Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1862-03-19
Signals-1hs Capitol Reg. III, Asibsn


Signal Camp, GEORGETOWN, D. @,
March G, 1862.
Mn. EDITOR :-As Badgers are very
fond Of knowing everything that is going
on, perhaps few lires from a member Of
the eth will be interesting. The regiment
still lies at Arlington Heights. I am not
with it at present, but have understood
that it is under marching orders. | am
detached from the regiment, and am now a
member Of the Signal Corps. AstLjs Is
something new, / viii explain little.
Major Meyers, Of the regular army, has
invented a code Of signals, and men have
been detailed from most eli the regiments
on the Poaomac to learn the code. The
signals consist Of certain motions made
with small flags which correspond with
numbers, and the numbers in turn CORES
pond with the letters Of the alphabet
By means Of tits system Of telegraphing
messages can be sent right through til Ell
emy's country without having them inter-
cepted. a detachment that went from
this camp with the Port Royal Expedition
rendered efficient service in the battle
Another party went down the river a few
days since to Ger. Hooker's headquarters.
We all expect to leave soon, and will be
scattered around among the different di-
visions. There are representatives from Ill
the loyal States, and we have jolly times.
We are mounted and equipped similarly to
cavalry. We are encamped On Red Hill,
in beautiful situation The Landscape
that stretches out before us here is very
beautiful. On the left is the great city Of
Washington. with It's numerous turrets and
towers; above all the rest, reaclling far mp
into the hlnt, IS the capitol. Truly this is
a magnificent structure. / have been
through it several times, and il seems al
NJ the genius aad talent Of the who's
world lave been brought iato action to
beanafy it. Well saay Americans Ae proud
OF Il, have also been to Tie Halls al
CONGRESS where sit our laW eiyefa. You
can imagine the emotions chat would arise
in the bosom Of a boy from ''away out
West" upon finding himself an inmate Of
those old halls whose walls have echoed
back the voices Of the greatest Statesmen
the world ever knew. Bat [ am dieess-
ing from my deerirtien: OH tie right Is
the quaint old city 81 ele3fgetown. hia
is an old fashioned, shabby, forsaken loaF
ing pace, and serves as good representa-
ton Of the effects Of slavery. la font Is
the broad Potomac, dotted oser with little
sail boats and steam tugs. Across the
river, standing bold up against the horizon,
are those oll hills known as Arlington
Heights.
Yesterday received copy of tile
Herald from home, containing a letter
from Rev. Maibeu to Il Canada paper
Once | was a Sabbath School scholar iii
Hazel Green, and | used to love to attend
ana listen to the few remarks that Mr.. al.
would generally have TO offer at the close
Of the school. Then | thought be was a
good man; but since | have been a sol
der and have read several able { . prodnc-
ductions from his pen, | have formed a
different opinion Of him. It is useless to
waste time and space in taking up the re-
bellious portions Of his letter one by one.
Suffice it to say that the whole letter IS
considered by us soldiers entirely beneath
our notice. 1t is plainly to be seen that
his a0iH is good enough to Do all lie can to-
make disturbance between tile two .coun-
tries. For my part, when we get this re-
bellicn crushed, and the leaders of it dis
posed Of according to their deserts, | am
ready TO carry a muaket long enough to
help silence ali such men-"p preachers Of
Christ though they teas viii stay at
home where there are scarcely any iahahi-
tants, save a fw defenceless women and
children, and find fault with our govern
ment. Yes, e}en stigmqtize the whole
American peoll3; HIS the landed brave
~ of the Scottish Chiefs degenefated so
far as this Il is well for the soeealled di-
vine that he is out Of the reach Of our reg
iment. | fear lie would have a worse
opinion Of military law than lie has d
Judge Lynch. / would advise AIN 70 co
on IN the way be has begin, ana get
through venting bis spleen before any Of
The soldiers get home. He reminds me
forcibiy Of dog bating at the moon ia
IN his vain efforts "to DO something for his
outraged, country Our nation, lie Tie
moon, goes straight forward, entirely an
conscious Of the yituperation which al
moniac denagogues may in their madness
heap upon the A'serican people IN this
hour Of danger.
a. Y. RrcnARps.