Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-01-29

Jesus whata sarpent" A general shout was the
response from his company
short time since parcel Of recruits were
posted a. pockets. when an officer. g. test them.
approached and being challenged. gave the coun-
tersign incorrectly. The soldier in advance sup
posing him 70 be an enemy, IL beng dark, replied,
'Mr that's not right and wishing 70 give the
or,ler 10 ire upon the intruder, instead Of giving
the appropriate command. commenced exclaim-
ing bang. bang. bang. anu at the same mo
ment began 4 retrOgade movement IN "dOube
quick time" Such are some Of the farcical incl
dents which relieve the dull monotony OF camp
lite when the enemy are az a respectable distance.
But while on the subject OF military orders, 10
nav not be amiss 10 mention that Gen. Lander
at the battle OF Rich Mountain gave some com
mands not found in the books. Having ordered
a portion Of the command upon the enemy's right
flank, and when our men we're protected by
ledge Of rocks. the General took his stand on
the rocks ane ordered down boys and load-now
no and give them h--ll," both of which the bows
did right calamity. and those who ought to know
assert that the very small loss OF life the part
of the Federal forces. chiefly TO be attributed
10 the terrible FIRE of his small squad. from which
it may be fairly concluded that precision of Ian
guage and strict conformity to the formulas in
the book are by no means necessary tn effective
operations against the enemy. IL has been often
remark ed and with much truth that men in bar
tie unconscously," and It's not N the least
surprising they should, for il is enough to make
az piOusy inclined man as nv humble self swear
when he thinks OF the objectionable wickedness
of those who brought about this unnatural war
swearing won't do, else the ConfeJerates we're
certain OF success; something more serious is nee
essary and General Lander * quite conscious OF
the fact-and hence he Is determined 20 hurt
somebody" or get somebody hurt"
We have just received the news Of the victory
at Somerset, and the boys all Freezing Tor
a dash on their own account fearing that If an
opportunity do not soon offer they will forget
how the thing Is done.
We have here the 18th and 1th Indiana, which
with the 18th insures victory whenever they en-
counter their foes The 18th chaps have no
more prudence than TO believe that the Govern
ment could safely let out to them the contract for
finishing this war and if they had the job. would
be too selfish to take any partners. The It'll
think they army OF themselves, and they
would soon make the same impression upon the
"secesb" If they had permission TO go in on
their own hook And as for the 18th, they can
clean them both out, with regiment or two of
rebels thrown in.
The weather for the last ten days had been
disheartening enough but appearances indicate
IN improvement. and then look out for end of
big talk and the beginning of "hot work
Couldn't YOU come out and try camp life for a
few day-l-'twOuld do you good. We have
plenty and to spare, with solids and iquidS, to
which you shall be welcome, particularly should
you confine yourself % the former, in accord
ance with your wellknown aversion to the latter
DOtt you think water was, after all, intended
chiefly for navigation purposes?"
Yours &c, - HoosIER.