Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1862-02-12
Yours truly
From the Eleventh Regim ent
CANT HARRIS VICTORIA STATION !
Missouri, Fsb. B. 1862. {

Missouri, Fsb. 3, 1862
Editors TRIBUNE
After a long silence and with but little
news of Importance to communicate, |
again undertake the task of penning you
l short letter for the purpose of posting
our friends concerning the healti. and
prosperity of Company E. y
We have had a pretty large amount of
sickness lately. The whole Regiment has
suffered more or less from the effects of
the measles and mumps. We have ten or
dozen cases of these malades in our
Company, though they have all nearly re
covered and are now out of danger
am sorry to record the death of MIAL D.
iIBsoS, a member of our Company. He
died in the hospital at Sulphur Springs
On the 2.th of January, much lamcnted
by us all.
\ very melancholy accident occurred
tbout week since. A party of our pick
cts were passing along path when one
If the squad stumbled, letting his gun fall,
which went off, wounding EDWARD New
ron in the leg. The wound, however, is
not considered dangerous by the surgeons:
md think by proper treatment, he will
re tit for duty in Il few weeks.
The weather here is pretty cold for this
climate. Plenty Of snow upon the ground
and good prospect for more The camp
is extremely dull There is scarcely anv-
thing worthy of note transporting. Were
1t not for the excitement occasionally pro
iuced by the capture of secesh, we
slould certainly all get the blues"
\ great number of JEFF. THoMPsoNs'
men arc in this vicinity, who have either
red out the period of their enlistment
or have become tired of fighting without
pay, Some come in voluntarily and sur
render themselves, prefering this method
to skulking around in the woods, where
they are liable to be shot at any time bv
our scouts. They do not hesitate to take
the oath of allegiance, and why should
they? 1t must be evident to any one OF
ordinary intelligence that an individual
who would burn railroad bridge, murder
innocent people, or drive Union men from
rheir homes and plumber and appropriate
their property TO his own use, would not
scruplc to take any oath whatsoever in
order to escape the punishment which the
enormitles of his crimes would so Justly
merit Some, however, have not been so
fortunate as TO be released after swear
ing Those who participated in the de-
struction of the Big River bridge-as
many as we have caught-havc been sent
to st Louis, where, perhaps, they will lie
published rs they deserve.
From the report of our prisoners, it
seems that THOMPSON is not in condition
tor offensive operations Their arms are
squirrel rifles and shot guns They have
no blankets save a few that were sent to
them from the South as prcsen S They
do not get sugar or coffee in their rations,
and his force has become so much re-
duced by sickness and desertion. that no
trouble from him need be apprehended at
present
1t is rumored that the Sixth Missouri
is to relieve from the bridge guarding.
We all hope that we may be transferred
from this TO more active field OF service.
believe there has never been ANYTHING
published N tn. TRIBUNE in reference to
the surface of the country, and of the
people of this part of Missouri Well, to
begin with the country may be styled an
immense collection of sharp points and
ridges, separated from each other by deep
culleys, and covered with a thick growth
of oak tim Der. After leaving the railroad
absat three or four miles, the country is
very sparely settled, and one can travel
for miles without meeting a single person
or discovering any signs of habitation.-
Occasionally farm is to be seen. consist
ing of a few acres of half cleared. poorly
&C ,ltated nd TIE house is almost in
sariably log one, small and mean look |
sg covered with rude boards split from, ;