Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-03-19
From the First Wis. Cavalry.
Correspondents OF the State Journal.
CAMP CURTIS, NEAR IRoNMoUNTl
Maroh A 10

CAMP CURTlS, MEAN AhoES NO. I
March 4, 1863. {
For the last four months we have beer
shut out almost entirely from the civilized
portion OF the world, and therefore bu
little has been heard of or from us-in thu
section where the most interest ia felt il
ua-0t late
L .rIy last November we started oui
from Patterson, Mo-, as the advance o.
the Army of southeast Missouri, toward
Van buren,, expecting that when the ar
my had been concentrated there it would
move on again towards Little Rock. We
had prospect before Us of rough win.
tiers campaign. After reaching Curren,
river and accommodating considerably, tol
some unknown reason we were ordered
back north, In which direction we moved
until within eighteen miles of Pilot Knob.
There we halted, rested and recruited oar
horses for a few days. After everything
was in readiness again for long march
we counter marched to Van Buren,, and
with but little delay then moved on
toward Alton, Mo-, and from the latter
place to West Plains, Mo. At this place,
10 due time the whole army 10000 strong,
wa, concentrated, and from there the cav.
airy secuted the whole country over as
far as Pooahontas, Ark, in one direction
and BatesVllle in another. Marmaduke.
with his force had fallen back as we ad.
vanced until he reached the latter place.
and then evidently was disposed to make
stand, relying upon Hindman, who was
not tar distant, tor relnforcements. Under
General David5On's orders the ca 7alry
made reconr oisance in force around
Batesville and had considerable of a Skin.
mish with the portion of Marmaduke's
on this side OF the White river, defeating
1t handsomely, and producing a grand
skedaddle across the river. Ia the en-.
gagement we did not lose man, while
the rebels lost five or six in killed and
wounded and over sixty in prisoners. A
considerable amount of rebel commissary
stores were captured and destroyed. Be-
fore this successful scouting party had re.
turned 10 West Plains, an order tor NOV
log the army back to Pilot Knob was re-
Ceved, which movement was Immediately
commenced. On the Goth ultimO our reg
lment entered the latter place much re-
joiCed by another view of civilization and
the prospect of brief respite after win
ter of hard campaigning. This campaign,
the Outlines Of Witch | have given in a
few words, was long, and attended with
many priVations and hardships. But net
withstanding the exposure to which we
were constantly subjected, the storms,
cold, mud and long scouts without tents
for shelter, besides scanty supply of pro.
visions q portion Of the time, and lack
of covering for the foet-many of the meC
being barefooted-we enjoyed excellent
health, the men of our regiment being now
more robust and lit for service than ever
before.
50 much was accomplished through the
campaign, ii nothing more. A large SEC
ton Of country which had been badly in
tested by guerTillas was cleared of them
Southeast Missouri was saved from 8
threatened invasion by a large rebel force
Rebel commanders in Arkansas were dis
tracjed IN their calculations by our ad-
vance towards them. Marmaduke anC
several smaller commanders were come
what crippled by our attacks. A wide
extent If territory was so completely de-
prlved of the means for subsisting al
army, that Southeast Missouri is perfectly
sate from invasion for considerable Pc
riod to come.
The lst Wisconsin Cavalry never was
capable of better service than now. The
men who compose it have been hardened
by summer and winter campaigning, and
can stand quite as much exposure as any
other set OF mer. The weak constitutions
have been quite thoroughly winnowed out
the pressure of hardships to which the
Regiment has been subjected having either
caused their death, or disabled them Sc
that they were discharged. The towards
have been winuoWed out, too; discharges
being so easily obtained that this class
by resorting to little subtertuge-havt
received them. We now number, present
600 tried, hardy, enlisted men, and abou
$50 absent, on detached service, DC. Fo
the length Of time we have been in tn,
field, We hold our own as we'll as any oshe
Regiment hear of, and have not seen les
hard service. We shall be happy to SHOW
ourselves capable Of performing as goot
work us any full regiment, whenever Op'
portunity is offered.
We have new Colonel, Edward Dan
iels having resigned and Lieut.. Col. Ii
Grange appointed to his place. Col. 0
ii. La Grange has been with the regimen
almost constantly since it was organized
He was promoJed to 1st Major from Gap
tain of the Ripon Rifles, Dol. Psine'
Regiment. This position he held until
become apparent that DR.. J. NJ. Lewis
now Colonel of the 2Sth Wisconsin In
fanyry, could not take the place of Lieut.
Col.-being unable to effect his exchans
as a paroled prisoner OF wav-when Ms
iOr La Grange was promoted to it. Gu
new Colonel has the fullest confidence G
the officers and men with whom he ha
been associated. He is fighting man,
and has ample ability to sustain him i
this character. He has the natural quail
ties requisite to. a good military com
maEder, together with much experience
About two months since be was placed il
command OF a brigade of cavalry, whic
position he still holds and the duties c
which he performs admirably. The otte
field officers of our regiment, Majors Tor
rey, Pomeroy and Mars, are all that coul
be desired-good military men and ger
tlemen. 1t now seems apparent that th
regiment will soon go down the river
Two battalions havs already gone to 5
Genevieve, psnt on the Mississippi, al
the other will probably follow as soon s
it receives the new outfit necessary
horses, clothing, etc.
Yours, So, TROOPER.
AMENDMENTS To THE RKvENUE LAW
Congress, prior to its adjournment, mad