Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-05-26
Our Army COrrespOndence-Fr Hal
leck's Division.
PIrrsBURG LANDING, TENNESSEE
Nav Ii. 1862

PITTsBURG LANDING, TENNESSEE
May Ia, 1862.
JJ BINGHAM, ESQ: Our army here is getting
a taste of summer campaigning in Dixie The
transition from the cold rains of last month to the
sNetting heat and burning sun of May has
been sudden, and the troops stand the change
much better than could be expected. Their stu
alton in the shades near COrinths far better than
it would be here at any point that | have seen
on the river. The hospital camps about Ham
burg are bake-ovens compared with the advance
camps, and the sanitary boats the same.
Those, citizens and others who are compelled to
live on the river would materially better their
condition and have two chances & life, by ex-
changing with the soldier in the front ranks OF
the advance. There is no temptation to get sick
and to be sent to the rear. There is still less
temptation to be left the line of march be.
tween the rear and the advance to inbale the air
poisoned by the garbage and refuse of the old
camps and clouded by the dust OF the enormous
supply trains continually on the move But on
the changing line that is slowly and surely EN-
circling the enemy-where the air has not as yet
been polluted by the impurities that follow large
armies-on, or in front of those delightfully."-
wooded little hills, where the carnps are pitched
and changed from grove to grove almost daily it
is pleasant to be, and the men healthy, cheer
full and vigorous. There is but one drawback to
the pleasure of camp life with the advance--the
waer-and that is not yet intolerable, but it soon
will he unless measures are devised to draw a
supply from beneath the surface.
OF the prospect of fight, or the speedy fall of
COrinth it is idle to speculate. There are Skin
mishes daily. Every inch of ground is disputed,
and is gained finally by strategy or the bullet.
Perhaps the whole affair may end in series of
diminishing advances, such as we have had every
day for the last ten days
| People here know absolutely nothing of the af-
fairs in front, and the different divisions know
less of the situation of each other, always ex-
ceptng of course their several commanders. The
reports by telegraph from Cairo, as received by
passengers from here. generally the idlest
camp gossip.
What can one write about, then, to be of inter-
est TO your readers? Nothingl and that is the
reason have troubled you so little. If | happen
to get hold of piece Of intelligence that is of the
least importance it is safer for me to keep it
I'll after the fight, aud you would prefer that
would do so. Some brilliant little affairs have
happened on the left, but | was not so fortunate
as to be present at any of them.
Yesterday a number OF large rihed guns
rived and were landed at Hamburg to be sent to
the advance The siege trains are progressing
slowly in their snail-ike pace over the marshes
that skirt the base of the numberless hills, and
indeed other things look like it would be yet
some time before General Halleck had his net
entirely completed. General Beauregard assures
his soldiers that he is the spider that means to
catch the fly. We think here that Hallcck is
weaving very pretty and secure web in which
| Monsieur Toutant, if he comes again, will get
entangled. Time will show.
Lam going out to Woods division to-day and
/ if nothing better occurs to write about will give
you gossipng letter when | return.