Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-12-02
Movements Of the 18th Wisconsin.
NEW IBERIA, La, Oct. 80, 1868.

Just got into ca nj aItef lateA " az iAiisa
| which We have peril ruaed at the rate OF three
and sixth miles per hour, and cannot
think of anything go agre> Saoie 10 pass away
the evening as to renew my communication
with the many friends left beh. "a through
the medium OF your columns. l sup oose you
are aware that the I'd Brigade, lst Di Vision,
18th a. c., (of which the 18th Wisconsin .'tlli
forms an important part,) is commanded b.
our old and deservedly favorite Colonel, C. L.
Harris. Our Brigade IS one that any soldier
may be proud to belong to. The 2lst, 22d,
and 23d Iowa, who are associated with US
are reg iments that have no superiors in the
army they are worthy comrades. The Brig
ade was last summer commanded by Gen
Lawler, and won laurels for him on several
occasions. On his return TO the service, af-
ter a short absence on leave, he found Col.
Harris in command and knowing that he was
the choice of the Brigade, and withal one of
the oldest colonies Ii the service, he accept
ed command of the Sd Brigade and left our
colonel in command of the I'd.
Since we have been attached to the de-
partment of the Gulf, we have for the first
time been associated with Eastern troops
and We do not like the exchange. We know
that they are good fighting men, but there is
so much useless fuss about them, they don't
seem TO have got used to soldering. They
gave Us very boorish and illnatured recep-
tion on our first joining them, and we feel
that we can never traternlZe as we have done
with the Western boys wherever we have
met 1t is undeniable that the 18th and 18th
Army Corps are distinct institutions, and al
| though we may stand shoulder to shoulder in
the same fight, we shall have mo connection
with the shop the other side"
We marched from Brashear City on the Sd
inst., Starting usual promptly at the ap-
pointed time-6 o'clock A. M. passing through
Pattersonville, Canterville and Franklin, and
arrived at New Iberia on the 9th. The country
| through which we marched is very fine, and
bears evidence of great wealth; splendid
mansions, surrounded by every convenience
were passed at short intervals in one garden
an iron framed arbour, beautifully light and
graceful structure, was the object Of attrac-
ton in another, superb marble fountain
while the orange groves and ornamental shrub
berry gave an air OF opulence that we had
never before met with. Unlike the sugar
plantations on the Mississippi river, which,
are confined to narrow strip of land, those
in this part of the country stretch oft for
miles.
We left New Iberia on the 9Th en- route for
Opelousas. On approaching the village of ST.
MartinsvIlle eight miles from New Iberia a
few struggling shots told US Of the proximity
of the enemy. 1t was amusing to see with
| what alacrltv every man in the command
| sprang to the sound those in Ill health who
| had been unable to carry their arms at once
| forgot all thought of sickness, ran back to
! The train, eagerly donned their Announcements,
| grasped the well known rife whose share in
| the siege of Ficksburg mseparable from
| themselves and ever promptly in the ranks ::
| nobody seemed at all excited; officers gave
their orders promptly, knowing from expert
| ence that they were right. fhe IItn being
in advance were deployed as skirmishers.
| The order was barely given when the inter
yening fence was leyeled as if bv magic and
| the boys were advancing with all the eager
ness of old veterans. a small body of horse
| ment were seen about half a mile off, making
| good time Gen. WashburI. was in the ad-
| vance and pointed them out to his OrderlieS.
| Away went the boys in pursuit like the wind,
and after half an hours run brought in eli ght
| prisoners, one of them a Lieutenant Colonel.
The rebels retired before our skirmishers and
| scattered in all directions. The next time
we met any of them they were pursuing the
| avocations Of peace, their houses, perhaps,
| adorned with a French, English or neutral
t flag, and they looking as innocent as if they
| did not know the country at war at all.
| That day marched twenty miles
| We arrived at Vermillion Bayou on the
| 10th where we remained in camp until the
| 29d, when we marched in a heavy cold rain,
/ H.
| halted until the 9th when we were ordered
| back, for what purpose | do not know, and if
| | did, | suppose l should not feel at liberty to
! tell but be the cause what 1t may, the result
| we hail with the pleasure we always teel on
| returning to where we an opportunity of
! again hearing from home. The last letters
| we received were dated Sept. 9th and 25th :
! what you have been doing since is as much a
| mystery to US as cur movements are to GU.
Bst, hn,,
men from the fact that they have not suffici-
ent clothing to protect them from the cold
| and wet, which we feel more keenly than we
| ever felt il in Wisconsin. 1t was the testi-
| mOny of every man whom heard speak on
| the subject, that he had suffered more on the
march of the 23d from Vermillionville than
| on any day since he had been in the service
| When the command left Carroton on the 4th
| of September we were ordered 70 leave all
| baggage, tents, knapsacks, &c, to start in
| light marching order, and were assured that
| in ten days we should be in comfortable
! quarters. What the intention was or how
changed, we know not, we only know that we
| have marched 200 miles and been out Sc DAYS
with insufficient blankets and clothing, many
| of the men have nothing but rubber blan-
| ket which, with small shelter tent forms
meager protection against a cold storm.
| The vote of the Iowa troops was more de-
|
/ soldiers, when resting on a march, discuss
politics with a freedom from all restraint,
whether as to choice of language or manner
| of handling the subject, that would be decid-
| eddy refreshing to you home politicians; and
| on such occasions have heard so many avow
themselves ''Mahony democrats, by c." that
| | expected to have seen a larger vote for
! General futile. | find many Iowa soldiers
equally surprised at the result; they attri-
butte it to the effect produced by the returned
| furloughed men, who have been home, and on
rejoining their comrades, gave accounts of
| how they found matters at home that could
not be doubted. Every hardship that the
soldier feels, embitters him against any one
who, for whatever cause, seems to throw i'm
pediments in the way of a speedy and Yictori-
Gus termination of the war. To the volun-
teer who enlisted two years ago, when there
was no pressure but sense of duty and right
| to influence him, it seem most disgraceful
to those at home that draft has been re-
sorted to. He thinks it should be sufficient
| for the Commander-in-Chiefo of the army to
| signify need Of more men, TO have that
I-need promptly supplied; and when, in addi-
| ton to the general necessity, a particular ap-
peal is made to an individual by means of the
draft. it appears recreant in the man to re-
| in pth IN Of