St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1863-06-04
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IA q 80; vn May s0th, 1853.
@ DEAI DENooRAr.-Knowing thst
many Of your readers have friends, and rel
I. ativesin this army s.nd that, therefore,
oof.epondenes from here though lacking
in pent, viii not be altogether devoid of
intsrss. 70 them, I will endcavour 70 send
. lipe occasionally TOR publication. ''
Oar "soldiering" h.s been for the most
part, confined 70 the rather monotonous
duties Of mpdife, since the great battle,
which closed the old year, and introduced
thy new one, on the banks Of Stone Rls-
-, :a' * = =. - ,.: 4
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1 Here our correspondent gives lengthy
description Of the part borne by the lst Di-
visio, in the battle of Stone River, correcting
many misstatemeats, &c., but our, limited
space prevents the publication of all but the
hast Psragraph.]. .s% :. -..~ -
F Tho End MINI. Battery has the honor
of being the only battery Of six in the
two sight divisions that retired in good or
der without losing gun or caisson. I
am happy to believe that our State has
suffered no disparagement by the conduct
Of the Second Battery either in this or
any other action in which it has been en-
g,ssed. It's reputation is equal if not be-
fore any other in the corps.
The tedium Of camp life is occasionally
varied by some scouting expedition, or by
picket duty. We have made four or five
'sccuts," in one of which we had the
misfortune to lose six r.en taken prisoners.
This was near Frank lin, twcnty-cight
or thirty miles from here. With the par
ticulars believe ycur readers have been
made acquainted. :" =: 80
: We have just come in from advance
picket Eve OF six miles ont. An ~inside
p:ckss' or ':chain guard is placed eatire-
Iy around the town and camp, forming a
continuous line Of sentinels from ten to
fifteen rods apart, of ten or twelve miles
in length. From three to four miles out
side of this, on all the turnpikes and
principal approaches to the place, are post
ed heavy picket guards Of infantry and
arti!lery-besides which our cavalry scouts
are constantly on the alert. People may
rest assured that this army will never be
sat:tprieed as long as "Old Rosy is "run.
ming the e:ncern." !.
l believe :''Old Rosy" as the boys call
him, will prove to possess perhaps in a
create, degree than any other general we
have, Ill the requisitions Of commander.
A strict disciplinarian, yet kind and con-
siderate, brave, yet not rash, he knows
when to fight, and how to whip when he
does fight, and above all he possesses the
unbounded confidence Of both the officers
and men of his command.
A great change for the better in this
army since he assumed its command, is
evident to the most careless Observer
These troops. which when he took them
were little better than an armed mob, have
become an army, equal, I will venture to
say, superior, in organization, equipment
and discipline to any other Of its size on
this continent Many disloyal, cowardly
and incompetent officers have been remov-
ed, and patriotic, brave and worthy men
promoted. Desertion which was 50 COM
mon is now of very rare occurrence
Struggling is stopped. The surprise and
capture Of our meu is, "played out ~
Our cavalry, heretofore laughing stock,
has by the appointment of olive" officers,
become a thing of life-a terror and
scourge to tho "rebs." Its late achiev-
ments eclipse in boldness and results,
those of the famous Morgan aud Wheel
er brigades. The brigade Of mounted
infantry lately organized under the CON-
mand Of the brave Col. Wilder, hss al
ready proved itself an invaluable adjunct
to the army. A 'Pioneer Brigade" ha,
also been formed by detailing two men
from each company, or twenty men and
lieutenant to command them from esch
regiment. A. these are selected for their
intelligence, mechanical skin and activity,
they form as foe body Of men .s can be
found and what they cannot DO belong,
to impossibiutiee. The organizing talent
Of Gen. Rosecr,nns i. also seen in mino'
details. By = sinple use Of proper flags
corps, divisions and brig.des ore 80 iistin
suished IS to render impossible tho mis-
takinr on tha batile 6uld or elsev vhere d