Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-01-14
Army Correspondence.
CAMP ID WIS. Vols, J
NEAR BELLE PLAIN, VA. }
Dec. 30th, 1862. J

es pretty handso nelly lodged in pine-log huts
l will attempt to drop few thoughts for your
paper.
Of late the principal movements of the Ar
my seemed to bend toward winter quarters
this was most talked of by both officers and
men, and all hands looked forward with some
hopes for short relief from the cold and
posures We have been enduring and little
rest, at least till another grand scheme might
be matured; upon the prospect, the men have
genarally gone to work and put up log huts,
which they cover with the shelter tent to
serene them from the cold of nights They
| are rendered tolerably comfortable by small
fireplace and chimney built of mud and sticks.
| Last winter quartered on the banks OF
tie Potomac again we can look out from our
| cabin doors and see the white sails on the pla-
| cid face of that Noble Old River, last winter
1t was our base Of operations, again its pearly
waters float to bread. You are fully
appraised that another bloody battle has been
added to the record of this army.-Of the bat
tie and its results it is useless now to speak
except in the main-''We met the enemy and
they-lproccd too much for us-''We saw" that
we could not route them, and crossed the Rap
pahannock. In this action the Old Brigade
had IFS part to perform, too, and did it in the
| usual Western style. Our position not as
exposed as in some former battles, still we
sustained loss which is sensibiy felt in our
| already thinned ranks. The I'd Wis. had one
killed and ten wounded--Co had one man,
Frank Knowlton, wounded, not badly, how
ever. He was wounded before at South Noun
tain He had not been from the hospital mere
than week. Poor fellow, he is brave and
true but unlucky in battle
We are about to forgo the idea of seeing
Richmond this winter. / do not know what
the people of the North think of this delay
but if they growing very impatient, let
them come and try their hand The winter
here is not as cold as there, at present it is
pleasant, but we have had some cold weather
this December, so cold as tic render sleeping
Of nights in the quantity of Clothing that
soldier can carry on his back, an impossible
ty.
If one may judge the temper of the peo-
pies mind by the tone of portion of the
press, it looks as if some men have lost their
reason The Army of the Potomac is an ex
cellant Army, but it is composed of men, and
they of flesh and blood. They can end ure a
good deal, but they cannot march successfully
to r ;chmond without excelant generalship to
guide And now while it is up, word for
McCie1Ian. The removal OF THAT from
the command of this army was more severly
felt by his men than the repulse Fredercks
burg. We would not say, remove Burnside
from this army. We esteem him as a good
general; but re-instate Ne C2cl2aa. We need
them both They Counselled together, give
Us Mcclellan to direct, and Burnside, Hook
er, Franklin and Sgcl to execute, and we will
drive Lee over the Hills and Stoncwalls"
and down the ''Longstreet" of Dixie. To re-
instate him would be the best incentive this
army could have for a forward movement al
this junction. In talking with men as l have
opportunity, some speak. discouraged that new
or looked dsooped before. What is the mat
ter? Oh, we can accomplish nothing without
"Litle Nae" Experience has taught US to
respe, his delays and when he ordered for
acard his army felt conscious CT victory
Our Government now appears somewhat
like falling -leaf-table that children in play
have knocked off leaf Carpenters have
been called to mend it, but from some whim
of the Old lady as to the manner and time
it should be finished, the Choice Carp enter
is turned away and jacknives employed to re
pare it. Time and its experience will yet
bring the right men into their proper places
with patience and long suffering must
await the result.
Camp life generally speaking has a tedious
sameness, broken by an incident, pleasant and
sweet that will make impress on the heart
of the soldier as deep and lasting the most
remarkable scenes of the battle field, and be
remembered as long as life lasts A scene OF
this kind occurred the other evening in our
Camp As token of regard and esteem the
enlisted men of Company l presented Capt
Otis with an elegant sword and belt. 1t is a
Damascus blade beautifully mounted with the
hilt set in pearls aud embossed sheath. The
whole is incased in a neat walnut box, cost
ing, in all, some $3.50 The attendant cere-
monies were brief and appropriate, in sub
stance as follows: After calling the roll Sergt.
Legate stepped forward with the sword and
said
Capt Otis In behalf of the enlisted men
of the Company, present you with this sword
token of regard and esteem. Your ankle
ty-your constant effort for our welfare both
in the Camp and in the field, call for an ex-
preston of our feelings, you have it in this
sword We are proud of our record Of the
past Our pathway through this State is
marked here and there with green mounds be-
meath which sleep some of our number VINO
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