Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1863-02-24
Letter from Co. c, I'd Wis.
CAMP NEAR Belle PLAIN, Va. I
Feb. It'll, 1853.

FRIEND CovER:-We have the pleasure
to receive the Herald quite regular, it is
always very welcome visitor. In the
edition of the 9th ult.. we find a commn-
nicalion, by certain Mr.. G. b. who. as it
seems, is making great efforts by the aid
Of your valuable sheet, to run down the
End Wis, and whitewash the 9TH and take
the glory for it. | wish the valiant knight
would not be rough on us, and stay with
in the limits CT truth. 1t appears that the
lines in your former issue which gave the
End some praise, and as l believe moth
ing more than it merits, set the said G. b.
into an awful sweat. 1t must have went
seriously against bis stomach, to have the
Rag, ed Second, called fighting ditto. Ac-
cordngly he tries to work off his bile by
The eruption with which he gives vent TO
his feelings in the Herald.
He comes in for the Lion share of the
fame aud laurels. but inethinks he has
chosen very bad method for accomplish
ing his desire towards his companions on
terms. 1t seems that newspapers are the
only refuge for such characters to yindicate
themselves.
The public must be surely aware of the
fact that the Second was of course the
Bear at the battle Of Fredericksburg, but
how is it that there were none killed and
wounded in the regiment. The 7th was
as a matter of course the principal body OF
troops, to be relied upon, for the protec-
lion of the left wing of the whole army,
and for the reason pushed into the adj
vance. / co not want to give a long ac-
count on what we did and didn't do. Suf-
fee it to say, that for the greater part Of
the time the Second had to do picket du-
ty, depIoyed as skirnishers, and the plank
ING companies, actually engaged in Skin
mish with the Corn Feds. This is not
meant as self praise but yindication; and
Mr.. G. B. should have known that self
praise is a poor recommendation. You
may have received letters from us, but as
as far I know,there was no practice made to
elevate ourselves, or depress the reputation
Of them for our Motto is, Sum Cuiqtte.
By the perllsaI Of the records OF casuali
ties in the different reg ments, Mr.. G. B.
would have found that the I'd has been
the most i'll faied, and by comparison, he
may perhaps become convinced, that Co.
G, especially lost more men than any 9th
er company which left Grant county.
How does this correspond with the ques-
ton Of the advance position! Does the
gentleman recollect Gainesville, Tor was he
perchance with the wagon train? Does
he know which regiment was called into
action first, and why9 Because Gen. Glib
bon was aware that the Second had bean
previously under fire, lat Bull Run first,
but had to retreat like the rest Of the ar
my He fully perceived the dangerous
position his Brigade was placed IN, and he
confidently sent the End in to show the
modus operdadi. At South Mountain
he remarks that We were in the rear again.
He must be very well posted, but, never
theless, he made very serious mistake.
He may have lnnbered to the rear and
mistook the way the battahons were in
line of battle. So to strengthen his men,
DRY. VIII only say, that the 10th Indiana
and 2nd occupied one side OF the turnpike,
while the 9TH and 9th were on the other.
He must indeed, find it very tantaizing
TO those having friends in the 7th, to hear
the cognornen Of the fighting bestowed
upon sister regiment But We, not all
facetious for name or title and quite
willing to substitute the old nickname Of
the Ragged a.; this may be some recon
citation.
see that he forgot TO mention that we
were rear guard again in the last disas-
trous advance. But the people of Grant
county ought to know it, and I will tell
them Of it, and the duty of rear guard,
which is TO pick up stragglers etc. 1t may
he, that he had reasons for not doing so
because as performing our duty. we picked
los of such men up as Mr.. G. B. in fence
corners and hiding places; such heroes
were trying to hesl it, instead of toeing up
towards the enemy, while their fellow COM
bat.ants marched forward.
Away from guns, bombs and shells,
Mr. G. b. shows great vaor in welding
his pen, the roar of musketry don't weak
en- his nerves. Should he, after this, seri-
ously aspire toward glory. will find him,
in case be as few greenbacks to spare a
co npetent NV York reporter, who will
make him..a Cid OF. Bayard, elevate him to
the highest notch, and still higher if re-
CURED.
For my part. do not make any prac-
tice in corresponding with papers. but |
wish Mr. G. b. would take the pioverb at
heart: "Trtus fortitudine Vineet."
..BoLITIoNIsT.