East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1862-01-07
EAST SAGINAW, MICHIGAN, JANUARY I, 1862.
FROM THE aD MICH. CAVALRY.
cAxp or DESTRUCTION, Benton Barracks,
ST Lnuis Mo- lChrisfmnal Dec. 2b. 1901. (

MS, thought on Christmas, 1860, that on
Chnstmss 1861, Instead Of rising from
our own comfortable feather beds and
rushing for our stockings TO see what old
Father Santa Claus had favored as with,
wc would be turning out Of one OF Uncle
Sans hunks, to buckle on our armor !;
that instead Of " old familiar voices max
ing music on our ear" by wishing as q
"Merry Christmas and Happy New
Year." our ears would be deafsned by the
beating of drums, the blowing Of bugles
and flies, and the neighing of "war
horses" But instead Of gazing upon the
countenances Of parents and friends, we
behold strange faces, with war depicted
in every look instead Of being sur
rounded with "Christmas Gifts" or tokens
of friendship, (perhaps Of more than
friendship, we are in the midst Of cannon,
muskets, swords, and all the warlike inn
plements Of modern times; instead Of
enjoying the delight of sleighride in
our own dear town, with the "sleigh-bells
merrily tinkling," we are marching up
and down q Parade Ground, in an enc
my's country, with measured step to the
music of fife and drum; in fine, in
stead of being our own fathers sons,
we ere Uncle Sans Bold Soger
Boys~ But so goes the world we can
not tell what the future will bring forth.
Three weeks ago, last Sunday, after
ride of 500 miles, without change of
cars, we arrived in "Seccsh." Nothing
interesting transpired on !our journey,
everything having passed off as well as
could have been expected. Immediately
upon our arrival in st. Louis wo were
marched to Benton Barracks, IA distance
of miles from the river,) where we were
enthusiastically received by the 2nd Mich
Reg't, and duly installed in very com
Portable quarters. Everything connected
with them is neat, clean and convenient,
and calculated for the comfort of the
soldiers in every particular. No matter
what may have been Fremonts faults, he
deserves credit for providing for the wants
Of his men in the erection Of comfortab
Barracks. "Give the devil his due"
a more beautiful location for camp
cannot be found it is perfectly level, and
extends mile in all directions from the
Generals Headquarters. The Parade
Grounds are splendid, and are unsur-
passed in the States. There are probably
from IL to $4,000 meu in camp at pres,
ent; but correct idea with regard to the
number cannot be formed, as troops arc
almost daily arriving and departing. The
various branches of the service are vel
ted,-Infantry, Cavalry aud Ar
tillery.
1t is, indeed, a splendid sight TO see the
various regiments out drilling, or on pa
rado; the thousands Of bristling bayonet'
and bright swords, that are to be seer
daily, would astonish person unused tc
the sight. There are some 10000 mer
encamped in this vicinity, as a general
thing fully armed and equipped, SO that
with numerous well-mounted batteries
erected throughout the city, and picket
guards stationed in the surrounding
country, we feel perfectly secure; and
should Price, or any of his tribe, attempt
to pay us visit, he would meet with I
warm reception. He, lately, made The
Wanting boast that his troops woulc
spend Christmas in st. Louis; well, hi
prophecy has been partly fulfilled, as so,
of his marauding gang; with s Colonels
II or Is Captains, and quite posse o
other officers, of different grades, wer,
escorted into town yesterday, by sono o
Uncle Sans nephows, appropriately re
ceived, furnished board and lodging a
the public expense, and furthermore, will
quite a number of attendants, "wh,
? guard them with watchful eys." Thcs
: distinguished guests were, few day
0 ago, neatly bagged by bold and skillfu
I, movement Of Gen. Pope at Milford, abou
n ono IL. ,,.o.t fam, hare Wa hav