The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-09-16
Mr.. l.. q. lH-ndrtck's D~spatch.
HsADqCsRTsRs, FIpra Coli,s, sept Is. lS6i

S"uEe W Cf-seIy NUsf ht'rSty pouring 1oWn
Tor an hour
Mr.. l.. q. iH-ndrtck's D~spatoh.
HsApqUsRTrRs. FpTa Conis, sept IS. 1905
Aztec vacation PLEASANTLY prolonged hut swift winged
In ts flight back again 20 tho old and monotonous
experiences Of inactive army lfe TO swskenings day
by bugie blasts ana beating Of drums, 20 early
breakfasts and guard mouninga 70 dust OF moving wagon
trains and policing and hubbub Of company and
battalion drills TO surrounding suffers and the meodous
braying Of mules conversations with reliable contra
bands and deserers to glowing camp fires at night and
nocturnal screaades to commisssry whiskey and sbne
cation o. iced drinks concerts theatres billiards.
ing strciis with animated crinolne. and the multiplied
higher and appreciaive enoymonts OF civilian existence
Best understood that In spirit Of eeminate repinng
do mention these deprivatious of civilian comforts
st. Paul like. count them nothing. glad,
in fact to get back to GO. away from the stay homo
drones except in the selfish matter OF money making
get amoog brave aud loyal and brmfu patriotism
and pluck and 20 be an to do and to suffer with tho
highest and lowest Of them shall oaly DO more glad
when the army IS again moving ngbting whipping the
enemy. il must aud will. and hurry ing the war to
speedy Termination. And not long prophecy will our
present inactivity and monotonous life continue,
to terminating the the belief has long since DO
como settled fact in tho minds Of si that however,
DTuh0ty vlCtOrtOu5 arfntos may De elSoWu0re,
this army will depend its winding up and striking the
closing crushing blow. Our soldiers live In this belief
act upon Il, and under It's stirring impulse will provo
themselves nvincbe against all the legion cohorts that
the enemy marshal 70 oppose them.
CHAPTER OF CHANGES.
In my absence there have been several changes worth
noting Foremostly when went away the dog star was
at meridian rabidness, and the thermomerical quick
silver at torrd altitude now the weather IL deciously
COOL We had pleasant camping ground then; now
we much pleasanter one barring closer proximity
the enemy and conversational TO their pick
cts. The brave General Barnes, who wounded at
Gettysburg has resumed command Of his brigade though
temporarily ordered To Washington court martial
The dsshing and chivalrc Colonel Rice, commanding
brigade has been given the stars he had mertoriousy
won. and commands division in adjoining corps
Lieutenant Colonel Welsh. Sixteenth Michigan regiment.
Of the youngest and most gallant officers in tho
army has been promoted to the coonelcy Of his regi
ment with promise OF speedy promotion to briga
dler general DR.. Shipper. the affable and skful
surgeon chief Of the First division reward for his
long and active duties in the Geld been given charge
the South street general military hospital Philadelphia
DR.. Russell for long time the able and efficient Medical
Inspector Of the corps through impaired health from
faithful zeal in the discharge OF his duties, has been
oh ged TO resign Captain Ryan, formerly Assistant
Adutant General OF General Sykes has been made Coone
OF the One Hundred aud Forty sixth New York regiment
He is graduate Of West Point and a reliable and popu'
lar 0fcer Captain Bankson, Assistant Inspector Gene
First DIVISION and Captain lawson Assistant Inspect
or General second bripaae First division are both home
account OF sickness, contracted through unremttng
attention during the heated termo their onerous and
posed duties number Of officers absent looking
after conscrips and with this exception and perhaps
dozen absent on sick leave, but few officers are away
from their post OF duty
Nearly every train brings an addition to the conscrpt
and are dsy being drilled and Otherwise inflated in the
mysteries OF the manual. majority enter upon their.
allotted duties and abos with that sodiery zss giving
promise Of loyal earnestuess and full purpose 70 do will
lngly the work required OF them. Such will make good
soldiers and tho old soldiers take kindly TO them Be-
bronzed battle SCARED veterans and the
substitutes II is difcu TO get up accordant link II
sympathy and until the latcr have proved themselves
ESod and fearless fighters there IS but n
subjects wondrous kind Some two hundred and
Columbia occupy camp by themselves. rougher set
Of men, according TO all accounts s seldom got together
tutes and are sad 10 Of the pckpockets
thieves swarming the national capital Each had dozen
or more Two Or three rsvcvers apiece agaises
and pockets full Of grecnbacks They played poker with
rush. and were having high old time until Gen Sykes
ordered seizure OF the combined means OF 06nse and
escape and put estoppe on the poker playing The
General says he will make good soldiers Of them. He is
pne that must an optic expansion on the part Of
most Of rarest occurrence.
Excepting our camps on the banks Of the Potomac,
opposite Washington more painstaking has never been
exercised 10 laying cut and decorating and making com
The position OF the ground unduatng and partly wooded
made such panstakng easy and remunerative. Ever.
abound in every camp. and the streets are wide,
while scrnpulous nestness Is a ruling pleasing
,S. All this .,; SSsTss tells IA ,:vOrsSly on
night many OF the streets are III up with Transparent.
greatly enhancing their beauty and pcturesqueness
which, with the animated groups and music and IRE
quent dancingi and passing commissary and jokes and
laughter give the seeming OF prolonged f, only lack
ing rustng silks and smiling feminine faces 70 complete
picture OF rural mirth and joyousness. "Had known
the life OF soldier was so gay would have been here
months ago. than conscript has been heard to
remark And this reminds me TO say that the health Of
the troops excellent There is but little SICKNESS and
those who are sick have nne hospital accommodations,
mensely II is only dhcut, with their increasing appe
ttes TO keep SUFFICIENT watchfuness on them 10 secure
three days raons IN their according 70 pre-
scrbed orders 30 as 70 be in readiness FOR marching at
any minute.
HoRm RACING.
The First division Is just having Its attention
cited by horse racing OF 500 has been made up
for the best running horse In the division DO contested
for by the best running each brigade and one
between the second brigade horses The final
contestants were Colonel Guineys horse Ninth Virginia
regiment and Major Halls Fourth Michigan. closer
and more exciting race was never run. rheAhorses
started perfectly evp and kept neck TO neck 70 the end
Friday the final racing will take place Tho track Is
something over half a mile long and even and solid
Many may douet the morality or morse racing In general
objection 10 II In particular prosecuted
the army. II Ia heathful n well exciting pasime.
There but little liability OF accidents aud the stakes
not high
COLONEL PRESCOTT iKunxAN STEPHENSON
Much dssatsfaction, find. is expressed at mo son.
tences-forfeiture OF months pay each-n the
OF Colonel Prescott and Lieutenant Colonel
Stephenson, Thirty second Massachusetts, regiment
tried for exceeding their leave of absence. They
were tripped up 90 overstaying their leaves. when
u was the universe, practice 70 90 50, with no
notice whatever taken OF IT, Asn was they presented
what they deemed valid excuses, but unavalingly with
the rigorous court martial and all this notwithstanding
the prior good records OF the accused special bril-
liancy Of daring At Charlottesville and Gettysburg
Colonel Prescott having received shots At the latter
hight, and Colonel Stephenson wound whose severity
hes prevented him from reporting yet for duty.
Dismissal from the service, IL will be remembered,
the sentence OF the court martial but this the Pres
dent, in view OF their gallant services in battle,
muted 10 forfeiture Of months pay. have not heard
an ofcer who has not expressed himself indignant at
the sentence, even in It's commuted form. The whole