Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-03-03

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prairies of Texas. Our taste for the sport {:
is fair, though not so great as 1t was when We
were young, and | believe | am safe in assert
ing that we would not have to be urged very
, hard when called upon to charge!
We feel keenly the loss of the balance Of
our brigade, to which we must soon submit
The regiments are 18th, oath, 34th and 46tl
Indiana, and their term of service soon ex
pires. We have become 'all as one man.
and it is like losing brothers. But, bless me
what an iDordinately long letter, I will subside
lest peradyenture | weary you by much talk
Your brother in the faith (of Abraham.)
SCRIBUs.
An Interesting Letter from the 18th Regiment
Corresp ondence of the State Journal.
INDIANoLA Texas, Feb. l, 1864.
Ny last letter was sent from Matagorda
Island two months ago. The regiment was
collected at Decrocros Point a few DAYS after
where we remained until January 4th, when
we were ordered to this place on the steamer
Matamoras, to reinforce the 1st Brigade OF
our Division. The Eleventh was the first to
visit Indianola on the 18th of December.
Three companies were landed on the long
pier, and marched through the town to the
court house where our colors were displayed.
| The mayor of the city came out to see us
wearing one of our cavalry oyercoats, which
failed to make him look like Union man.
All of the boys in town were out to hear
Roberts music. We returned to Decrocros
Point the same evening. The rebels burned
a part of the pier before Gen. Warren occu
pied the town with his brigade.
Tho otnamboat LANDING IL at -,
| POwderhorn. where nearly all of the business
is done. Our regiment was stationed at Old
town, three miles north Of the landing and
quartered in the houses.
The supply of rations was exhausted soon
| after our arrival at this place, and we should
have suffered if Colonel Whittlesey had not
obtained hundred bushels of corn from the
scant supply of the citizens, which answered
for bread and coffee. Company I was de-
tailed to grind the corn in hand-mills, as the
small wind-mills used for grinding corn did
not work well during the genuine Norther"
which prevailed the first week in January.
| learn from the "Texas almanac" that "Nor-
theirs may be expected from September to
April one a week, average duration three
| days 1t is very unpleasant to think of them
so [ will leave you to imagine what en-
dured the first week in January, which was
|
which we learned from the oldest inhabi-
tant" The weather has been very pleasant
for two weeks past, and it seems like May in
| Wisconsin. The grass is starting on the
| prairie, and corn will be planted this month
The regiment was enlisting as veterans
! when we saw by the newspapers that no boun-
| ties would be paid after January 9Th. Major
| Elliott, of the SD Illinois, returned from
| New Orleans with orders for his regiment to
| be mustered and relieved from duty to 90
home. Colonel Whittlesey has gone to New
| Orleans with them to obtain transportation
for our regiment. l do not think we shall be
able to leave before next month as the Sth
and 18th Indiana are going soon.
We have not any cavalry, which makes the
rebels feel quite safe in coming near our
lines, as they are mounted men. They found,
after making several demonstrations and get
ting us out in line of battle, that we had but
one regiment in this town, which induced
them to come down one afternoon to capture
US. They dismeunted two companies at the
bayou above the town, expecting to draw US
out there, while they marched large force
across the prairie, to come in between us and
the other town. Col. Harris came up with
two Iowa regiments in time to stop them, and
they left soon after the 7th Michigan battery
commenced throwing shell at them They re-
ported that they had driven the Yankees out
of Indianola, and burned the town. The bal
ance of our brigade is here, under command
Of Col. Harris. The 10th Ohio battery, which
was with US in Arkansas, is now attached to
our brigade.
Capt Freeman has joined the regiment
since we have been here. He is looking
much better than he did upon his arrival.
Capt. Chrystie has resigned. He will wait
and 60 home with the regiment
The boys are healthy and there have not
been any deaths in the regiment since we
left New Orleans in November.
The large oyster bed opposite our town
has furnished supply of fine oysters. The
boys bring in ten or twelve bushels at a time.
There are large droves of fat cattle on the
prairies which supply us with beef We
have not been more comfortably situated than
we are now, but it takes long time to hear
from home The Journal of the 7th of Jan
uary was received yesterday.
Orders have been issued to draw shelter
tents and prepare for an active campaign, but
do not think any forward movement will be
made for several months.
We are fortifying Newtown, and we are
expected to fall back to that town if attacked
by large force.
The Court House has been taken for hos
the Sanitary Commission are here with sup
plies I saw some pack saddles in their
rooms which looked like moving into the in
terror.
The cisterns do not hold water enough for
our men. They expect to get apparatus to
condense water enough for their use in the
hospital. The deserted houses and fences
will make wood enough for one entire spring
The rebels have fortified on the east end of
the peninsula, and have force estimated
from twelve to fifteen thousand, which they
can concentrate in few days. There is
great deal of dissatisfaction with Magruder,
and many of the people would gladly return
under the Presidents proclamation.
John Mailer, of Co. D, was married to
German girl last Friday evening. Some of
the veterans in the 1st Brigade have mar
ried, and will take their ladies home with
them.
heard sergeant asking the Provost Mar
shall for permission to have party, as he had
made all the arrangements and had invited
eight ladies and sixteen gentlemen. Consent
was obtained upon the condition that no more
gentlemen Should oe invited. OTIS
-
THEODORE PARKER ON RUFUS CHoATE.-I
see that Mr.. Choate has passed away; a man
of great talents, which he greatly abused,
often to the worst purposes. He had good
qualities and young men bred in his office
both respected and loved the man. am
glad was not in Boston when he died, for
l should have felt bound in duty to preach his
funeral sermon, more painful for me to write
than it would be for his friends to hear. l
should like to preach sermon on John Au-
gustus, one of the most extraordinary men
| ever knew; he created new department Of
4 Il