Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1862-10-21
Letter from The Slcond Wis. Cavalry.
ARMY OF THE SOUTH WEST. HELE Ma ARK,
Co. G, Oct LIST 1862

ARMY OF THE SOUTH WEST. HELE MA ARK,
Co. G, Oct LIST 1862.
Mr.. ER:-Lest our. many friends
in Old Grant suppose from our quietness
that we have been used up, write to you
that yon may let them know what we are
about We are still at the post of Hele-
ma, but how long we shall remain is uncer-
tain. The health of the troops here is
very bad. The effective force of our regi-
ment is reduced to mere skeleton by
parching fevers and other diseases cannon
to this part of Dixie All is quiet in the
army of the South West, with the excep-
ton Of some skirmishing with small par
ties of the enemy, and incidental picket
| shooting; an exception of our men bagged
Ia of Anderson's guerilas in a skirmish
last Thursday. The principle business of
this army since the occupation Of fireplace
having no enemy to contend with, has
been cotton stealing and speculation which
at first commenced at among the officers
but is now practiced by all; il is no longer
confined to cotton but to other secesh valu-
ables. Stealing in the order of the day.
The boys coming in after forage expeei-
tons sometimes try to bring along shovel
plows and OK yokes in their hayersacks.
But the most remarkable theft that has
come under my observation was played off
on Sergeant Miles Of our company last
week it was nothing less than stealing a
grave from him. He had superintendent
the digging of a grave for one Of our de-
ceased men who died in the hospital, and
while he was conducting the burr j escort
with the remains of deceased to the place
of burial the Kansas fifth jayhawked the
grave, placed corpse in it and then went
off Dragging on the fine joke which they
lad played off on the Wis. Second
The army is impatient for something
more active, and will hail with JOY an or
der to move against the enemy. McClel
Ian stock has risen here at last to a premi
um high confdencs and assurance are
felt by all, except few fault finding ones
who are doing more against the union
cause then rebel bayonets. By the ghosts
of Caesar, let the attacks of grumbers be
made against the enemy, not against our
military commanders and the administra-
ton. Let US all do what we can TO right
the errors and corruptions but not pitch
in promiscuously against all our officers,
civil and military. Among the angels Of
heaven there were once rebels; among the
twelve apostles there was Judas, aud
among the fathers Of our country there
was Benedict Arnold. But few months
since the council chambers Of our country
was infested with traitors plotting the over
throw Of our government, of which fact the
executive chief bad the full knowledge, yet
were dumb as an OK, if not one of their
number. So it would be strange indeed if
an army Of such huge magnitude as ours
contained not traitor or rebel sympathi-
serl But heaven was not overthrown;
Judas that BETRAYED the Redepmef Of man
kind failed to effect his designs; Arnold
failed 10 strangle his government. JEFF.
Davis & Co., with their satellites revolving
around them and with Jewish Gun ming,
succeeded in betraying their country at
first; but, like Judas, their very apparent
success must prove their own ruin and the
triumph of our cause. As the tr itor Ar
mold whiled away miserable existence,
without friends at home OF abroad, so will
it be with the traitors-which is my pray
or to Almighty God.
will set peg here and call my letter
closed. JOHN SHowALFER.