The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-03-20
OUR ARMY CORRESPONDENTS.
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Letter from the Fourth Regiment.
CAMP NEAR MEMPHIS, Tenn. !
luO February "a, 1868. :

--'707e V77!-lf l.-l ----'iIT4i Do9I9r1
-aA.=p11 CAMP NEAR MEMPHIS, Tenn,
-.so l5-imolg February "a, 1868. s
To the Editor Of the Pioneer: liz aa,lH .HH.r
According to promise, again take pleas
ure in addressing you, though not with
much prospect Of making my letter as in
teresting as I should wish. Events of a
stirring character, and incidents of interest,
are not of numerous occurrence in camp;
yet will l endeavor to state that which has
occurred with as much detail as shall
enhance its interest. February 9TH,
cold, snowy and stormy day, was the one
upon which we took our departure from
White Station. A short march of ten
miles brought us to camp, and within the
suburbs of that most notorious of cities,
Memphis, We pitched our tents. This
semi-civilized place of abode possesses
many charms. Situated upon high ground
and amidst heavy timber, it affords the adj
vantages of dryness and warmth. and alto
gether it makes, perhaps, the best ground
for encampment in the neighborhood. Fa-
vored once more with a visit from the Pay
master, our prospects look brighter. Solv-
ency from pecuniary troubles, an opportu-
nifty for :ndulging in some of the purchas-
able luxuries, as we'll as chance for
metropolitan sightseeing, brings joy upon
heightened visages, and grants a glimmer
of light to us benighted souls. Certainly
our lot appears more bearable.
Contrary to expectation and in defiance
of prophecy, We still await the coming of
the hour when we shall take first-class
seattle passage" upon Uncle Samuels
transports down the Mississippi to Vicks-
burg and the great "canswl." Shall we
ever go?-this is the mooted question.
Rumor says both yea and nay. 1t is said
that Rosecrans looks for us up in Ken
lucky, and veracious ".prognosticator
favors us every little while with certain
destinations which have existence in and
over every portion of that geographical
definition" entitled the ''Seat of War"
Where we are bound, the future must
reveal.
The enemy do not make much demon
stration in this neighborhood. Some week
or so ago, party OF guerillas came to the
rivers edge on the Arkansas side. A
steamer belonging to Government, and to
which were attached two barges of coal,
lying above the village of Hope6eld, was
attacked by them, the crew taken off, the
barges sunk, and the steamer burnt. This
being made known to the commander of
the two gunboats lying in front of the ci y,
the boats were Immediately headed for the
opposite shore, and brisk firing COM
menced, which was continued for nearly
an hour. The rebels were dispersed, but
only after the mischief they had calculated
upon was finished. Since then, these ind;-
viduals have kept from this vicinity.
The month past has been one of cOntin-
uous rain, the sun very seldom favOring us
with his genial presence, and altogether
nature has conspired to initiate the gloom
of regions underground" Scientific
ambulation has become the virtue most
eagerly sought after by the aspiring pedes-
TRANS. To learn to navigate the distance
of two hundred rods, with no further ca
tastrophe than an ankle-deep penetration
into the semi-liquid covering of Tennessee
sub-soil, furnishes us with entertaining
employment, for the physical as we'll as
the mental constitution. Bad enough in
the country-what must it be in the city,
where thousands after thousands, and day
after day lend each their assistance, mount
ed or in carriages, and wagons with heavi-
ly loaded teams, and on foot, all adding
their mite to thoroughly amalgaznate the
mucilaginous composition of Memphis
street. 1t is indeed an amusing sight to
witness from some elevated locality, the
evolutions, the contortions, and the STRAIT
egy, the exertions and the management
with which each traveller endeavors to
avoid the necessary infections to be endur-
ed before the passage of his Rubicon is eff
fected by the most "miserabile ru!gus"
ofpopulace Witness the dismay ofour val
liant son of Mars, upon whose shoulder the
silver star beams sublimely and savagely,
he who upon the field Of battle bore him
self SO proudly, and won his promotion by
deeds Of valor, displays, when brought
face to face with this ultimatum of nasti-
ness, filthiness and denominations of the
earth How manfully glows that honest
visage as the full terror of his position
opens to his mental realization, and how
instructive and hard to overcome the phys
ical contraction which ensues, when the
nicely-booted pedal extremity, set with des-
perate inacuracy upon treacherous stone,
finds itself suddenly enveloped in liquid
covering of that same earth upon which it
had so often trodden with disdain. This
first false step taken, there is no return,
as natural sequence, pedes No. two,
takes plunge, and horror of horrors, down
into the depth of graceful Elasticity, not
only over boot or ANGLE, but down, down,
until those well-cut and fashionable I'M
mentlonables, tucked into the "lOps . "a
la militaire," are coated and dyed beyond
recusitation. Onward he goes, desperation
lending strength, plunging, rearing, splash
ing, and with countless invocations of spir-
its Internal and their master Diabolical,
upon Cuch StraQts and cuob q - Ct,oo m.