, 1862-10-08
RAILROA0 REEIMENT.
Letter f4om Chaplain Dill, Of the s8th
Illinois.

Correspondence Of the Chicago Tribunc1
NEAR LOUISVILLE, October 3, 1862.
The death OF Gen. Nelson at the hand of
Gen. Davis, and the general movements and in
cidents Of the army, are doubtless sent you
BY telegraph long before this will reach you.
With the rest of the army we started, Oct,
1st, without tents orkaapsacks, after the enc
my, and Of the results thus far you are proba-
bly, posted.
We have been transferred to the 9Th brigade,
Gen. Which, ID division, Gen. Alex, Nc
Cook, Of Gen. Buell's army OF Ohio.
The health Of the regiment is improving.
We have only about seventy-fye men on the
eick list, and the most Of them will recover
and rfjofn the regiment. AL the officers, I
believe, are well enough to be on duty, except
Lieuttnants Copley, Rice and Jackson.
Doctor Hama has just joined Us, and brought
With him great box Of nice things sent to
the boys by their friends in Aurora None
but those In camp can conceive the joy with
which these tokens Of love are received, Even
letters are often received with tearful graft
tude- Especially when poor fellow is etck
on the ground, is it comfort to receive news
from home,
After this We shall probably have to be con-
tent with letters and thankful if VIC get them
at only irregular intervals LIS to papers and
packagcs-it is Of very little use to send them.
Such flood Of letters has suddenly poured
into Louisville that it is almost impossible to
distribute them; and there are nonstrous
stocks Of papers which as it eeems to nc, can
never reach their destination. Among these
papers are mittens, gloves, stockings, shirts,
&c, sent BY mail, which can never reach those
tor whom they were designed. Ny advice Is
not to send such things by mail, and to send
extracts from papers rather than the papers
themselves.
Our officers have been very busy lately re-
packing their baggage and reducing it to the
dimensions of carpet bag, which is all they
are allowed to carry. This has furnished work
for EXPRESS companies, whoss dtpats are
cra1nmed with trunks 10 he sent ho,ne- Tue
pf1va'es also are restricted In their baggage,
and have been forbidden to carry pistols or
side arms.
In tact fer month past we hare been see-
lng the inside If camp life, aud learning the
and the difference between the amateur sol
dier in Chicago camps aud the working sol
dier in the field. 1t anybody comes into 1he
army from any other motive than patriotism,
te is, to my mind, either fool or a great
lover OF adventure We know no.hing Of
what is going on in the outside world, and do
rot Know half as much about the army as
those who Are not in it. We eat, sleep, dress
and move under command, aud know 10 req
SONS but the command for anythtu. we d.
and Set these things we bear with joy, know
Ing that the are sacrifices necessary for our
country.
In The sudden assembling Of so great an
army in this Vicinity, it has, Of course been
impossible to make all desisAble pro1i.Iou for
the eick; so that many soldier has peeu with
cut ether suitable toud or medical attend lu:e,
and, While there are Cnfnn ladies here who have,
been Fery energetic and benevolent, 1t IL 70
be remembered that we are, 70 great extent,
in 81 eneny's country. The German 90 puia.
hon Of this region is sincerely loyal, and tue
| soldiers have no.lears Ia purchasing eatahles
Of them or Of the people Of color, but 1t is
different With the native whites.
1t ia great satisfaction, here In Kentucky,
and on slave eoi', TO speak, pray and preach
just IS 1 feel and beli-ve concerning the &C.
CURSED Institution OF slavery, the cause OF all
| cur national troubles.
My work is both abundant and agreeable
| and, although a chaplain has no deiaite mill
tafy duty, dress or authority, get tna Office is
| no sinecure, and would exchange 1t for nc
| Other in the regiment. Willie a Chaplain m u
| become too lazy to cat, yet no man be more
buey or useiul; and no man csu attract tc
himself 60 much Of affection and eratitnde
Our post office address is still at Louisville.
| ]. H. Dill.
| Chaplain Of the Seth Ill.