The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1864-03-31
Ectters ftOm the Armp.
tCorrsspon deuce Of the News
Letter from Fort Leavenworth.
FoRT LEAvENwoRTH, I
OH 1904

Letter from Fort Leavenworth.
Fort LEAvENwoRTH, I
March 18th, 1864.
Mn. j. L. BoARDNAN-Dear Sir:
We left Hillsboro two weeks ago last
Monday, and arrived at Columbus Che
same evening. We were mustered in
and received our pay the next day.
Many Of the boys were anxious to get
away from Columbus, as they could not
get out into the city, and they did not
like the idea of being deprived Of all
privileges to soon. Hence we were sent
on to St. Louis by way Of Cincinnati.
The Barracks at Columbus were kept
in better condition as regards cleanlilesS
than any other We have been in yet
But there is one institution there that
should be cleaned out 1t is shame
on the character Of our noble State that
such concerns are allowed to exist in
side Of Tod Barracks, to rob the brave
: boys Of their money. 1t looks very
suspicious that the officials Of the Bar.
racks are parties in the concern. I
speak of the SUtler's department. For
> every thing we got there we had to
pay double and treble what the articles
, wero worth.
We left Columbus on Saturday morn
E ing, March 5th, at 2 o'clock, and ar
rived in Cincinnati about noon, and
spent few hours at Lytle Barracks,
one Of the hardest places between Hills
boro and sunset. These Barracks we're
fitted up for the purpose of confning g
. deserters in. In fact, it was nothing
more than prison. In this miserable
hole we were confined for or hours
as though we were rogues, and not hon'
est soldiers. 1t was the dirtiest and FL
thiest place imaginable. Contagious
diseases infested the place, such aE
Measles and Small Pox. After seeing
these Barracks did not wonder that SO
many men desert from tho service o.
Uncle Sam. In fact such treatment il
enough to make any man desert thai
0 has any possible chance to do SO. But
when we got to St. Louis the scene
changed and we met an officer ia the
person of Lieutenant Merrill, of the 10th
Minnesota, that knows how to treat
men as they should be treated. Our
squad of 70 men presented him an ole-
CANT Sword and Belt, costing s25, as a
token of their respect for him. Long
may he continue in charge of SshoReld
Barracks, as he is "tho right man in the
right place"
d We left St. Louis on the 9th oil
8 March on board the steamer Spread Ea-
f gle. The boys conducted themselves
well, considering that nearly all the
men belonging to the boat were the
L meanest kind Of Secesh. We had to
! take things pretty roughly for s days
d the time we were in going from St
6 Louis to Leavenworth.
s We are quartered here in the rsgula,
), Barracks, which are vsry comfortable
W though we do not get as good fare her,
:. as we did at Columbus or St. Louis
le But then We should not grumble as
70 might be much worse. Some 10 or 1
u of the boys are in the Hospital, but
know the names Of but few of them. -
Those from Highland Co. are JOna
s. than Cook, from near Samantha, Camp
I' bell, Hughey, Slonaker, and two of tn
er Umphlet boys But none of them ar
ID considered dangerous. Most of thsr
d. have the Measles.
T. find that men that arc from 25
es 40 years of age stand the trip muc
AZ better than boys. One reason for tn
Is is that men take more care of then
e. selves than boys. Boys are contin uall
ry' buying pics and trash, and overloadiu
e' the stomach with such things as are u
~ wholesome, while men bring themselv
down to what the Government furnisl
os them, and learn to live on it at one
IS I never enjoyed better health in n
ne life than do at the present time.
as think most of the boys will learn
D. take care of themselves after a while.
r, I will close by saying that none of II
have heard from home since we left
=. We hope our friends in old Highlar
=, will not forget US, but will write ofte
and direct their letters to the 1lth
V. c. Fort LeavcnwOrth, Kansas,
" remain yours truly
WM. MOONEY, Jr.
Correspondence OF the NoSs