The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-05-11
correspondence of the Journal
From the 5Sth Indiana
of the Evansville Journal /:

Ff0m THO OCtH AHOiuh@s
To the Editors of the ErGHsrilte Journal:
If our good friends in Indiana could
walk along the finely arranged streets OF
the camp of the 5Sth regiment-if they
could 'repose themselves under some OF
our innumerable cedafs, and witness the
universal cheerfalness everywhere appa-
rent-they would conclude that the life
of soldier has some bright spots, after
all. If they could live for weeks without
seeing q Butternut," which we do 'chen
in camp, they would conclude that hap
Ply are the people that are in such
stated" The boys are full of life, and
buoyant with hope for the ultimate and
complete triumph of our arms. All the
world, and especially the Butternuts,
may just as well rest satisfied that we
are going to stand by the President, and
put this little matter through. And then,
while we are in practice, we are willing
to attend to traitors North, or exchange
blows with our European friends. After
| that we propose to settle down to quiet
life.
A person might infer from some of the
accounts in the papers that the army is
composed of a set of heathens at best.
1t is far otherwise In this regiment the
men have not only decorated their entire
camp with evergreen, but have construct
l.t-L-4l.---=--li-i ailo
service every Sunday at two and half
past six NJ, and every Thursday night.
On Fast Day there was quite display of
stars and eagles. Major General Critten-
den, Brigadier-G Generals Vancleve and
Brannan, and lesser lights in great num-
bers, were in attendance.
Many of the soldiers are trying to i'm
prove their minds. Some who could not
read, have learned Some have learned
to write, and many others are trying tC
improve in this respect. One hundred
copy books have lately been purchased
by them, and they have sent for two hun
bred more. On every side men are
thirsting for knowledge. Of books
tracts. and periodicals, secular and re
liginne, we have pretty good supply
We are trying to attend to our moral anC
Intellectual welfare, that we may return
home better and wiser men than we were
when we come out.
We have had five presentations sine,
the last one reported in the Journal
Four of these were swords, given respect
lively to Capt. William Davis, of CO. A
Capt. James NJ Smith, of co B, Capt
Nathan Evans, of co. G, and Lieutenan
james D. Foster, no. B, blythe non-com
missioned officers and privates Of thei
commands. It is very gratifying to Sc
these evidences of love and attachmen
between officers and their men, TIL
other presentation WIS a fine Herr
Rife, from the regiment to Sergeant Gil
bert Armstrong, of CO. E, for gallautry il
battle, and care of the sick and wounded
Armstrong is an old soldier, having sery
ed with credit in the Mexican war 81
is one of the heros of the ranks. A
Stone river be greatly distinguished him
self The applauses of the people ar
lavished on Generals, but true heroes ar
they, who with courage and devotion. e,
pose themselves to danger and death i
the ranks
need scarcely speak of the mont
ment that the 5Sth regiment desig
erecting to the memory of their falle
companions. The proceedings of tn
meeting at which it was determined oil
have already appeared in the Jouraa
The company savings which are to
a single month, to about two hundre
and fifty dollars 1t will not be long III
til this fund, with the subscription of th
officers, will amount to the sum dete
mined on-two thousand dollars.
Princeton, being the place the regimen
J was organized, and near the center of tn
territory represented in The regiment, ha
bren selected as the site The men d.
sign to complete the work without an
pecuniary aid from home, as a tribute G
respect for their companions who hav
given their lives for their country
One of the finest camps here is that {
the Sth Indiana Battery, so we'll know
to the readers of the Journal Thei
guns and caissons have recently been +,
, painted and repaired and put in con
f plete order They have constructed ell
E CANT sheds of cedar boughs for the
horses. Their camp would grace tn
pages of the best illustrated papers. b.
these are devoted almost exclusively t
the Army of the Potomac, which certain
, ly needs their help, as well as the con
miserstion of all mankind Under til
leadership of Fighting Joe" may the
credit be redeemed
Our entire army is in splendid cond
. ton. AS there is no hope of the enem
, attacking US here, we trust that circuu
stances may soon justify Rosecrans
leading US forth to meet them. Whe
we 90 it will be to conquer j Il.
MURFREEsBoRo, Tenn, May 4.