The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1862-03-28
From the Fourteenth Regiment.
BENTON BARRACKS, ST.. LOUIS,
March 90. 1862.
To the Editor of the Pilot :

II is raining to-day, and we ofths Wis
consin 18th, as We ST. in our shirt-seeves
and see through our tent doors the big
drops FLASHING among the newly opened
leaves of the locust trees, and dropping
upon the green sward below, can scarcely
realize that it is only ten days ago we left
The snow nearly two feet deep at Camp
Wood, and everything wearing the appear
ance of mid winter. The weather here is
warm and summer like, and vegetation is
already pretty well advanced.
Benton Barracks are situated Just with
out the limits of the city of St. Louis, and
about four miles from the Mississippi riv-
er. They were erected by Fremont last
summer as Camp of Instruction" The
quarters of the men are long, low build
ings, arranged in such a manner that they
form an oblons square or enclosure for
drilling troops, the dimensions of which
are about mile and a half long by three
fourths of mile broad. The force now
mere does not exceed 5000 or 5000 men,
but | am told that three weeks ago the
number was at least $4,000. We are not
quartered in the barracks, although within
the line of sentinels, and subject to all or
ders issued by the commander of the post.
but have pitched our tents on the State
Fair Grounds, Immediately joining the
barracks, and a beautiful place for camp
| it is.
A very pleasing incident occurred last
week in the presentation to Sergeant Ma
! ior ELDRIDGE of handsome sword, belt
and sash by the members Of E company.
The presentation speech was made by Ser
geant GOODWIN, and was replied to in APP
propriate terms by Mr.. ELDRIDGE. A
similar present WAS made at the same time
to our Orderly, WILLIAM HENRY. as good
a man and true a soldier as ever shoulder
ed a musket Both swords are beautiful
specimens of workmanship, and were pur-
chased in Chicago.
The 9th, 9th and 7th Wisconsin Ar
tillery Batteries arrived here Monday and
left yesterday for ew Madrid, where thev
are to be armed, and equipped in every
particular, with cannon, horses, &C.. cap
tured from the rebels. LAFE SMITH, jim
LANGwoRTHY, BRAD. SMITH, PRICE, and
other Manitowoc county boys, belong to
| the 7th Battery, and were all looking bet
ter than ever saw them before. The 1st
! Wisconsin cavalry came IN yesterday, the
oh and 10th batteries this morning, and
the 18th (lrish) regiment is expected this
afternoon. | understand that an effort is
being made to organize Brigade, to be
composed entirely of Wisconsin troops
and to no one would spoh a consumma>
ton give SO great satisfaction as to the
Badger Boys themselves. | don't like to
brag, but il is generally acknowledged
fact that Wisconsin troops rank ameng the
best in this department of the army. As
we filed through the entrance on first COM
ing here, | heard quite a number insist
that we were regiment of regulars.
The sanitary condition of the regiment
is good-untl we came here it was excel
lent; and even now the cases of sickness
are confined mainly to bad colds and other
trivial complaints. LUCIUs JuDsoN, pri
yate in Co. G, died last Saturday night in
the hospital. This is the first death that
has occurred in the 14th, although he
regiment has been organized upwards of
four months His remains were sent to
Wisconsin for interment on Monday.
do not know how long we shall have
TO remain here-certainly not over week
at the farthest. We are fully equipped
and ready for service; and as soon as the
mules which are to draw the baggage
wagons can be "broken in" we are to 90
down the river, most likely to Tennessee.
Letters directed to "Co. E, 18th Wiscon-
sin Regiment, st. Louis, Missouri" will
reach members of this company, and in
case we move will be forwarded to US.
BiNGEN.