Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-02-05
Our Army Correspondence - Letter
from Landcr's Division, Virginia.
CAMP kILLY, Patterson's Creek, Val
January ri 1860


Of a fight. yet occasionally We are aroused by
report Of a battle fought, and victory won, by
some other brave men in some other place. Like
the milk sick when YOU discover the truth, il Is
little further on, or not much Of a "scrimage." |
am free TO confess belong TO the party who
making most hurried preparations for visiting
Richmond Whenever YOU hear wise men, eau
tious men, and owlishly seiate men. who
king war under their Gown vine and fig tree" in
peace ease, and even luxury. saying are only
training our army for greater battle and more
decisive victory by biding time and suffering
the enemy to waste his strength by starvation and
disease, tell tie gentlemen they are right-yes,
emineutly right, as they always are-but does it
never occur to them that this, ike some of the
most delightful games OF life, is lone at which
two can play While one OF these lank, tan
ooze- complexioned Nirginians or North Carolini
ans can have the ague seven days in the week with
some measles and few reumafi- along with il,
and worry through il, barefooted and hungry,
that there i no statute to prevent Union man
and gentleman from having any one or all OF
these diselses-f those of the latter class those
who ALWAYS die;) and ii they should fortunately
have constitutions sufficient to recover health,
they can not have such treatment as will insure
il, tor they must 20 to the hospital, AMI an army
hospital Is only the anti chamber OF the charnel
house The only wonder Is the sick are so few
in number, and any who are sick should ever re
cover This camp Is no doubt in much better
condition than most OF them. where the entire
force has been frequently moved. as this com
mand under General Lander; and do assure Won
they are all far from being comfortable True,
they have plenty to eat and enough to wear; but
sleeping on the ground, fifteen to twenty in
tent AN iron box called "a stove, with but little
pipe the smoke, when 80 disposed, going out ut
the top OF the tent hut generally not 80 disposed
remaining in. The officers, many of them, for
the past ten DAYS. have suffered even more than
the men, rs they had no stores, and these con
tnual cold rains have made the mud Just rs deep
as men and horses could tramp il in that time
IL is heart rending 10 lie in tent between
the noon of night and dawn of dav
az time when the camp, usually like the
city, is still, to hear these sepulchral coughs,
from closely fastened colds, the very sounds
of which are premonitory of disease and death.
No true hearted. feeling man can but be made
nervously unhappy at the sight of SO many horses
standing uncovered hitched TO a stake, up 10 the
fettOck in mud, shivering in the wet and cold; or
when worn out with much fatigue they are com.
PEELED to lie in the mud for "A little while that
they may catch moments sleep. ! have often
thought Byrons lines 10 his dog would be equally
as applicable the faithful servant of man, the
horse; and certain am that, If he is also entitled
to his reward for sufierings endured in this war
fare either with Sece>sonists IN the great bat
tie OF life. many will he the good bales OF tino
thy hay and dainty feed OF oats which he will
get that he has missed here
Our camp here is thought by those who should
be competent to judge to be admirably adapted
for the purposes Of defense, and have no doubt
il Is; but what do We need with such a camp the
BOYS all want camp which means advance.
While they are all cheerful and cOntented, with
no spirit OF decentralization they feel a. ii there
were no measuring their strength When they
were told at Springfield that the enemy were too
strong for us. being two TO one. il only seemed
To inflame them. really they consider odds
ought to be given 70 make IL anything like an
equal fight. While of course my plrtialitie,
for indiana. csndOr compels me 10 say the same
feeling pervade, the entire army. especially those
from the Northwest and the only rivalry seems
10 be no get in first. To give YOU an in
stance of the thought which is uppermoSt. lew
nights since Il prayer meeting held in some
company tent and brother waxed warm in his
entreates to the Lord that our arms might be
successful. enemies vanquished. &c. and IN
MS zeal he PRAYED loud enough 10 attract outside
listeners among others youth who had lstesed
very attentvely and apparently very seriously,
Nlltll Nltililon Wis Hlue OF our success IN tie
fight. when he suddenly crie,i out Bully for
you old bow 20 in your muscle" | do not
give this a instance Of the standing OF this
regiment or others to pietv, for there are, am
pleased TO say, a great number and considerable
proplrti-n OF consistent religious men in the
my but they are in the minority; and while 2
would naturally suppose the dangers incident 10
war would at least be provocative OF thoughtful
hess and serious bearing. 1t seems 10 have the
D.. IL
fear. mised BY their correspondents in regard
% this matter: not that they Intentionally mis-
represent. but Stunning evil themselves. they
naturally think Others DO likewise Ny ex eri
ence : an outside Co Eboser * that saving sol
diers is wha' might 40 lelr be called precariOus
business. THIS however may be borne IN mind.
that none scarcely are diS>oiute or profane but
viii with avhts read religious papers OF any de-
nomination, and il Is for the want of reading
matter that much of their time i foolishly EN-
ploycd in divers WAYS
A. these suggestions are all gratuitous trust
no brother Will become offended. Il is a part
and parcel OF camp liie and rs have no battles
10 record, must write something. one thing /
will mention which must he gratifying 60 those
having friends IN the army " ho sick There
are now ~ the town OF Cumberland nine hun
dred sick soldiers beou eng 70 this command
They are IN many different buildings some very
used a. hotels. engine houses. ana private dwell
iugs. a. well a business houses. have been taken
Tor this purpose
They have al been fitted up better than
could have supposed in the time. They are all
more reiuly than could be hoped. and are | TN
dersund from the sick. generally we'll oihcerei.
A great MANY female nurses are engaged. and
voman-Ake. wherever there l. suffering they are.
true d womau'> nature. seeking 20 alleviate IL
\ few DAYS since While there. visited number
Of this regiment. ard inquired OF them how the
citizens acted towards them. and 20 have hetrd
The replies would have made any one living in
Cumberland feel additional prile in being a
resident oi their beautiful town Notwiihstaud
INK the, are cursed by the presence cd "A few -
cessiouists iu their midst. tie Union men AMI No
men are models u their profession They lit.
orally smother the aiek wiih their attentions not
oi kiIsd looks alld gentle words alone. but but bv
every little comfort Hliich mo ey will buy or the
iair hands OF their generous women render more
acceptable
The private families Hospitality entertain. dur
ine urotracte,i illness. the common soldier With
oar gemaue ntion. making him feel that be IS
more thtn repayne them by the honor conferred
ia his beng Their guest The, refuse officers be
cause they have the means 20 provide tor them
selVes / heard a mtn ask for -four b0arders. re
marking that he wanted ali prisates.
Another thing NAV have ~ influence in this