North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1863-05-20
Letter From the Army.

Letter From the Army.
Co. B. 18th Regt. Pa. Res. Vol. Corps,
WASHINGTON d. G. May IL. 1863
Mr.. EDITOR:
Having few spare mo-
ments will improve them by scribbiing Q
few lines to our welcome, though rare visitor,
the North Branch Democrat. 1t may be
interesting to the numerous readers Of your
valuable paper, to know where Company B.
of the 18th Penna. Res. Vol. Corps 10, and
what they are doing. We have been here
in this famed city of Washington some three
weeks, being reorganlzed aud thoroughly & t.
ted out with the necessary officers, to enable
US to 60 to the front again. With over two
years. service at the front, we were sadly
lacking in officers and the numerous bat
ties in which we have been engaged, have SO
thlnned our ranks, that although our aggrs-
gate number of men, absent and present 10
sixty, when we left the front, we had only
twenty.four enlisted men for duty; and our
company is only counterpart Of the state Of
our Regiment. and indeed the whole Brigade.
We now number present for duty, thirty en-
listed men, and three Commissioned O61.
GERS. Our worthy Sergsants, John 2. Hoad-
ly, and Philetus Fl. Reynolds have ut last
been promoted the first named toa first
Lieutenancy, and the last named to Second
Lieutenancy. Our former first Lieutenant,
Simon II. Briggs was promoted to a Captain
cy and we now have three as good and brave
officers as there are in the Division. They
have been tried and not found wanting. We
are now quartered on Capitol Hill in what
is called Carroll Barracks we have good
| quarters and every thing to make . soldiers
life comfortable. Our Camp is pleasantly
situat ted and the numerous Ladies and Gen
tlemen that are constantly visiting it, make
the streets look more like some great thorough
fare of the city, than soldiers home. Many
of the soldiers wives are now staying with
their husbands iu camp, and we have aseood
society and as much srpihkled with Ladies as
we do at home. The scenery from our camp
is splendid in front, the most conspicuous
object 8 the Capitol, built ofmarble with the
Dome towering up toward the sky, until the
eye grows weary looking at it; on the right
are the buildings belonging to the sisters of
Charity, "a benevolent institution) with its
beautiful grove of the white poplar trees.-
The inmates among them, with their dark,
sombrG dresses, and white spreading bon
nets, together with the gentle breeze whis-
pering through the slken foliage, almost
makes one imagine he has been transported
to some fairy land. To the left and in the
back ground it the noble Potomac with its
green shores-its placid bosom covered with
all kinds Of crafts, from the tiny sail boats
to the noble ocean steamer. Every where,
are glstenng guns and bayone's, which re-
calls the mind from its dreamings, to reali-
zation of the certainty, that war, dread war,
is now lowering with his dark p,nions over
our fair land. Rebel prisoners are arriving
daily from Hooker's army, and We have been
busy, the last two weeks, escorting them TO
the old Capitol and other prisons. They are
mostly hard looking set of men !; but they
look just like the men to fight, as we have
always found to our cost. They say that
they will never come hack into the old un.
ion again. and if the n orth conquers them,
it will have to station Regiment o! men in
every County in the southern States. The
reports of their being half starved and al
most naked are all bosh. Their clothes,
though of all kinds and coIors, are comforta-
bic. They seem to have all faith in the ul'i-
mate success of the South and tho establish
ment of the Southern Confedcracy. Some
lew, take the oath of allegiance to the North,
but they are mostly the scum of their army
This city is crowded with the nine months
men returning-some queer scenes occur.
they seem TO loose all shame, and some of
them all decency. By appearances now We
are going to loose some Of our g colured pop :
ulation." They are raising two negro Reg
iments here in the district, and the mama for
enlistng on account of fear of the draft, is 40
great, that able bodied servants are quite
scarce: which is quite a wonder for this city
being the Head Quarters of the Negroes, that
come North. The weather is quite warm
SO that straw hats and linen coats are quite
comfortable, but soldiers are not allowed to
wear them, for the reason, that it would not
be military.
The boys are all well, and seem to be en-.
IjoyiDg themselves first rate, myself include ed
From SOLDIER.
Nicholson, May 18th, 1863.
EDITOR DEMOCRAT:
L