Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-07-24

Letter FHOn A DAVENPORT BOY

LIZ En- Nun a ADAVENEOWA 0OA. :.
CAnr DouGLAs, CalcA Aao, H., July ga, 1862.
EDrroRs DENoc1Af 4 NEws: Your eorrespon.
dsats from the battls field ard vicinity have
kept our readers posted coneeraisg ineidsnts
oecsrring in the field. will now. if not pre-.
soming too much on your time and space. cay
. tsw words concerning Camp Douglas and
the duties impos d upon the guard stationed
here. We are engaged in . bu'iness which. II
not as exciting, 10 IS important pars of the
coLtest now waging - that which 10 bei'g
performed by those in active service. Thus.
We enable those better qualified than ourselves
to bag the game while We are engaged in the
.afe.kespiDg Of il, and fatter myself Ne do
1t exceedingly we'll, considering the number Of
escapes 10 proportion with other posts used
tor the reception Of prisoners. A description
OF this place, perhaps, would not be smiss to
some Of your readers who have never visited
1t. 1t lies about two miles and halt from the
city Of Chicago. near Cottage Grove. and about
. quarter Of . mile from Douglas grave. and
about the e4me distance from the Lake shore.
1t covers an arss Of about one hundred and
sixty acres. Is inclossd by high board fence.
with bot one general entrance. A shain Olsen.
tinsls ssand around ID. inside ct distance ef
from eight to ten feet from The fence snd about
sixty feet apart. A picket guard 10 nightly
stationed upon the outside. The ground on
the south sidsot camp. IL very low and marsby.
.>;. - t. H.,
bsM On inch with water. and between the
fence and drain It would b no great feat to
navigate . gunboat of moderate dimensions
from one end to the other. The frogs have
taken up their abode 10 the ditches. and night.
y We are greeted BY mulidous sound original.
ing from the juvenile portion Of frogdom. To
us upon our beats alone. it is . pleasant sound.
and often have stopped and listened 10 the
old croakers. OF still night, you here the
relief guard - it spproachss. the challenging
Of the sentinel. the hush when the countersigu
10 given. the hurried instructions of the re-
lieved to the rsliefIas he falls In the rear and
leaves you alone on yeur beat to consider the
responsibility you have upon you. If tbe
night be dark. you walk your beat and peer
into the d.rkness to ascertain II there be dan
ger, for mind you tho prisoners are - mali.
ciously incIinedlhers - at the South. and vent
their malice by throwing bricks. clubs and
stones At you. and how quick. if you see per.
son. the ''halt!" escapes from your lips. and
you grasp your piece tighter and await the
password. It savors strongly Of active Ger
vice, and TO those who we're never engaged in
the field It is . novelty. The quiet Of the
camp III you can say . camp is ever quiet is
occasionally disturbed BY the attempt ~
sscspe made BY the rebels. Lately an extsn'
aivA Mot vaa discovered whereby . large
number vonld have ..".rod ~. CO.. t.. a;..
closure. They assailed the guard With stones
and clubs. He accepted their respects and
sent . flying compliment or go after them,
which had good effect. 1t is nothing strange
70 hear Of prisoner being shot.
I.hsll have to quit writing. as dinner, the
most important institution in camp. is now
ready The Davenport boys are we'll. and
hope in q short time to again visit home. l
had intended to write longer letter, but i'm
portant business aforesaid dinner) conpels
me to stop. E. II. EDDY.