The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-10-01
Correspondence Of the Lansing Republican
Camp Items.

Gsc. l. PARSONS, ESQ, Dear SIR Since WI.
ting YOU from Fort Lyon have had some ex.
pcrieuce in the rough OF soldiers lie. The next
day after writing, We packed our knapsacks and
commenced our march 10 Washington. We
marched through Alexandria within two miles of
the city, when We received orders 70 counter
march to Alexandria, which having done, We
embarked on the steamer Geo. Peabody, arrived
at Washington at o'clock L. NJ. and hivou.
acked near the dock.
The next day TUESDAY We remained in
Washington till night, for the purpose of rest.
ing, purchasing necessaries, and making prepare
tons 10 continue our march. just before we
were 10 start again our camp was thrown into an
intense excitement by one OF our company, W.
IL. Ii. Dixon, of Aurelius, being shot dead by
secessiouist. Some o. the bows had been confs-
eating some at his corn, in adjoining field.
lie rode into the field, what had been done,
and fired three shots from his revolver into a
| group standing on the camp ground, one of them
taking effect aud the others striking in the ground
near by.
Probably no particular man sas aimed at
Some of the privates seized his horse and would
have lynched him Rad the evidence against him
been conclusive enough but the boys had been
firing pistols al day, and "a the man was not seen
10 fire there was chance for its being an scci.
dent The man was pat under arrest, tried and
bound over. Dixon sat Down upon the ground,
moansi twice, and died His body was emhslm-
ed and sent home AT the expense OF the compa-
nv.
That night We recommended our march 70
where We are now encamped, II miles north OF
Washington, into Mar, land We marched 10
| miles that night, and bivouacked for the night.
We marched the other miles the next day and
| bivouacked in a field Of clover. Before leaving
Washing on We lishtened our knapsaGks as much
could by packing our overcoats, with what
else we could possib. spare, into boxes and s,c.
ring them; taking with US our army and rub
Der blankets, aud a change Of shirts, drawers and
socks. This seemed to tighten them very much
but they became heavy before We reached the
end OF march.
Thursday the Adjutsnt was sent Ia Gen. Burn
side to report US. The General ordered US to
remain here till We got tents and rations, the
former Of which We had not received. and the
| latter Of which we had received but very few.
| II seemed tough to the boys To be put upon the
march wihou, anything to eat. They did not
blame the Colonel, he, Ike ourselves, was
compelled to obey orders. but they generally
laid il either to the inability indisposition Of
the Quartermaster. We commenced receiving
EriIay last and t.catV.a our
| tents last Sunday. Oar tents are the A tent and
are very fine, but We fear too large TO be Of use
on the march Shelter tents could not be pro.
cured
On Saturday last division Of troops passed
here on their way 10 the battle field, in which
was the Ist and 4th Michigan regiments, ard
the let Berdan sharpshooters In the 4th saw
Sergt Olms,ed, aud in the Sharshooters Lieut..
Baker. They we're in fine spirits.
| We had expected 10 he called to the field Of
battle before this, and probably shoald if we had
rece.v, d our tents and rst;ons. Last Friday
night, at . o'clock, were called DOT and formed
in line Of battle, and most OF us enpetred ight,
but after We were formed We learned that the
guard had been instructed TO give false alarm,
and that We had been called out TO see how long
it would take Us to form We did il in about ten
minutes, which, | believe, ia considered quick
| for new regiment.
| Some were pretty badly scared, and the whole
thing was the cause Of considerable sport. In
one OF the companies, in the hurry to form, two
men were pierced by the bsyonet, one ia the
face badly. Our company formed nearly all in
the rear rank. Some forgot caps and boots, and
others put on knapsscks and all being fully pre-
pared for the march. One OF Co. A grssped a
spade and rushed 10 the onset. As general
thing Co. A did nobly, and, presume, would
have covered itself with glory bad there been
| chance.
| One OF our number, Julian Love, is reported
az a deserer. Monday, while forming for dress
parade, Lieut. Calkins reprimanded hin, and he
has not been since that night. IL is next
to impossible for him 10 escape home and be
will probably be arrested.
| Most, if 10, all, of your readers are aware
tina, our Captain has been promoted to Major
| He j. gentleman, kind hearted man, and o
good officer. We disliked 10 lose our Captain
but were glad to see him promoted. Lieut.. Cal.
kins ia in command Of the company.
| The friend. Of Henry Baker viii be glad 10
learn tha, be is duly installed IN his ofce that Of
Hospital Steward, and performs his duty TO the
satisfaction Of the Surgeons and the men gene
rally. DR.. Chnbb is acting in some capacity in
the hospital He il endowed with a heart, ard
ia ia place where its goodness can be Eel, and
appreciated Andrew c. Adams is also detailed
in the hospital as Ward Master. VIM. Green,
or Green, the nursery man, "a he . generally
known in Lansing, is with "a AID il Wagon Mas
ter of the regiment Hart Tread.ell Is also
with us "a Sutler.
The regiment has about us on the sick list.
Those from our company are Albert Hudson and
Thomas Douglass. There are others who are
ind isposed, bat are only excused from bali duty.
Hudson has had slight touch of the fever, but
il better now Douglass has the cholic- They
are neither Of them very SICK.
We have just learned that Harper's Ferry has
been taken by the rebels and retsken by the
Federals. and al the same time received orders TO
march TO join Wilcox, about 50 miles We VII
start tomorrow, as soon We can draw and
cook ra,ions for three days. We have had
long rest and are prepared to start.
We received package Of Republicans last