Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1862-11-15
Ttrom the Wise nsin State Journal
A Visit to slgels Corps.
NAsHINeTnN. De-. 80. 1872.

WAsHiNeToN, Oc!. 80, '62.
IF one woult obtain = vivid conception
of tt /. desolation which War brings upon a
land. let him csoss The Potomac at Wash
ington and ride out in the direction of
Manassas. | have just returned from a
visit to SigePs corps, now at Fairfax Court
House. The whole country between that
point and Washington is scene of de-
vastatlon. Here has been the point of
contest between great armies. Here they
have wrestled and pushed each other this
way and that as tickle fortune and feeble
generalship has CHANGED to give one or the
other the advantage Two years ago all
was Leace aud established prosperity
Comfortable arrn-hUu5es sheltered happy
Inmates. Along the roads were smiling
fields showing the husbaudman's care aud
gardens and orchards dotted the waysGe.
The little hanlets Destled about the cross
roads, in the valleys, were the scenes of
quiet Industry or rural gossip. Now the
the houses are tenantless IN most instances.
There is scarcely q vesnge OF tenct to
be seen anywhere Many of the orchard
trees have been cut down; Others have
their bark gnawed off by furnished horses.
The fields know no tlilage but the pressure
Of the soldiers foot or the boot OF he cav
airy horse Batteries trown from every
commanding cminence. The roads are
crowded with army wagons, drawn by
mules with negro drivers. Dead horses and
mul that have succumbed TO oVerwork
and starvation putrify by the wayside
and load the air with stencil. The whole
country swartns with the blue-coated SOL
diers of the Union. One is hardly ever
out of sight of an encampment OF Federal
soldiers all the way to Fairfax Court House,
which is seventeen miles. AT intervals,
the progress OF The traveller is arrested by
guards, and passes have to be display ed
before he can proceed Such Is the sta e
of things which old Virginia has brought
upon Tins section of her domain as tbs re-
suit of her wicked and wanton treason.
The roads are now very good, although
badly cut up by the baggage trains that
continually move over them. They will
be much worse probably before they are
better, and every body is impatient to see
the army pressing forward.
At Fairfax Court House, which is viii
lage about the size of SIN Prairie, in the
midat of pleasant open country, gently
undulating, and not unlike some parts of
Southern Wisconsin in appearance, we
found Gen ochurz very contortbly estab-
lished, his headquarters being iii vacant
house, with fine yard filed with trees in
'front.' A half dozsu camp stools and a
table in the center OF the dining room
constituted the furniture. MILITARY lite
has not changed the appearance of Gen.
Schurz, except to bronze his lace, and give
him more hardy appearance. He wears
nothing to Indicate his rank, retaining his
slouched hat and civilian Dress with the
exception of huge pair of military boats,
which in their vastitude go far to make
up for the deficiency in other military ap
parel. His wife and children are here at
present, and board at an adjoining house.
Gen. S. commands division of Sigel's
corps, and his headquarters are constantly
thrunged with officers coming and going.
These, almost without exception, spoke
In the German language. The sight of
these bearded warriors, and their sonorous
Teutoulc accents, were almost enough To
make one think himself in Wulenstein's
camp, rather than in an American army
But in battle hey strike sturdy American
blows for the old flag In the battles
about Manassas, Sigeps corps stood in the
Imminent deadly breach of peril for sue
cessive days, and calamity withstood the
rebel advance Had the whole army
manifested the same zeal and patriotism,
| solemuly believe the stars and stripes
might to-day have been floating over
Richmond.
Gen Sigel's headquarters were near by,
but did not see him, as he was ill and
had taken to his bed | regret 70 hear
that his health Is quite delicate, so much
so as TO render it very doubtful whether
he will be able long to continue in the
service. The excitement of an active
campaign might Buoy him up, but his
malady threatens To master hun If mac
ton continues.
The Goth Wisconsin, Col Jacobs, were
Just removing their encampment to a
pleasant slope III the shelter OF a grove of
trees to the west OF Fairfax Court House.
The men were in the be,t of health and
spirits. THIS regiment is here pronounced
to be, in material, one OF the very finest
In the army, and when it has become
Thoroughly schuoled in the manual If
arms, 1t will have no superior IT any equal
in the corps Here | saw Lieut. Doms-
chke. late editor of the Milwaukee AtLas,
who has laid down the pen which he Wig
orously welded III behalf of Tree inst,lu-
tions, and taken up the sword to do actual
battle for the maintenance of the Gov
eminent.
The corps of Gen. Sigel is by no means
what 1t should be in respect to numbers,
considering the important position which
it holds, constituting the lett wing OF the
Army OF the Potomac, and covering the
detenses OF w Washington. Many regiments
destined for it have been placed under
other commands, but it is fighting corps,
led by fighting General and though small
in numbers compared with some other
corps, its services in the future. as in the
past, may be far beyond its relative
strength.
Report of Mrs. Harvey-The Ilth Reg
lment at irontOn, Mo.
ST Louis, Nov. 8, 1862.
Coz. Solomon Il have just returned
from IIonton, where the 18th Regime ut
of Wisconsin Volunteers are in camp. |
found them suffering very much from
malarious diseases, contracted at Helena,
and in Arkansas. There We're over one
hundred unfit for duty, and the following
were in tent hospital, under the care of
Surgeon Strong:
Harvey Barnes, Company II, pneumonia
Jeremiah Phelps, f., fever.
CHI 10 2ys snSar