Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1862-05-28
CAMP CORRESPONDENTS.
FROM THE TWELFTH REGIMENT.


review of the i2th and 18th Wisconsin,
the Missouri lst, and the I'd and 9th Ken
lucky Cavalry, by Gen. MitcheiL=-Tbe
exercise was too much for many f-the'
bows. Some tainted in the ranks, some
left for fear they would, and all were COW
cred with sweat and dust. There has
been bat two showers in these parts since
we left Lawrence. By some means or
other there is agreat mortality in tho
18th Wisconsin About an average OF
one dies -daily--for a-.week .past.-.-Ihe
health of the 18th is better now than IT
Our destination yet is uncertain, nj
though it is generally supposed to be
New Mexico. There are over two hun
dred wagons here loaded wi.i commisary,
quarter master, and armystores. The
mails 90 east heavy, and come back light.
What is the matter9 have our friends
forgotten us, or do they think that the
excitement of the camp is sufficient food
for the mind! Either of these Is wrong.
We all hopo to return, and we don't
want TO be strangers when we get home.
Our facilities for writing are not first-rate,
and | am afraid if some of the friends at
home had no better, we should never
hear from them; but we are expected
to write to all of them, and it is only fair
that they should write to us.
Friend, imagine yourself in round
tent fifteen feet in diameter, with fiFttcn
others, and no legal claim to any territory
but the length of your body-head to tie
canvass and feet to the centre. You
have seven friends that expect long letter
each from you, once a week at least
This makes an average of letter per day,
and if you are fastidious about the OBJ
servanae of the Sabbath you are in for
extra duty. But you haven't written the
first one yet, so you had better begin.
You must sit down on the ground-for
chair or stool is ntenable-your port
folio of limited dimens ons on your knee,
is your only writing desk. About the
til. o YOU have written one page in this
position you wish you were brought up
a tailor, or in China. But this is not the
worst. You must not forget your sur
round'ngs. A is playing the fiddle, G
and F are singing in concert, B, W, },
and P arepla.iug cards, Tom, Dick, and
Harry has dispute about the geography
of Yorktown; all making rs much noise
as possible in order to be heard. AT
this juncture Dick appeals to you to de
eide. There is often change in the
programme, but still about the same
amount Of noise.
Suppose you are writing to your moth
er, in answer to her earnest solicitations
to remember your early teachings and
that God secs and hears all we do and
say, and are striving to fulfill her expect
ations, when the two next YOU get into
scuffie and upsets your ink, what did L
hear Won swear? no, must be mistaken;
but it sounded very ike it. Now if your
me ther finds the balance Of your letter
Iabored and disconnected. she will natur
ally think her son is deceiving her.
The next letter is an answer to your
Brother Bill, whose bump of locality is
pretty large. He wants you to give him
geographical history of Kansas, the
climate, soil, improvements, and the va
rious advantages of different localities.
Of course you have not seen it all, YOU
have kept no journal, and your memory
fails you. Your messmates disagree, and
you are in bad row of stumps. But it
is getting dark, and, of course, your let
ter is finished. Well, friend, what
do you think of your days work?
of course You have been at roll call at 5
A. NJ, had breakfast at 81, been Oh com
pany drill from 8 to 10, had dinner Mt
~, on battalion drill from 2 to 4, had
secured your gun, accoutrements, and
buttons. BACKED your boots, and brushed
your clothes in time for dress parade at
81, had supper at Ct, must be ready for
roll call at 81, and done great many
little things that have got no name.
Well, Aunt Sally,is rather an epicure
in her way, and thinks the sum of all
human happiness is in something good
to eat. In fact, she lives to eat Not
so much the quantity, as the quality and
variety. She wants to know what you
have got to eat, and how you cook it,
and if you get any sweet cakes, etc.
Horrors! are You going to shock her sen
sibilities by telling her that YOUR daily