The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1862-02-05


We have now received nearly all our
equipments, and are ready for marching
orders. When we go, or where we 60, we
know nothing more about than you do
General Halkck keeps his own counsel, in
regard to the disposition of the troops,
and regiments only know after they are
started their point Of destination. Prob
ably none Of our Generals have been moro
closed in their counsels than General Hal
leck, and neither tho troops under him,
nor those in command can break down his
reserve. So far, as an executive officer, he
has shown marked ability. What the re-
suit of his plans may be, the future must
tell.
see every newspaper, and newspaper
correspondent, is predicting great on
ward movement in few days. Perhaps
they are right, but it is at most mere con-
lecture, for dear experience has taught our
Generals TO keep their plans 10 themselves,
and there is one thing we should remem-
Der, that the enemy's preparations and
forces have been enlarged and strength
ened with ours the past six months,
and it would be foolish for US to calculate
that the great onward movement, if it
takes place in short time, is to be sue
cessful aLall points. A rebellion of this
magnitude, aud having such country
and such resources TO back it, is not to be
crushed out in one month, or three. |
do not say that in three months from this
time we shall not have it so far subdued
as to make the ultimate result certain !;
but it certainly seems now that nothing
but uninterrupted good fortune, and the
greatest amount of energy and military
skill we can put forth, will, in that length
of time, accomplish even that When
that is done there will be detached forces
fighting in separate States, with the bull
dog pertinacity that desperation gives;
and, in addition to that, in all the States
now in rebellion, there will be sullen,
disappointed, and reckless class of men
conspiring and making dissension and
trouble.
We have had a long night of weary,
weary months, and now none but proph-
ct can tell when day-break will come.
We know light follows darkness in regu-
lar succession, and our faith in the Union
is almost as strong as in tho regularity of
the laws of nature, but the last are divine,
and the first human, and the strength Of
our Union is being tried by population
of twelve millions, with an army of halt
a million fighting on their own soil, and
commanded by able and desperate men.
Let those who dream of peace, speedily,
take hasheesh and get different if not a
moro sensible vision.
The weather here, for the past two
months, has been indescribable-a mix
ture of mist, fog, damp, darkness, coal
dust, slush, rain, hail and snow. A good
many of our men are sick-mostly sore
throats and inflammation of the lungs, in
duced by the climate and exposure. Ben
ton Barracks are located on n bare level
prairie, about four miles northwest from
st. Louis, without fall enough to it to
make it susceptible of drainage, while it
is the basin to catch and hold the water
from the high lands surrounding it. A
more suitable selection for an enormous
mud-puddle, and to make men sick and
uncomfortable, could not be found within
ten miles of st. Louis, in any direction.
Nothing but engineering science, and the
skill of an army officer, could have appre-
ciated its advantages in this respect. The
barracks will remain here proof of his
judgment until they rot down, and then
there will be left plenty Of grave-stones
of soldiers who never saw any foe but
sickness to confirm the wisdom Of bis Sc
lection. But, when l tell you the grounds
were selected by man that parted his
hair in the middle, you will not be sur
prised at the choice. l never knew a
smooth-haired man, or one that parted his
hair in the center, that was not either n
fool or hypocrite. 1t is the mark of odd
ity, stamping them either the one thing or
the other, and it is good plan TO give
them wide berth. Let no such man
be trusted. Now this officer, that located
Benton Barracks, and that might have
kaan a o,oOd Jool &c N MAN - he ,yoy ~