Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1863-02-03
Letter from The S3d Res't.
HEADQUARTERS Esd w. V.
Moacoy. Tenn. Ian. f2 ga.

WHICH the army, Oh WHICH the oOu 10 Tdie
has not done; and, perhaps you have had {,
full account of our marching, from Mem
phis 10 do our part in aiding the several
divisions Of the gran1 army of Tennessee to
surround and capture the rebel camped at,
and in the vicinity Of, Holly Springs and
Oxford; yet | thought it would do no harm
to write few lines Tor the readers Of the
Herald concerning what we, the soldiers of
the SD and our friends at nome have done
in time now past, and, perhaps, what we
ought to do in future.
Our Reg't. left Racine Nov. 18th, pass
ed by railroad to Cairo, at which place we
arrived on the 14th just before the .'broke"
of day, and there we stood, huddled to-
gether and guarded, like herd Of cattle
bound for the slaughter yard, till about
midday when we were ordered on board
the steamer Universe which was headed
down stream, and ordered to report at Co
lumbus, which we did at dusk the tme
day and there we received orders to 90 on
to Memphis where we were permitted to
report on Sunday the 10th at eleven a. m. /;
there we were ordered off the boat, and
into camp. For ten days we stayed there
and did nothing, except to guard the camp,
and drill little occasionally; but on the
evening of the 25th orders came for us to
be ready to strike tents at two o'clock next
morning. AT eight in the morning orders
were given and tents were soon struck and
we ready for marching; started at eleven
o'clock a. IN. in direction about southeast
halted for camp ten miles from Memphis
night cold, bpt the boys were too tired to
pitch tents; slept well dn-.%..1ag the night,
out had cold fingers next morning when
we took our guns in hand. The ground
was frozen quite hard. Distance travelled
on The 9th eighteen miles. Next morn
ing we were told that we should be requir-
ed to march only eight miles for that day /;
but at ten o'clock p. IN. we halted and
camped, having marched twenty-five miles.
As we did not expect SO long march, and
as 10 clear water was to be had where we
camped the night before, many Of the boys
started with empty canteens; consequently
they suffered for it, and thereby learned a
lesson which will lie of service to us all
Rested the twenty-ninth; tbirtieth march
ed eight miles to Chuluhoma. Heard the
cannons roar al distance IL the direction
of Waterford; some of the boys thought
that there was prospect for fight, and
this seemed to make them rejoice.
Heavy rains every few days. Dec. 18th
found us in camp twelve miles below Ok
ford, and no fight yet; the rebels having
escaped as is usually the case. At this
camp our Co., 3D. lost one ofits best men
Nj. E. Fitch, and at Oxford hospital a man
from CO. G. December 21sl we started
at daylight and marched down to Yscona,
crossed the railroad and camped on the east
side Of it about mile from the village.
Quite number are sick; mostly of meas
.es and humps; but several are worn out,
and must be discharged or never get well.
December 22d retreated to camp six miles
north Of Oxford. Crossed the Tallabatchee
on the Odd, and remained between this riy-
CT, the north branch OF the Yazoo and Wa
terford ill the morning of the 9th of Jan.
1868; from thence we retreated to Holly
Springs where We remained till the even
ING of Jan. 10th, when we were ordered to
march to Coldwater, small stream five
miles north. For short one, it was a
hard march; we did not reach camp until
nearly eleven p. Nj. Our sick suffered
very much. The sick Of Co. D, including
those absent in the hospital and those now
with the company, who are unfit for duty.
number twenty-three, Jan. IIih. Sunday
the 18th we were called into line before
sunrise, and soon after started again on our
retreat. First few miles the road was very
muddy, and midday found us about one
mile from where we started in the morning.
The men could have gone several miles,
but the teams could not; and on retreat
each regiment must keep in the rear of its
supply trains. At nine p. m. we camped
about two miles south Of Moscow, our pres
ent site; having travelled distance Of
eighteen miles. We marched to, and
camped, here on the morning of the
18th have seen no armed rebels yet, but
have seen many Of them who cry "Union"
while in our presence, and if Fremont could
command us we would teach them 10
preach it while we are absent, instead Of
mounting horse and acting out "gueril-
las" IF this could happen think there
would be as great rejoicngi in the army,
aud that it would be equally as much Of a
"God send" to the country, as when the
news came that the great humbug, McClel-
Ian, was deprived Of his command.
There are several Of our company who
should Re discharged and sent home; they
can do their country much better service
there than here, because if they go where
they can enjoy the comforts of life and the
care and nursing Of their friends, good
health will soon be theirs; then they will
find plenty Of ways in which to be useful,
but II they remain here where but little can
be done for them, they are not only now,
and while life in future may hnger with
them, of no service, and detriment to the
Government; being that they can do moth
ins, and must and will have all the care
tba we'll ones can devote 10 them. Pass