for carrying out the sentence, the Col.
ordered that each company fall in line
and march to the ground occupied by
the artillery, theregiment to forms hol-
low square around one of the guns.
Considerable difficulty was experienced
in getting the men out, without resort
ing to force. The square was formed,
however, and Co. G and H, each of
which had lost man through the in
fluence of liquor, marched in, escorting
the prisoner to the wheel of the cannon
carriage. Two men were detailed, one
from each of the above companies, to
/ inflict the punishment. They stepped
from the ranks, Invested the prisoner of
his coat, tied his wrists together and
then tied them TO the wheel of the can.