The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1862-11-26

a perfec. paradise. The soil must be of
the best quality to bear such crops as it
does, with the kind of tillage practiced.
| have seen, where corn was the fallow-
crop, the darkies fitting the ground for
wheat, three or four in one field, each with
one horse and cultiyator. The thorough
ness of cultivation can be very easily cal
culated, from the fact that the least trench
or pit has to be made with the pick-axe,
and even then good generous blows are
necessary, and with that disadvantage the
crops seem to be good. The corn, at least,
is better than any saw in Ohio or lndi-
ana-of other crops | could not judge so
we'll. Fruit trees do well, especially APP
pletrees; but like everything else are al
lowed to take their own course. But of
all the places for nuts our route beats all.
For miles the road is lined with black
walnut trees, small, bushy-topped ones.
Some of these would have as many as
FIVE or six bushels under them-so thick
that ono could scoop them up peck at
a time. Persimmons, too, grow in great
abundance. There is great inclination
among the darkies to follow the army. l
feel sorry for The poor simpletons. If they
fare half as we'll as l have reason to be-
lieve they do, certainly they will rue it.
Quite number are with our regiment.
l have noticed one poor, old, decrepit
fellow-or rather misunderstanding
along, carrying some Captains luggage.
In his straightest estate +" he stood about
four feet high. Capt. Harry has two con-
trabands with him. They are rather
smart, active fellows, full of fun. On the
start the boys generally were in high glee
over them-to-day the poor darkies wo'd
fare hard, if it was not for this one thing,
they belong to Captain Harry, that will
shield them every time. The Captain
proves to be tho best of fellows. The
straps on his shoulders don't make mite
of difference. Whom his company are on
short allowance, that's just his fix-while
other Captains have plenty and mix only
with those of their rank. Itwould please
you to see the " bristes on sixty backs
rise if any thing is said against him
however, that is rare circumstance since
the boys of other companies have got nc
quainted with him. Lieut.. Woodward
is good officer-very few will bear ac-
quaintance as well. He is good, prac-
tical, common-sense man. We don't
know how to appreciate our officers till
we see how other men are abused. Some
never speak unless in cross tonc-thaL
especially is true of Lieut. Turner, of Co.
E. This is an extra good place to find
out the disposition of men, and more
than that, our marches have brought the
weak mon to light We have twenty-one
men scattered along the road from Louis
vile to this place. Quite number gave
out before marching commenced. We
left ARA Bartholomew at Louisville, but
he joined us at Bowling Green. William
Bartholomew has been with us and stands
it better than some larger ones. James
Hays is another of the hardy men. You
may be acquainted with him-he was at
the Rice House, Grand Haven, as clerk. For
thirty-two days after leaving Louisville
we slept in the open air. AT the battle
of Chaplin Hill a great many of the men
lost all they had-blankets, ovcrcoats,
etc., which made it bad for all hands, as
we had TO divide. We have had very
good weather for marching, but bad for
sleeping The nights are cold and frosty,
the mornings warm and pleasant. The
knapsack that l lay my head on would
be frequently white with frost. If had
met with such exposures at home 1 sho'd
have expected to die surely. But l have
stood it we'll, and to-day am better than
the day / enlisted, and / have not been
sorry once that enlisted. / should like
to know what the weather was in Michi-
gan about the Goth ult. Here we had
about four inches of snow. While at
Bowling Green | received package of
the Free Press. You may imagine
whether they were welcome or not, hay
ing been thirty days without hardly see
ing newspaper, at least one from our
State. They looked like the familiar face
of friend. l ought TO be, as l surely
am, obliged to you for such favor. We