New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-01-25
FROM NIESAoIE:1.
Benton Bnrrnchs- Condition OF Troop
E'Ic, for g;eiler Arris-icciing Of the
ry-YnroutreteuCy OF 0nicsIs.

Icry-9nroutretenC. o. cMcsT%'
Corlts r0ld.nco Of TLc y. \. Tribune.
BENIos B.RHACgs Jan. 10. 1854
Would YOU Ike 10 learn how soldering progresses
n, Benton Barracks ST. Louis Let ne tell you.
Th- is c.lleIa "C Camp Of Instruction" and rs such
might lie made extremely useful under unilorn
s,t;en Of instruction with competent teachers, but
AS We have neither So far as tiey have been dcVei-
ored. Camp Benton cannot be regarded as any other
than Mace Of rendezvous for the Temporary accom-
-nodalion of troops until they sre scnt elsewhore.
There arc what might be called respectable accom-
modatious here for about 10000 soldiers, bu, when
ttese barracks are made to contain twice that num-
Der. thew become unhealthy. Let me explain.
Around and partly on our parGe- ground are ten
long wooden structures, in each OF which there are
ten subdivisions originally ds;gped tor ten companies
81 about 100 men EACH making in all 100 companies.
or 10 OO0 troops. Each one Of these company quar-
iers il alout 20 by 90 feet. Within the last four
pontbs tie commanders of this post have crowded
into each OF these smaller subdivisions two com
ranie- which has had the effect Of packing men to-
gethcr much more deusoly than is done ~ come OF
our moanest prisons. Sureradied TO this, these bar.
rscke have not, until quite recently, been properly
ventilated at the tops-the occupants have oonse-
qnonily had 10 breathe air more or less ll'iated
The weather has al-o been MORT, tie ground wet and
muddy our floors not sufficiently raised, and some Of
our roois eaky. Damp yapors have continually
arisen, causing some To have the nlue aud all To
have colds, while measles, typhoid lever, and the
" humps have attacked ~ VINO have been phNri-
cnl!y prepared for them. The elect Of tho,e causes
ccuLiued hos been t. swo the mortuary statistics Of
Camp Benton TO "A fearful extent. As an EXAMPLE,
tie l-th Regiment Of Iowa Infantry have Loot about
81 within as many days When they entered tins
canp Oh the ,,0th day OF lsst November, they We're
Healthy and eAultant body Of men, proud OF them.
-.ycs and OF cir state, hrd holeiul OF the future
Now they have hot Il, than 100 m the hospitals ~
81 IOuR beside another hundred IN quarteIr not III
for DUTY. Other r,glmen'r baye suffered 70 about
the saI.o extent, perhaps somewhat LEES. behcFe
this il the result Of want OF proper barTaoSs aud
,hn, much, il not most, OF our sekuess might have
been prevented. IL H. terrible 10 see go many strong
men prOstulied with diseases who have tninta out
90 "A ht for their county. IL II certainly much bet
ter economy for our Government 90 keep lie lighting
mon ia good condition and with them b. able to
conn RI p.Acc shon to expose them To- disease, GlI
then be oblgei 10 support and pay them an tue hoe
pitals. Il the Government would appoint n c0mpe-
tent and fnbful Sanitary Comuiisslon 10 Look into
tie health condition Hnd surroundings If ctr sol
di.rs IL would soon dry up great many sources oi
disease. A. it is the troops oi Camp Benton might
have gone through TWO heavy engagements, win
~ O0i Rebels each, aud not suffered more than they
have been suffering from diseuse.
IL lUuhlug around Ltfc, one liAB me opportunity
TO exaInne the different Kinds Of placed In the
hands oi Western troops. Few regiments here have
guns that effective such the Spring.l III riiled
mueket the Enfield musket, rIled, and the revolving
rifle Of Colt. Many have been given arms that
neither safe trust worhy for any distances. For
example the l4th Iowa aud 18th Missouri Infantry
corps have been piled with old Austrian piece,
over 20 wears old, altered TO percussOn-lock, and
ornamouted with graduated sight. Within few
DAYS these guns have been tested by Col. Shaw Of
the litn, and large proportion OF tho.e which were
tIcd did not stand tho ordinary ordnance test but
burt ia all conceivable places between the breach
and u,uzzle At the fractures the metal looked more
like zinc than good gun metal. And yet, many OF
our Northern soldiers are required TO take these old
concerns and win battles with them. Ii We refuse,
then we are threatened with arrest for dlsobedieuce
of orders. Why istlis Why were these miserable
weapons ever purchased by our Government. 10
look at Them one would suppose they had been used
in the Quadrilatern and, having been found TO he
more destructiye 10 the Austrans themselves than
10 the French, they were subsequently, palmed oil
anon the United States to fight the rebel. with. IL
is An outrage 10 place such guns as these III the hands
of Union men. IL they who have the management
of this war were obliged 10 take the held IN person
they would coon feel the necessity OF having The
most approved weapons that could tie obtained. IL
one-half the men now in the field were furnished
with revolving rites OF long range they would prove
much more elective than our whole present force,
ana the cost VI the paw clothing, and subsistence Of
the other bali discharged, would Ia two months
compcusnte for the extra price o. tie weapons
fter which the entire expense Of maintaining ONE
hall of onr army won1 be- saved. In this there l.
nothing impructicable visionary. Every soldier
knows, VINO has been in action, that II IA the fire.
quency, precision and stoadiness oil tho hfst hrtr
TINT check, then sta2ger, and finally overthrow an
eneny. II only small force, by tie rapidly OF
their iiros manage to deceive their opponents
into cxaggrratiOu Of their numbers, II has the
same effect II these imag mary numbers were
really present and engaged without the risk OF
losing lie. This is matter that deserves the
euliest attention OF the War Department.
Tie feeling of the soldery here is strongly in favor
OF Vi grous prosecution OF the war, without regard
to the ,glts Of rebel slaye-Jwncrs. They take th,
posi ion That Il man iOiieils all ight To lie and prop
,rty who railes his Ia stake down this Govern
nent. We have llisted to fight for the Union and
ugans; the rebels; aud ii only he preserved
the Union or Slivcry-the latter aiust give way
ir!iirg av the Iob which We now have on our hands
An W. want il tie chance 10 advance, nud hayin
completed our work, 10 return 10 the loving and In,
loved ones We have lcil behind. Oar country Is H.
deed ar III, but our families also dear, AM
are .ol. 4 Ons lor our return. We are peaceful men
~ p.aceful purtuitf, aud have only volunteered
aid our country la her present hour OF need IL III,
wants "nr assist ance or even our lives, il need be-
there ,gil be no lugging behind; but II she hal
nohiu, for ns 10 DO We ought 10 he disni ssed. TIN
VOLUNTARY, aud, M we hoe, transient enlistment
dOcH give the Government Mt moral night 10 drag
ihis w,r hiOwls rlOng and compel lie citizens 20 lie
atounQ Tor months doing nothing.
One II the mott seious causes Tor complaint IN th'
Wet ic tie InComIetency OF commissioned olfccn