Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1863-07-21
LETTER IRON THE IooTH.

Of this city, though not written for publ;.
cation, will; nevertheless interest most of
our readers:s
CAMP NEAR PELHAM. July, 1868.
HEADQUARTERS Tooth Ill. Vols.
" DEAR Sir This being a dull, raipv
day, and not much going on conceived
the idea of writing to some one and finally
settled upon you.
1 am in very good health, as is the
Tooth generally atpresent, notwithstand
ing the late hard marching and hot wea-
tier. "-FsfS HAT "a
/ have seen accounts Of our general
movement since we left Murfreesboro in
your Northern papers, which in the main
is correct, so of course cannot interest
you except with some of the minor de-
tails and incidents.
The first thing that occurred in the left
wing, Crittenden's corps, after leav ing
Murfresb'ro, was throwing away bag
gage to enable our teams to get over D TEX
River chain of mountains, Then we,
1.-THE Head Quarter mess. consisting of
Col Bartlsson, Elder Crews, DOct Wood
ruff, Adjt Rouse and MYSELF lost our pro.
vision box; Col. 3. lost his faYorite
chair, Adjt. and myself lost our cots, and
all our tents which obliged us to use the
canopy Of heaven for a covering, which
made it little unpleasant during the six
nights in succession, which reminded me
of the remark Mrs. Sanger frequently
made to me, enjoy the, Inequalities ten.
dered while you can, for you will soon be
| where the opportunity win not be offered
you--alas how true. s-r.- .,
About the seventh day out the subsis-
tenco of our brigade began to give out
and the boys we're put on rations bu,
they wouldn't stay put, presently you
would hear stray gun go of. Soon after
you would see two soldiers coming to-
wards camp, one in front with pig on
his shoulder, the on in the rear march.
ing with fixed bayonets, as though he
was taking him to the provost but when
! they got to the Regt you wouldn't see
ANYTHING that is one kind of soldering,
and have often been amused with the
adroitness practiced by the privates.
But the wholesale plumber and robbery
that has been carried on by our troops
the last few days conceive perfectly out
rageous, and ifithas not been couutenanced
by our brigade commanders it has been
winked at. have alluded to pluuderine
aside from what is called legal foraging,
done by our Q1artermasters. In the first
place the inhabitants here have been as
sessed end sportioned by Bragg, then our
soldiers cones along that straggle ahead
(which. by the way, is a peculiar way our
soldiers have of stragglingl and make
another grab, and when we get into camp
at night our Quartermaster calls for de.
tail of 100 men. or more, and go back Il
the rear and gather up what is left save
barely enough to keep soul and BODY oil
the family together; when 10 along come
some of the struggling guard, which vii
straggle in spite of yOu) and takes that
1t is.true, their husbands and brother
are in Braggs' army, but should they
starve for that let US press on and pun
ish the offender in the field instead of the
child at h,me. 1 am willing to meet the
enemy in the field, but do protest az ainsi
sneaking around their homes and taking
almost the last morsel from their families
/ am no rebel sympathizer, but would
like to see this war carried on upon the
principle Of civil instead of barbarian
warfare. We should not turn barbariqa:
because they have, we can whip them
especially if they make one or two more
raids in free soil.
l understand Gen. Meade has wbal cd
Lee our, l hope that it will prove true
Rosecrans can hold Bragg level. and l an
confident Grant will eventually get Vicks
burg, but am little anxious to have
1T accomplished in Our day. 1 think the
rebellion might be put down in six month
time, if those two fanatieal parties up
north would stop fighting at home and re
spond to the Presidents last call.
| don't blame the Democratic party for
lot allowing themselves to be bambozeIed
and hum bugged by the abolitionists, blu,
think they might safely venture little
more and trust to their strength in
strengthening out matter after peace shall
6e restored.
Now a word in relation to the Tooth
Colonel Bartlcson is brick brick. be.
cause he is firm, sound and plucky. / be
lieVe he was called q Republican at home
out he is severely down on some of ths
leaders OF that party, in fact he looks un
on the Chicago Tribune with full as mpcb
contempt as he does the Chicago Times.
Iieat. Colonel Waterman is a good tel.
low but can never stand the service, Can.
HiWood is now acting Adit.. for our brig.
ade commander, and venture 20 say i
iull as competent as any one in that ca
pachy in Grittenden'S corps. Elder Crews
isione OF the best men in the army, he il
liberal in his views 5oth relieiousIv and
politically, is untiring in his efSDrts to com.
fort the Sick. Adjt. Rouse is that sams
slick smooth, precise young man that YOU
used to see in Joliet efficient and faithful
Capt Munger is rough and ready, thinks
promotions are very slow in the IO0th.-
Capt Bartlett don't stand the service NJ
well as you would suppose, camp life
don't seem to agree with him yet ne is a
good oflcer. 1t. Williams Is on the brig
ade staff. and is one of the best working
men ever saw, he rides his mustang DO
ny and is seen in almost every direc-
ton and never moves for nothing. Liant