The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-05-09
FROM PITTSBURG.
GREAT SICKNESS PREVAILING IN GEN.
HALLECK'S ARMY.
The Experience of u Michigan Regiment
In Buell's Command.

PITTsBURG, Tenn, April 25.
The rain has at last ceased, and during
two entire days we have enjoyed fair wealth.
err. The fact created buOyancy of spirits
and hopefulness in the future which can
be realized by no one who has not partici.
pated in the horrors of the rainy season in
Tennessee. Parties have been detailed to
repair, AMI render in some degree passa BILE,
the roads to and from the Landing.
1t is impossible for any person not famil.
lar with the facts to realize the extent of
sickness to which our men have been sub
jected. An idea of its results may be OBJ.
tanned by computing the strength of the
different regiments, as compared with their
original numbers. Those who have seen
our brave soldiers march from home in gall
liant array, with banners flying and ranks
filled to the utmost limit, seeing no evidence
of a change, and hearing but 1.-THE of the
truth, can know but little of the real fact.
This, as it exists, is almost appalling, for
out of the two hundred and more regiments
now composing Gen. Halleck's command at
this place, there is probably not one which
can muster six hundred effective men to en-
ter the battle field. There are many which
cannot take hundred and fifty men into
service. These are the regiments, however,
which were most severely handled at Fort
Donelson, with sickness in the interval be.
tween that event and the battle at this place.
Some of the regiments which suffered most
at Fort Donelson encountered the same fate
here, as for instance, the Eleventh Illinois,
which was reduced one.halt at the former
place, was reduced again 0ne-half by sick
ness during the succeeding two months, and
was again lessened in the same proportion
at this battle. The regiment now consists
of hundred and sixteen men all told.
There are many regiments which have but
two and three hundred, and the majority
will not number above five hundred. The
rest are in the hospitals between here and
home, or in the grave. The 18th Michigan
regiment, without having fought battle,
numbers but five hundred effective men, and
it has not Jared worse than most others.
The fatigues which portion of the army
endured during the forced march to this
place conspired to produce this result. 1
will take as an instance the experience of
General Woods division of Buell's army,
of which the Thirteenth Michigan, Colonel
Shoemaker, is part. The division was
thirty.fv miles from here when the sound
of the guns reached them. A forced march
was begun, and, during the forenoon, a
courier was met, urging an advance to the
relief of General Grant. The rapid march
was continued over road which was next
to impossible, and through deuge of rain.
The way was blocked up by wagons and ar-
tillery, and passage was mostly gained on
the roadside and in the woods. All day
Sunday the army toiled on, and at night
paused only for hasty supper, after which
they resumed the march, and continued all
night on the same weary road, growing
worse at every step. In the morning they
were collected on the bank of the river and
placed on transports that carried them to
Pittsbnrg. They marched, without respite,
to the front, and took their place Just as the
enemy fed. Being tie reserve force, they
were Immediately ordered forward for res
c0nnOlssance in force, and were out all night
in terrible rain storm without tents. The
next day ard night they retained their pc.
siti0n, and it was not until Wednesday
night that they were allowed respite.
They were then without tent for week
longer, sleeping out on the ground, in a
dreuching rain, which fell almost continu-
ally. How human flesh and blood endured
such trials is more than l can imagine
They went through it, however, and, with
the exception of small addition to the sick
list, are none the worse Tor it.