Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1862-10-25
Army Correspondence.
CAMP MISERY, D
Near Alexandria, Va, Oct Sd. !
Dear Brother -

4'N"i AAOAuuuiiS1 ' ~ WV oN'
Dear Brother -
When in the course of
human events it becomes necessary that
soldier should leave the hospital to seek
his regiment, is it right that he should be
escorted by strong guard 10 4 camp lit
tie fitted for the reception OF swine You
have been wondering no doubt, why |
have neglected to write, 1t is because l
expected daily to be sent to my regiment,
but / am in this miserable hoe, with no
assurance Of getting away very soon 1t is
just three weeks to night that squad Of
sixty men, left the hospitals to guard
portion of the Z. w. g. b. railroad The
duty was very light and just suited US, as
we we're scarcely able TO join our regi-
ments, though many of Us wished to do so.
Soon an order came that those who had no
blankets ncr overccats should return to
the Provost marshalls from whence they
would be sent to their regiments, after
staying for about a week in Philadelphia,
we were sent on under the del uded hope
OF speedy return to out regiments, where
we were to be supplied with the necessary
clothing. But vain are our hopes, and
we awake to the reality that we are in
camp misery, occupied by about Is 900
convalesceuts, whose deaths are about as
numerous as the flies in a grocery fly trap,
and it would appear to be, of about as
much importance to the officers in charge,
who seem to be set who are either too
lazy or too cowardly to fight, and think
nothing of taunting you with the epithet
of strugglers and de>erters, when God
knows we deserve something better at the
hands OF our government.
As | have alreany hiuted, we are ar
rived here almost destitute of othng
many Of us having lost everything in bat
tie, and here we lay on the cold, damp,
, dirty, ground, with neither blanket nor
=, overcoat; the first night without even a
, tent over Us. The whole camp was one
vast sink, il is the greatest wonder to III,
that pestilence has not broken out ere
this. Some OF the occupants have beer
, here for months. When we came in
noticed several engaged in the very un
pleasant duty OF picking "grey-backs
+, from their clothing. Every breath of all
5 We Inhale comes 10 us with an odor O
q sickness The rations too, are scaut, ant
0 with all this they expect US to obey al
their orders, whe her accord ng to th,
book or not and if We refuse, the guard
> house, which is but little worse finds it
e occupants
/ | am disguised with such proceedings
/ and cant stand it long, for | feel sure !ha
! sickness must follow. l might have hat
, my discharges but did net seek it.
There are thousands here now that vii
never be fit for service, and why asl
o are they kept here to die! The friend
of such should cry out against it aud
= there must be camp of convalescents, lie
' it be conducted with cleanliness and gen
i tility, instead OF Glthipess and brut iiity -
A great majority OF those here are Penn
Il sylyanians and New Workers. VIII th
friends Of these sutf ring soldiers permit
y much longer. If they do hundreds vii
l. die, and the only "bounty" tney will re
/, ccive will be about OFT. Of the sacred so
1t of Virginia.
;. Hoping soon to be removed from here
l Iremaiu yours offectionately.
D. SANDERS.