Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1863-09-04
Letter from the 72d o. v. I.

Letter from the 72d o. ". 1.
Correspondence Of the journal.
CAMr NEAR BLACK RIvER, MISS.
August 18th, 1863.
10 the Editor Of the Fremont Journal;
sR;-Doubtless my pen has been too long sic
lent, and for it, am sorry. But have been
busy, very busy, so much so as to forbid my
accustomed talk with the journal readers. And
after ALL suppose nothing at all, worthy of
note, has transpired within the limits of this
army but has been duly chronicled and long
since familiar to the whole Journal family.
The campaign is over. The army has settled
down to period Of rest--a rest very much
needed Its performances have been great brill
| liant ind decisive; but they have been achieved
only by great exertion, privation and suffering.
The ranks of the army Of the Tennessee had
been greatly deciminated. Not large numbers
! had died not many had been killed. yet many
had fallen sick from oxertion, fatigue and expos
1 ure, and were sent off to Hospitals. These must
now be recovered. The materials of the army
u must be repaired. Time must be taken for the
4 necessary work of reorganization. While the
heat of this Southern cline forbid active oper-
!, ations this important work will go on, and the
cool days of autumn will behold the array Of
the nvincble sons of the west, whose achieve
= ments are the pride aud glory of the whole 10y
al nation, in readiness to wiring from this ac-
!, cursed rebellion new triumphs, and TO give new
Joy 10 the people. You need expect nothing
from this quarter for some time. People should
remember that an army is exhaustable; that it
cannot go on continually winning victories:
{ Gen. Grants forces have already killed and
captured more of the enemy, than themselves
number this too with a loss of little more than
, 5000 killed, wounded aud missing. They have
broken the rebellion in its centre, and have re-
claimed to our nation the unobstructed navga-
ton of the Mississippi For this vast success
equal praise is due to Gen. Grant, to his subor-
: dinate officers and to the gallant soldiers who
have shown themselves invincible. The STRAIT
egy OF Gen. Grant was admirable, and, above all,
successful; the fighting of his soldiers worthy
of all praise.
The '72d stands entitled to an equal share of
the glory and praise due the army. Others may
, have been oftener engaged and suffered more
} loss, but no regiment has been more continual
: ly in the front. When Gen. Sherman was as
} signed the task of receiving the expected attack
of Joe Johnston, the I'D was especially assign
ed to the honorable position of the extreme ad =.
vance. But let me give Gen. Sherman's opin-
ion of the regiment in his own words: "The I'D
is one of my best regiments, and when placed
in positions of trust, know always Just what
can depend upon and they never fail me-"
The regiment has emerged from the recent
trying campaign in remarkably good condition,
and it now aggregates nearly rs many men for
duty as it did one year ago. There have been,
from disease only two deaths with the regiment
and but few all told. There is now considera-
BILE sickness,-fevers and ague,-yet very few
cases of dangerous character. No doubt the
excellent sanitary condition of this Regiment is
almost entirely attributable to the great skill
and attention of its Medical Staff. OF Surgeon
Rice too much cannot be spoken. Ever atten-
tive to the welfare and necessities of the men,
, always ready and prompt to prescribe for the
IL Ill lol l,oa
: ed the earnest esteem and confidence of the en-
tire command. ] care not what kind of a case
l you wish treated, he has no superior. DIR. r. is
3 peculiarly fortunate in having disposition to
please, and an ability to satisfy. Not a single
word of complaint will you hear uttered against
: him. Throughout the Brigade, he is called up
ON to advise and prescribe in serious cases.
As an operating Surgeon, however, DIR. Rice
/ stands preeminently distinguished. Ever since
this Regiment has been part of an organized
, division, he has been the superior operating
Surgeon of the division. This position is filled
by regular detail without regard to rank but
with sole reference to qualification and skill
) OF the operations he has either performed, or
assisted in, all. For more than one year past
S scarcely case of amputation has taken place in
, the division, but was performed by him, and all
were eminently successful. have known of
s several of the most critical cases where he has
performed operations, every one of which have
!, been successful.
}, l say thus much of DR.. Rice for the reason
that the friends and relatives of the soldiers OF
t the Regiment most deeply interested in their
# medical attendance and will rejoice to be as
t sured that they are under the management o
5, one who is abundantly able and ever ready to
= administer to their wants
t Furloughs and leaves of absence are the or
q der now. Five per centum of the troops can
f be furloughed at one time for thirty days; and
in addition, all the sick, who su ffering from
chronic diseases or disability, also to receive
D furloughs for like period.
e Three officers, Captains Snyder, Moore and
Fernald, and six enlisted men, have been sent Ia
r Ohio to receive drafted men for this regiment
Major Eaton, 1t. Lorenzo Dick, Co Ii, and Lit
, Col. Crockett are absent on account of sickness
In addition there five or six officers home OIL
n leave for twenty days.
$ The following named officers have resigned
G viz: Capt. Anthony Young, Co. H; Capt Chas
n d. Denius, Co. E., and Capt NJ. A. Fowler, Co
: |. 1st Leuts. VIM. T. Fisher, Co. B; A. H
Rice, Co F, and Albert Bates Co. 1.-The three
latter on account of sickness and continued
| disability.
Serg'tA. P. johnson, Co. c, has been promo
ted to 1st Lieut.. of Co. /.
The Regiment is now commanded by Capt.
5 Andrew Nuhfer, Co d, most worthy and eff
f cient officer.
Gen. Buckland has returned to duty, and is
/ now in command of this (the 3d) Division. II
is to be wished that the Division may be left
permanently in his hands. 1t could get in nc
better.
We in receipt of our mail, and of papers
from the North and New Orleans, quite regu-
larly, which to a soldier more than TO any one
else, is great consolation.
may mention that our camp is located on
Bear Creek, two miles from Black River, seven
miles from Black River Railroad bridge, and
about eighteen miles from Vicksburg. The sit
uaton is considered beautiful one, and is con-
venient to good water. SEVENTY SIX.
The Hon. Edward Everett. in letter to the
Rev. DR.. Eliot, of St. Louis, says that he antici-
h. IJo. x,,;lI l.