The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-01-08
Stray Leaves from Camp-No. Is.
FORT LYON, n. E. Va,
I<. IN lSef

FoRr LYON, n. E. Va,
Dec. 10, 1861.
EDITOR REPuBLICAS--Dedr Sir: The severe
winter weather that existed at my last writing
has entirely disappeared, and We are now enjoy
ing the bamy Indian Summer of the South
and We were glad to dispense with the usual
quick movements on drill. The roads are liz ex-
cellent condition and this, together with the fine
weather make the army anxious for forward
movement, but We, as well as the nation, are
probably to be disappointed. Tomorrow We
move out four miles for the purpose OF going
into winter quarters. An advance of four miles
in the direction of the enemy, will of course
necessitate, the erection Of new intrenchments
els" will have to be brought from their place Of
rest, and the "dirty hird' will go on to conquer
for themselves new honors, in the matter of
clearing forests and erecting Notifications. The
honorable ~ title above noted, is one of the
laurels showered upon us by our Abrahanic
Division Commander. 1t ia doubtless fact,
that tie faithful have long looked upon the
rags OF the Third with anxious eyes and longed
for the reaping Of the harvest, that would ripen
when the speculation should commence in the
cas-. off clothing of the Third. The meaning of
the above is. that the regiment was public
eensured Cor their un,idy appearance a short
time since. We were probably not the neatest
looking regiment in the service, yet we think
the censure was not merited. 1t was known to
the authorities, that our regiment has no, had a
| full suit of new clothing since We left Grand
Rapids; and when il is considered that wet OF
dry, for the last six months We were in the tren-
ches or iu the woods, should like to know how
they expected US to appear on parade, don,iug
a band box uniform: We were justly proud OF
the newspaper praise We received during the
campaign, for our dexteriiy in clearing forests
and throwing up entertainments, but We did moi
suppose We were expected to keep shodd.
uniform appearing as good as new through al
this service. Notwithstanding our many coloret
raimen, and the fact tina. many Of US sport {
Aag Of truce in the rear, and that most of ou
time has been spent in the trenches, We chaleng,
any regiment in the Division TO excel Us in evo
Iutions of the line, or in the practice of th'
manual or what is better still, in facing III,
enemy.
Though We are nomnally going into winte
quarters and there is no signs of a general ad
vance, still this may be mere "blind." W
cannot fathom the plans of military leaders, an
We would not be disappointed if We were dere
to march in An hours notice nor would We b
surprised if the present army OF the PotoWa
saw no more active service. at least on this field
Sensrion articles are only written to sell th
paper.
The day recently observed in Michigan, q
Thanksgiving, was generally observed by th
Michigan troops on the Potomac There wei
no details for work on that day, ard most of tt
bows managed to have some extra dish, oyt
which they discussed Thanksgiving at home
with its morning service, its afternoon dime
turkey, plum padding, its evening parties an
last, were remembered the friends that iorme
the social circle there. and the whereabou
and occupation Of those friends now. The La
sug BOYS had an oyster dinner, and in the afte
noon, the officers and non. commissioned office
Z of the company had a genuine Thanksgivi,
: feast. The turkey served on the occasion, W
prepared by contraband belonging to a ve
!. aristocratic +. T. Y. Of the maine Of Mason, al
j. certainly no better was ever Sc: before ns, nc
wiihstanding We generally conclude, there q
= no dinners as good as those at home.
We accepted an invitation few days sin
\ to accompany Major Williams on an importa
reconnaissance with which he vas in,rusted I'll
8, dIty was 20 examine the outposts and the cou
try and road adjacent thereto. Our excursi
: occupied two days, during which we travel
. not less than seventy miles. Our route
:, through a variety of country. Now we plun
;, into deep forests Of towering oaks. again
.. emerge into old fields" through these We Va
der and think it strange that these broad acr,
the products Of which, once filed the Golfers