The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-10-29
Camp ltems.
HEADQUARTERS 10Th Mich. REGr.
In Camp Near Harper's Ferry,

Oct. l7th, 1862.
Csc. I. Parsons, ESQ, Dear SIR $50 far
have written you each time from a different
place, and now write again from another place
still. From this you might judge that We haG
been constantly upon the march and 40 We
have, at least that is all we have yet done Of
any importance, although sometimes We have
remained week or two in place. This inactv
ity, to men in the ranks. seems to be bad policy
year at which the roads are the best for the
transportation Of stores and artillery, and for
the moving Of troops, the time at which the
weather is the best for marching and fighting
in fact, the best time OF the year for active ope
raIions. cay 10 US this seems bad policy, how
ever. We do not pretend to know what should
be the right policy.
We are nov located in place called Pleasan,
Valley, id Maryland, about two miles and a.hali
from Harper's Ferry. We came here Tuesday
Oct 18th. Why We moved 10 not apparent, un.
lees'h is to secure a pleasant camping ground
and be nearer the railroad. The place rightly
deserves its name, for il il indeed a pIeasan,
valley, formed by two branches of the Blue
Ridge Mountains. In time Of peace it must be
splendid place for a country residence. We
are two miles from the rail road sta.ion-Sandy
HoOk-and it seems quite civilized to be once
more where We can hear the trains as they come
and 60.
We are also where We can get good water and
enough Of il, which is quite an item in this
country where such a place is seldom found
Michigan men never bofore knew the value o.
good water. Many times on the march have
seen them drink water in which they would
not wash their hands at home.
Some changes have been made in our Company
since l last wrote. Orderly Ben. Berry ha:
been promoted to Sergt.- Major Of the Regiment
II he suits as well in his new Office as he did il
his old one, he will probably not stay there Ions
but continue his upward course. He lie a uni
versal favorite Of the Company, and they regret
ted his loss very much. Sergt Green is promo
ted to Orderly and transacts satisfactorily in hi
new capacity. As the promotions have beer
made the other non commissioned officers below
have generally been run up leaving vacancie
among the corporals These have been flet
respectively by John Fuller Of Delhi, Jacob Sic
bert Of Manistee, and Edwin Hudson Of Lansing
Sergt. Filler and A. E. Co~les have been detae,
in the Brigade Commissary Department
Lieutenant Chandler, Of the Sth Michigan, il
Brigade Commissary Of this, the I'd Brigade.
think forgot to mention in my last that the ST.
and 18th Michigan are in the same Division viii
US.
Last Tuesday night at IL O'Clock, this brigad,
received light marching orders. or orders t,
march without knapsacks. They broke camp
took their blankets and shelter tents, and wer
of at one o'clock. They have not returned, bu
l have learned that they are at Point of Rock
guarding the river. As Lieuts Calkins An,
Dewey were both quite sick, Lieut.. Allen Of Co
B, took command Of Co. A. They will be bacl
in day or two.
Our regiment received their shelter TEN,
about two weeks ago. Perhaps some of you
readers do not know what the shelter tent is. |
is composed Of two or three pieces of cotto
cloth about six feet by FIVE. Each man takes
piece, and two or three club together; if tw
go together they will button their pieces Of ten
together on one side, throws them over a pol
paced upon two stakes and fasten the other side
70 the ground at an angle Of about forty five de
grees, when the tent is pitched II three ten
together, they can take the extra piece for /.
end which makes it a little more comfortable
They are not calculated for warmth in very col
weather, but serve to keep off the dews ~hic
are very heavy here. Till within a few day:
we have bad very warm days aud very col
and damp nights nov We are having cold day
and nights The weather for the last few ds,
has been great deal like fail weather in ,h
North, it being impossible some Of the time
keep warm With our usual amount of clo,l
ing.
Drummer VIM. Higgins and private Cam
came in the other day from the hospital a, Bal,
more. leaving Sergt. Hsviland and private jim
} merson there some better.
Those Of Co. A too unwel to 20 with the re-,
ment the other night and left behind On III,
account, are Lieut.. Calkins, sick with interim
tent fever and dysentery. The Lieut.. has bee
: very sick. but Is nov little better; Lieu,ena,
. Dewey uish the ehills and dysentery; Corpor
Paddleford, dysentery, but much better; Cor
Fuller. dysensery, also much better. The fe
lSewing ere siek with the dysensery but mos