The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-03-05
Stray Leaves from Camp-No. l6.
CANr MICH, n. E. VA, !
FL ~ lsea !.

OF the Potomac. Ia the far distance We hear
the lo~ marmurils OF confused sounds-nesrer
and nearer il comes each successive camp
receives the joyful tijings and takes up the ex-
ultant shout. To the growing thunder Of the
tornado as il is tGst heard in the distance and
gradual. Increases uG,l il breaks upon the
alarmed hearer With all its terrible fury, can
these enthusiastic cheers be compared We
hear the coming storm, bat the anxiety is in.
tense 10 know the direct cause. A courier
gallops into camp. The Coloue, mount. stump
and reads the despatch of another Union victory.
Then We send up the thunder of thousand glad
voices. and the outpost knows tha, anoi her vic.
to.y has been won. Our secesh neghbors Quake
With lear AID soon a contr.band enters camp TO
carry 10 his master the unwelcome news. The
long talked Of, but never observed Anaconda
now begins TO show his folds Though he has
embraced and gulped down an immense num-
Der Of Rebels, still he seems unsatiated. and un
IKE ms species generally, aud doubtless much TO
the Inconvenience of traitors, it will not become
torpid, notwithstanding his gOrged condition,
but contrary to the natural history of the animal
the more he Tges the more active and ener-
getic become his contractions. The muscles
near the head Of the animal still remain uumo-
we'd, aud these are the most powerful, what
terrible work will be done when these begin to
act against the enemies Of constitutional liberty.
The sensation papers Ho~ sing the various chan
ges upon" Al eyes are now turned towards
the army Of the Potomac" This may do to sell
papers, but it will not move the army of the
Potomac 1t will not dry up the mud Those
Of your readers who have seen " Harpsrs Week
iy." Of Feb. 22d, can form a very good idea OF
thesroads in this portion Of Virginia In fact it
is the only illustration have vet seen that had
any approximation to truth. To move over such
roads as these an army that must necessarily be
accompanied BY artillery and baggage trains is
,mPose,onn,y. may impat,e
scribblers for the press tell Us Napoleon cross
ed the Alps with an immense army, accompanied
| by artillery and baggage" That though n won
derfu undertaking and project only conceivs.
BILE 10y Napoleon, was comparatively easy, com
pared with the movement Of the army of the
Potomac. Though one nigh, be able to drag
our artillery through the sea of mud, when we
appeared before the enemy's ntrenchments il
would be impossible to perform a single cvolu-
ton which would he fatal to the effective work
Ing OF field artillery. 1t is only but few days
since one Of the best teams -four horses) stuck
in the mud with but two barrels of beef in the
wagon. Though but six miles from the Railroad
it requires nearly all the teams of the brigade to
draw provision. and the wood, about two cords
-four FOOT for each company, per day, must be
in great part, carried on the backs Of the soldiers
| Contrary to my expectation aud to the custom
of the Michigan Sd. we have mt jasr4n~,>nAtns,
a,ive sccurity-trusting to the mud, the cowar-
dice of our enemy and our trusty rifles for safety
We are all comfortably housed and live much
more comfortably than most Of our northern
friends might suppose. We have "Sibley'
tents which are manufactured Of the bes. ducl
Canvass. and in shape like unto hollow cone
with ventilatng apparatus at the apex. The
hose is seventeen feet in diameter. They ad
nit light, but are impervious to wind and rain
Ia preparing them for winter, Sc; up pal
isades four feet above the ground, the edges
hewed'so to Sit closely, plsstered the intersti
ces and banked the outside. The banks ar,
raised ssme distance from the ground, and t.
this We attribute the general good health of tn,
company. There are from ten to thirteen in
teut, which allows ample room for all, though .
home We might consider them close quarters
4 T.. i f,rp ,baJ nit all
chased with company funds. Each tent has it
title aud leader. That these titles are alway
Indicative of the occupants Of the tenu, | al
not prepared 10 say. No. /. Tie Eagles Nest.
The eagles are supposed to nestle under th
wings OF corporal Stevens; No. 2. The g Can
anche Tribe" follow the var whoop Of cOrpor'
Shattuck: No g The Lions Lair" The lior
respond TO the roar OF corporal Blanchard. Tn
: lions have brick floor in their tent No. 4. Tt
Tigers Den," is said TO be the model tent
the brigade It was the first tent in this part
;he army that was raised OIL stockade, thus mi
J king double the roor, besides tending greatly
r protect the health OF the occupants. During i
4 construction it attracted much attention fro
the officers, not only of our own but Of adjoi
ing regiments The floor is closely laid vii
boards which we're appropriated" by the sige
from fence owned BY Col Mason Of the reb
army. Above each bunk is a gun rack for Il
guns and accoutrements Of its occupants, 81
above this . shelf for books, papers, and q
etcs Along the inner side Of the buDks a
seats made of nicely pianed boards, which q
supposed to be Z" sacred" since they once forI
ed part ana parcel Of Olivet church, where fas
ionable secesh were wont to worship the god
slavery before the yankees came ard dehI
their house and destroyed their god. Aroul
the whole structure is planted a row Of cedA
which serves an ornamental As well as usei
purpose. The "tigers" we're formerly represe
ted nv Siverd, but he has been succeeded
corporal Atkinson. No. 5, Lansing Ranger:
commanded BY corporal Wickam. No. 6. La
sing House" Corporal's Church and Newma
propriesors. This is an independent joint sto
company, and the Lansing House in Camp Nix
igan is probably not much unlike the or.gi'
Lansing House where Jipson hrst entertain
travellers in the woods bordering Grand Riv
Ii is built Of logs eighteen by twenty feet
6rs, covered with a dirt roof, but the sacred 5
has such propensity 70 become mortar that
roof only seemed to prolopg the storm.
usually rained inside the house for three d'
after it quit outside, which induced them to
e h.-o lar. Tko oecu0Anta of