St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1863-04-16
Z 7 II ~
FROM ST. CLOUD TO PAxNEslyttLLhE.


FROM ST. CLOUD TO PAXNEsly4IlhLE.
On Wednesday Of last week, accepting
kind invitation from DR.. J. V. Wren,
Post Surgeon Il PaYnes7ille, toItaEe trip
with him to that place, we left town short
ly after ten o'clock, and with tie Doc
tors spanking span were soon far on our
way. The day was fne-bright and warm
with a fresh breeze from the west and
1t was a pleasure now and then to inhale
the lungs full Of the pure, bracing air, as
if to see how much they could hold.
Crossed to the north side of Sank Riv-
er and found the roads hard, smooth and
dry, indeed almost dusty; and this, too,
with patches Of snow here and there in the
fence corners by the road side. Such are
Minnesota roads in the spring. Reached
St. 10. in less than jan hour, and met a
messenger from Payncsyille coming post
haste for the Doctor, with word that a
man Of Company A, Sergeant Moore, was
dangerously i'll. Passing through Cold
Springs, we reached Richmond at one
CLOCK. q :Hctc is stationed Company G,
Of 1st Regiment 81. NJ. r., Capt. Hen
derson. AS the Hospital at. this place is
also under charge Of DR.. Wren,- he made
a stay Of half hour to examine into the
condition Of bis patients-three in num-
Der, with rheumatic troubles-and we
spent the time agreeably with our friend,
Lieut.. Goliath, who as acting Quarter
master is kept busy.
Kecrossing to the south side Of the
river we found ourself in a portion Of
Northern Minnesota with which we had
no previous aequair lance, and u portion
decidedly more broken than the principal
part Of this section OF the State. 1t SEEM
ed like old times, this going down one
hill merely to 80 up another -Four miles
from Richmond is a very pretty, though
not large, lake, extending to the west and
almost entirely surrounded by woods. 1t
sillslay stretched out quiet in it's frosty
shroud. Further OF the timber becomes
more scarce, and especially toward the
west, shere the eye may reach for long
distance without meeting more than few
scattered trees. The country continues
roug h and hilly, with sharp, rocky juts,
giving evidence Of volcanic eruptions.-
When almost half way, We came to one Of:
the marks Of last summers devastation
few ridges Of ashes, literally nothing
more, showing where had stood the desert
ed home A little in. advance was a Sec
ond, and soon q third, fourth and fifth
while here and there by the roadside were
fields Of yellow straw, still, standing, the
golden grain given back to earth. Some
how this whole region of country seemed
to bear yet the spirit of desolation, and
suggest continually the loss in life and
products OF last summer, '''.,
In drawing near to Payncsville the i'm
mediate country travelled over and. for
some distance to the northwest, is low
and rather marshy, but is hemmed in on
all sides by ridges Of bluffs. When with.
in about mile and halt of our destina-
ton we came to the north branch of Crow
River, rapid little stream that one might
almost leap across Passing over this, the
Notifications built upon the ground where
the village Of Paynesville once stood, ap-
peared in view. This is by much the
most attractive country yet seen on the
route. A smooth, high prairie, about a
mile in width, y closed in on the east by
woods. .strstches away to the west until
checked BY the inevitable bluffs. f. We are:
told the character Of the, country contin-
aes to improve, both in. srchsry and quail
ity, as one draws near The Norway Lake
region;a; aEo1s a,1e ii ano a,sp 3 j.. /
Coming up, found CAPT. Wilson with
portion Of bis company out on drill, At
er 'dispo.ing of the team-ha,ing made
he DISTANCE, thirty-six miles, IN, FIVE hours, +
including aKhour's stay, at Richmond
with the Docto, We spent an Hour inter-
'sted in watching the maneuvers. Tho
uen gave evidence Of thorough training
lot only in tho regular evolutions, But in
eapiug their horses over bars, picking
IF the ring with the point Of the sabre
ID MISUNDERSTANDING to one side
'hile. the horses were on full gallop and
atcbing articles from, the ground, with
thcr exercises tending to give them con-