Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1862-07-16
Letter fFsn the Sixth Regiment.
CAMP OPPOSITE FREDERICKSBURG. ,

|
June % 1862
FRIEND Cover On looking over nv
papers, | finl, to my astonishment. thai
one year OF my enlistment will soon be zone.
and all IS well with me, while many have
gone to chat bourn from which no travel
ct returns'.
Our good old Giant has not been left
unaffected. Even our conpany. which i
OF the 9Th, Capt Hooe, has not been IN.
noticed by the grim, nonster-death. Syl-
yester Russell while encamped on Arlino-
ton Heights, was seized by disease, taken
TO the hospital, and soon after ca led 20
his flnal resting place. Albert FsA, no
ne comrade, while at the same encanp-
tnent, was suddenly released by his Great
Commanding Ruler, and taken to a more
quiet and happier encampEent. And now
l am called upon to record the loss Of
another worthy member of our COMPANY
another good soldier. He was drowned
Homer Lille. while bathing in the Kappa
hammock river, was seized with a "erainp. >
when current of the ocean tide hurried
hlm beneath the swift rolling waters. We
heard shrek, and when tie words -
"Boys, Q boys" struck our ears, Homer
was beyond help. Had | been in posses
sion Of the great earth could have given
it all to bring him back alive but his body
had gone lifeless down the stream, and lis
clothes only were left to gaze upon as we
carried them back to camp. No painter
could ever give the solemn look of the as
founded comrades in camp, as they beheld
the clothes Of their departed fellow solder
and no poet could ever describe our feel
ings, as we bore such sd tdiugs to the
soldiers and officers. all of whom sharing
equally in the deep regret that SO worthy a
member Of company 9 had been So sud
denly snatched from us. Yesterday two Of
the End Wis. discovered his remains, and
rescued them from a watery grave. He
was dressed in his uniform, placed IN a neat
coffin, procured by our esteened Captain
Hooe, and taken to the company, camped
close by, and from thence to the grove, the
place Of his grave, over which six yollies
were fired as mark Of military honor.
A wooden slab on which may be read
"HoMER LILLE, Co. G, 9th Rec. Wis.
Vol.-Aged 10 years. Drowned near
fredericksburg, Va" marks his last rest
ing place. We left him him to sleep until
the resurrection morn, when we shall ali
be drafted" to fight no more, and in q
world Of heayesly liberty and eternal peace,
sing songs of freedom and salvation forever.
All is quiet about camp save the reports
Of the artillery which is now drilling. The
weather is almost intolerable; there are
never ending days of rain, ana then inces-
SAINT heat The roads are either covered
with cloud o dust, or eneuIphed ID i'm.
fathonabls mud. Disease visits every
camp and frowns upon every soldier.
Sickness or death threatens us all, and real
", life ia stript Of nearly all its beauties
and charms. But the lore Of country and
the prospect Of victory prompts Us 10 en-
dure all.
This brigade, Gen. Gibbons, is now en-
camped On the banks Of the Rappahannock.
The water of this river presents, owing to
the color Of the soil, a muddy appearance.
1t has swift current and tide from the
ocean. The wrecks Of steamers burned to
the waters edge, loaded with grain, is real
" curiosity to behold. The bridge IS 70
feet high and GOO feet long. One week S
bard .l.bor made the bridge formerly 50
worthless, capable Of bearing up the i'm
mense WEIGHT Of long loaded trains that
daily cross it.
Hoping that our army will he successful
ID quelIing rebellion ana restoring pence,
and tGat Ne shall be permitted to return
to our sweet homes, l remain,
Yours. &c. LUKE PARSONS.