Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-07-21
From the 30th Regiment in Minnesota
Hard Mareh-BOund for the Northwest.

l remain yours truly, c. Fl. A.
From the 30th Regiment in Minnesota
Hard Mareh-B0und for the Northwest.
| Correspondence of the State Journal.
CAMP ON THE PRAIRIE, NEAR
FoRT RIDGELY, Minnesota,
Tuesday, July 5, 1864
After an inglorious stay of over twenty
months in the old Badger State" the 4th OF
June, 1864, was welcomed with cheers by the
members of Companies B, E and K, 3Oth
| Reg Wis. Vol Upon that day we bid adieu
to the frittered existence spent as soldiers in
| keeping peace in your rebellious State. We
| arrived at St Paul at IL o'clock P NJ. of the
9th, and remained aboard all night During
| the forenoon Of the 7th we were marched
through the principal street of ST. Paul, on
our way to Fort Smelling and notwithstand-
ing the fatigue of the journey, the excellent
military appearance of the men drew admir-
| ing crowds of men, women and children, who
expressed their appreciation by loud and pro-
| longed huzzas and the waving Of handker-
chiefs. Arriving at Fort Smelling we were
greeted by the soldiers in garrison, according
to military usage, after which we were march
ed to comfortable quarters
Fort Smelling is solid work of stone and
| lime, built at an elevation of one hundred and
| fifty feet above the level of the Mississippi
| river, and commands that and Minnesota riv-
| er. The country surrounding the fort is not
the most prepossessing, nor is it the best ag-
ricultural country. While stopping at Ft.Snel-
| ling |, in company with several others, visit
ed the Falls of Minne-ha-ha and ST. Anthony.
Mlnne-ha-ha means laughing water, and is on
| Lake Greek, about two and half miles from
EnptS totl TIL -.
| miles up the Mississippi from Fl. Smelling, and
at the village of Minneapolis, an enterprising
| and manufacturing placeof between 900 and
| 5000 inhabitants. For beauty and pictur-
esque scenery Mime -ha -ha surpasse5 any
Falls ever beheld, while the waters of Lake
Creek are as clear as crystal and tranquil as
an angels smile.
At st. Paul Co. G of our regiment joined
US, and on June 18th Companies B, E, G and
K left Fort Smelling for Fort Ridgely, a dis
lance of one hundred and forty miles. We
made the distance in five days-the greatest
| marching that has ever been done through
| this country-and [ presume it would eclipse
many of the forced marches made in Dixie,
when taking into consideration that half the
| time the men were without water. Our road
ran through the villages Of Shakopee, Bell
| plain and Henderson, all three enterprising
and business places.
Owing to extreme heat, and scarcity of
water, many Of the men fell by the way and
| had to be picked up by the train or they
would have persisted on the prairies. Almost
sorrowful sight than the men and animals
| presented the night of the fourth days march.
We marched from 81 o'clock a. H. till IL
o'clock p. M, the greater portion of the time
out of water, the suns rays scorching our
skins to almost a blister. The road for miles
| in the rear was strewed with men, and many
did not reach camp till 2 o'clock in the morn
ing AT the sight Of water the poor animals
roared most pitifully, while the men threw
guns aside and dashed headlong into it. A
| portion Of our train did not reach us for the
night, and had we been in hostile section
of country but little Of it would have reached
| Fort Ridgely, as there was not a guard with
| it, and it contained all the ammunition of the
! expedition. .....
| The fifth days march brought US to Fort
| Ridgely, in making which we marched twenty
| eight miles without seeing house and TWEEN
| ty-four miles without meeting with water.
| This march was made in the night, and could
| mothers, wives and lovers have seen their
sons, husbands, and sweethearts the following
morning, tears would have flowed for their
noble defenders of liberty. Notwithstanding
| plastered and bleeding feet, limbs and body
| weary with the march and for the want of
| sleep, face and hands smeared with dust and
sweat, the brave boys bore up heroicalIy, and
| when the summit of Fort Ridgely was reach
| ed, three hearty cheers were given, which re-
| echoed from the surrounding hills and walls
| of the fortfcation, exemplary of Wisconsin
| true "grit."
A large portion of the country through
which we passed bore evidence of the out
| RACES committed by the cred skins" in '62-
| houses demolished, fences torn down and
| fields lying waste, met US on either side.
| Fort Ridgely bears demonstratiye evidence
| of the bravery and determination of these
fends to capture It,
A drouth exists in this section Of the
| country, never in the memory of man equaled
| No rain of any consequence has fallen here
since year ago last March. Grass and crops
of every kind are perishing, and unless rain
comes quickly, there will be no harvesting to
be done in large portion of Minnesota.
Springs in many places have gone complete
ty dry Large sized streams and small lakes
have also disappeared, and nothing remains
but their dry bed. The scarcity of water
prevents as fine a farming country as ever
lay out Of DOORS from being titled, and am
of the opinion that many farmers will be
compelled to purchase their entire supplies
till a change takes place.
An expedition will leave this place some
time during the fore part of the present.
month for Fort Wadsworth, on the James
river. Companies B, c, and K will comprise
portion of the xpedition-Company be-
ing left at Fort Ridgley. The reports Of
scouts arriving are indicative of renewed
hostilities on the part of the Indians. The
men, generally, are in good health and fine
spirits, and recovering fast from the effects of
the recent march. .-.- o. = r=a:--1 ~ .sat &.
The thirty-eighth anniversary of our Ma
tional Independence was duly celebrated in
accordance with military usage The Grafton
was delivered By Mr.. Conkright, formerly of
your city, and indeed was grand success.
The exercises of the day were brought to a
close by singing 'The Battle Cry of FREEDOM"
after which the boys partook of lizard tack
and salt pork" gave three cheers fer the
Union, and dispersed.
Having exhausted your patience. ask par
don therefor, and remain, = -s5-rS
..s o. -.-s- Respectfully yours, -
FRANZ J. Rowe.
- ---F