Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-06-04
ST. LOUIS, May %, 1863.

to this city IN company with the Governor
and Mrs. Solomon, from a visit to q por-
ton of the Wisconsin troops located in
this State, some items in reference to
them may be interesting to their friends,
which, without time or ability for fine
writing, l will try to give in some rough
notes.
Before leaving for Ro.ia, We were, by
division of the labor, enabled to visit the
sick soldiers of our State in all the hos
pitfalls at and around st. Louis
We found them generally convalescing,
and in receipt of all needed supplies for
physical comfort. All expressed them
selves recipients of kind care and atten-
ton from those in charge, and but for the
recollection of dear ones at home, con-
tented. The hospitals at Benton Barracks
contains more of our sick than any other.
That at Jefferson Barracks, fourteen
miles below St. Louis, is filled up with
cots and provisions of comfort for twenty
three hundred men, in which there are
now but two hundred, and but twenty
two or three Wisconsin men, all of whom
are convalescent. The hospitals are mod
els OF cleanliness and order, and much
credit is due to those having them
in charge for the manner in which they
are conducted. Our State agents are well
spoken of and no doubt can be entertained
of their efficiency and the service they
render in accomplishing much that does
not devolve upon, or come within the
scope of hospital officers.
Leaving st. Louis On Wednesday morn
ing by railroad for Rolla, one hundred and
twenty niles distant, we arrived at P.
NJ. the same day, which fact, though
speedily disposed of in sentence, is far
different matter in the omplishment.-
This being the main route fo- the sending
of Government supplies to the "army of
the frontier" all trains are linked" or
made up of passenger and freight cars,
and in our train largely mixed.
However, between sundry backings
and filings, we made an average speed of
fifteen miles an houl, and arriving by time.
table programme, of course no fault is to
be found.
After passing some fifteen miles from
St. Louis, the road runs through most
sterile and Improbable line of country
imaginable. If it were not for the present
contemplated terminus at Springfield, and
the we'll known productive soil of south
western Missouri, should not have won
dered at an inquiry as to why the road
was ever built, made i'll words more forci-
BILE than refined. Rolla, the present ter
minus of the road, is mainly growth of
the war, IS is evident from the new and
hastily constructed buildings occupied
principally as shops and stores by branch
houses from St. Louis. At this place are
the headquarters of Msior Gen. F. J. Her.
ron, commanding the Army of the From
tier, with whom we had the good fortune
to tall in company en- route for Rolla.
Gen. Heron is the youngest Major Gen
eral in the service, being but twenty-eight
years of age. He commenced his career
in this war as Captain in an Iowa in
fantry regiment. He has earned his stars
by an envisble record of bravery, and he
wears them with the kindness, courtesy
and dignity of true gentleman. We
were welcomed by him in an evening call
st his headquarters; we also met Briadier
Gen. Orme, commanding the LIST Division
Of the army of the frontier.
Arrangements were made to facilitate
our visit to the Wisconsin troops which
are encamped at different points from
fourteen to thirty miles distant from Rol-
la, and Governor Solomon accepted the
honor rendered him of sn escort by Gen.
Heron, being no less than that of himself
and Gen. Orme, with their respective staff
officers and body-guard of cavalry. At
8 O'Clock Thursday morning, Col. Salo-
mon of the 9th, and Col. Bertram of the
Goth Wisconsin regiments, having arrived,
with Major Miller and detachment of
the I'd Wisconsin cavalry under Capt.
Burnell, Mrs. Solomon and Mrs. Gen.
Orme in ambulanoes, and we of the male
persuasion in the saddle-the cortage
moved for Lake Spring, the encampment
of the LIST division, to which are assigned
the Goth Wisconsin infantry and first bat
TALON of Wisconsin cavalry. With a
beautiful morning, cool and invigorating
breeze, the sight to an Impractical eye
was indeed novel and interesting, and re-
auired no vivid imagination to surround
Us with the fact and circumstance of
war.
Arriving at the camp of the Goth, we
were received with honors due to the Gov
ernor and Commanding General of the
army, passing under arches constructed of
interviewer boughs, from one of which
hung pendant " Welcome"
After right hearty creating and inter.
view with our friends, among others, DR..
Chapman, who, by the way, is in the bes,
of health, and has become so rotund as to
lose all chance for sldermanic promotion
we were invited to dinner. And Just here
wish to say that cannot begin to d.
any sort of Justice in description of tn,
surprise"
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