Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-03-27
From the Ninth Regiment.

The following brief and interesting
letter, though not designed for publica-
ton, has been kindly sent US by Mrs
Wiggin 1t will be read with interes
by all, and we hope she will send us ma
ny more UGH from the same source
CAMP DOUGLAS, Chicago, ILL.,,
March 18th, 1868.
My DEAR WIFE Il am now located
at this poiIt; have been here some two
or three weeks and am much pleased
with the change. My health is now fine
and my business agrees with me in eve.
ny respect, and l am well satisfied with
the seryice-much better than | expect.
ed when / first enlisted. The longer !
remain in the army the better / am
pleased with the manners and customs,
although | am leaving little family at
home that need my aid, yet while our
country is in peril, and our inveterate
foes are assailing US on all sides, how
can we remain in idle suspense at home.
If our country or government be broken
down, what will home be good for A
home without government No |
prefer spilling the last drop of blood that
flows in my veins rather than live with
my family in any country without gov
eminent.
| am now guarding rebel prisoners,
and they are dying off pretty fast. From
10 TO 20 die daily. The climate does
not agree with them and the free air
which we breathe in this delightful city
Of the West, is perfectly poisonous to
their black, demonlike hearts, and their
food cooked by white people, not as con-
genial with their appetite as 'hog and
hominy' served up by regular old
Atrican-or what is still more lamenta.
Bile, mixed-blood. They are the hardest
set of human beings | ever saw-dirty,
are civil here, for they know
what they have to do in an enlightened
Well, it is generally admitted that we
have the best company in the service
In all the companies l have seen since /
have been in the service, | have not yet
seen one differed as well as ours. Our
captain CA. Bartlett of Irasburgb.) is
just the man for his pcsition-honored
and respected, not only by bis company,
but by all higher officers in the regiment
lie attends to the wants of his men and |
We are all willing to die BY his side, ra-
her than see hair of his head harmed. Il
rasburgh may well be proud of such
nan | wish our country abounded 10
such men If SO, we could all have been
At home now aud our country would no,
have been in peril. / may say the same
Of our lieutenants Quimby and Hibbard.
They are the right Stripe and to use
western phrase, they have got the sand.
Hibbard is quite feeble at this time and
has been for some two months. I fear
f he does not get better soon he will
rave to leave the service. l hope he
nay soon recover, as his loss in the
company would be deeply felt by us all.
5ut if he must leave the company. we
ave first-rate man to take his place,
ur Orderly, Richard Parker-he is a {
ptop man in every respect.
We have lost some men by desertion, i
Oeserton ? This name applied to one q
no started for The Stars and Stripes I
'oks dark. do not see for my life '
hat man is made of who will take the {
ath of enlistment and then desert bis |
ost. Shall we call them men They c
'ear the form without the power. The a
bought is enough to make man quail.
feel bad for man that is so unprinci-
led.
There have been several men dischar-
ed on account of i'll health, and s or 10
ave Joined the Regulars. We have a
Oble colonel, most worthy man. and is
'pable of filling any position that
ay be rendered to him. would rather
How him as leader than any man |
'er saw. l can say the same of our
.utenant colonel. We should lament
cir loss deeply. We hope they will
main with us until we are privileged to
turn to our families again in peace,
ID know that the rebellion is forever
ushed.
Hoping that old Vermont will sustain
r position manfully in the struggle
lich is now ensuing, and that there
~ be no traitors at homeland that
IS may find our little family we'll. l
'se for the present, and will write you
ain in few days. / remain your af
tionate husband,
JAMES A. WIGGINs.
sSy A sheen belonoinp To Mr. I'll