The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1863-01-09

OF every man. Such the condition mental.
~, physically they were even worse Off
They had Just finished up q long hard
march OF from six to seven hundred miles,
under the wo'st Of circumstances. You We
heatd Of II before. will not repeat the
|saddening story; suffice IL TO say that with
scarcely an exception, the men we're worn
out. Besides all this, they knew little Of
the drill, save the facings, wheelings,
markings snd manual of arms, and this all
so lmperIecily as 10 be unfit for a regular
Engagement. Battalion tnd skirmish drills
were as good as unknown. The reason for
his deplorable state Of affairs, is simply
this; Col. Langworihy, always used to
lobeying promptly whatever his superiors
ordeIed him to do, was unfortunately CON.
manded to leave Camp Lima before the men
were either drilled or equipped for actual
service. And let me here remark, which is
a high enconium on .him as a soldier, and
at the same time Just to the negligent, in
competent officers who swarm about the
Quartermasters department, that Col. l..
was too prompt in obeying--ths is tue
Had he refused TO move till the regiment
was fully ready for the field, we would not
now regret his loss. Eternal infamy must
await him who robbed US OF our Colonel,
on charge of disobedenee to orders. Our
suihorites were sadly imposed upon by some
designing raseas--pardon the digression,
would not avoid it.
Such is but a partial view OF the condi.
tiUn in which Col. Swayne found his COM
mand. He wentto work in earnest. What
means lie employed is unnecessary TO state,
but now the Eve hundred men who are here
are all cheerful, contented and as happy as
men can be from home, and the loved ones
there. They are as well drilled as any new
regiment have ever seen. Col. S. is be.
loved by all his men--simply because he
deserves their love and esteem. lie re
minds us OF 'our little Colonel Notwilh
standing this pleasant picture, it is sad to
view the broken-down men, and to remem.
ber that many companion is we know not
where. Probably ] have dweIt too long on
this subject.
Happening to see a stray JefTersonian, |
perused it. say stray, for they fail to come
to us. What means it2 Well, saw your
comment on Captain Bope's Brown letter,
and "grinned audibly." None ever saw
that "wiId Shout in the 99lh, save among
heartless political fossils, who acknow edge
no,hing good, except that which will give
thei. party success, and who belong to
party melely that they may get fat living
without labor or merit, and who have thrast
themselves on the army, that they might re
pei the charge OF being lukswsrm IN this
great struggle, while they do any amount OF
injury 10 The service. Save among these,
there was general feeling Of despair at the
result of that election.
II time permitted, would give you my
views on the gieat and momentous topic OF
the day--the Presidents proclamatlon.-
But mere views or opinions now are un-
necessary. You will soon know the result
suffice 1t to know. that the verwhelming
majority OF the soldiers are warm in their
support OF Lincoln.
have a nice little story which would
like TO tell you, about a certain brave hav-
ing the praise OF all the staff for himself, &c.,
who, once upon a time, in the distant land
OF Wild Cat, rode certain gray mule--not
cry ng "Mr. here's your mule" but cry.
ing--but guess it were prudent to keep
the story Till we can all laugh together.--
Wishing "meIry Christmas and chap.
py New Year" 10 one and all,
remain
Your obedient servant,
CHARLES Il. BARND.