Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-01-30
From the 1ath REGIMENT.
90 rrespondence of the State Journal.
- nSAFCuFz Nr.s Dec oath Is

its capabilities for travelling, and again it has
succeeded in getting over considerable ground
in fine style and short time. Again has it
sought foeman worthy of its STEEL" and
again it has been disappointed the redoubt-
able ''graybacks most unaccountably getting
wind of our approach, getting up a grand
skedaddle and leaving for parts unknown with
such vigorous effort that we failed even to
get a dissolving view of their rebellious
| rears.
But to particularize: At noon on the 2lst
Dec. orders were quietly issued to be all
ready to march at / o'clock p m. with 81 40
rounds of cartridge, days rations of bread
and groceries, / days meat, and salt enough
to season 2 DAYS rations of fresh meat"
| Several companies of cavalry went out on
the Pine Ridge road; and about o'clock p.
| IN. the infantry force, consisting of the goth
and SD Ills, with ours" and four guns un-
| der Capt. Rogers, the whole under command
of Brig. Gen. Gresham, moved out on the
Washington road, reaching the village of
| Washington, 6 miles out, just at dusk. As
the principal portion of the inhabitants were
| looking from their doors at the unusual mill
tary display, Col. Proudft, of tours" with a
| delicate perception of their wants, which
| does him honor, in order to complete the
| glorious pageant, and crafty their prejudices
requested the feld-music TO play that good.
old tune, Old John Brown" which was ac-
cordingly performed in an effective manner,
| judging by the rapid insertion of aristocFatic
fingers into feminine ears, and the sudden
| disappearance of sundry fair ladies within
the grateful barriers of doors and walls
We crossed Washington Greek on very
good bridge, which spanned a wide bayou,
now nearly dry, but at times holding water
| enough for gunbOats to vancouver in. Here
we halted and rested, filled our canteens, and
prepared for further adventures. Some COM
panies of mounted infantry under Col. Farrar
of the 3Oth Missouri, moved to the front, as
an advance guard, and to act as I" investigat-
| ing committee" in case of opposition being
offered to our progress.
Crossing st. Catharines bridge, and anOth-
/ er little run, now nameless and bridgeless,
we marched on some l04 miles by moonlight,
biyouacking in a cOrn-feld on the banks of
| Hollis creek, about IL o'clock p. m. As the
| ground was very thoroughly water-soaked our
| rest was not of the most comfortable charac-
rer, but we cared little for that. seeing that
we were stealing march upon our trail
tor-foe. A party of the miserable scamps
| had been visiting at Washington and retired
at our approach, eating supper at the house
of the Owner of the field where we were
staying, but again fell back, before our arriv-
al, to their main body beyond Fayette.
| At daylight we were again on the road,
crossing Hollis and Evans creeks, proceeding
in peace and quiet TO within two miles of
| Fayette, where we halted for dinner At
O'clock p. m. We again started, but this time
on the back-track, it having been aseertained
| that Writ Adams, the rebel commander, had
! declined the honor of Christmas visit from
our forces, broke up his encampment and was
on his way to Christie's Springs, 90 miles
from Fayette, on the "double quick"
We marched back several miles and cooked
supper, during which we learned that the
Marine Brigade had landed at Rodney and
had been fighting the rebels back towards
Fayette, and had driven some $50 Mounted
| Infantry through the town since We had started
back, and if we had remained there they
would have fallen into our hands. A Lieu
tenant and some four or FIVE privates were
| brought past us under guard, and we were
informed that the Marine Brigade had got
some fifty or sixty more prisoners, the pro-
| duct of several skirmishes along the road to
| Fayette, and its vicinity.
| 1t being cloudy and threatening weather, it
was decided to fansback to the west side of
Hollis Greek, as it has the reputation of get
ting high" on very short notice, and keeping
!
of time without paving the least respect to
any persons necessities. During the very
| last rain, it had gone on regular high old
| time, and drowned a rebel Lieutenant who
was attempting to cross with small scouting
party We travelled along rapidly, an occas-
| ional shower besprinkling u.s. until we crossed
| the creek and bivouacked in the woods by the
side of the road about 8 o'clock P. N.
At daylight again fell in and started
| alOng-the old 18th Wisconsin leading the
column-reaching Washington about 10 A. NJ;
our field-musc ravishing the ears if not the
| hearts of its population with the melOdiOus
strains of Yankee Doodle" safely arriving
at home about o'clock p. NJ, an event that
| gave unbounded satisfaction to many sore
footed hero, as their cheers abundantly testi-
| fed.
| Since leaving Natchez for Vicksburg, we
have received a visit from Mrs. Harvey, thro
whose interposition, it is alleged, the regi-
ment has received a set of new wedge tents,
in which we are now snugly esconced, bidding
| defiance to rain and storm, a condition we
have often wished for during the past year.
but with only, faint hopes of ever obtaining
You may be sure that Mrs. Harvey has lost no
| friends in this regiment by her kindness.
Our regiment is in most healthy condition,
not more than one to three having been in
| the hospital at any one time for weeks past
| There is considerable excitement smong
the troops here on the subject of re-enlist-
ment, and many are coming forward to sustain
the honor and preserve the glory of our noble
country. 1t is supposed that this regiment
will soon be entitled to go home and reor-
ganize, on account of their re-enlisting so
| freely.
The weather is quite mild and open yet, and
although we have frosty nights occasionally,
we enjoy it exceedingly.
The military of this Post have been enjoy
ing Christmas hugely. Balls, dinners and
parties have been the order of the day, and
tipsy uniforms might be seen upon 4" their
winding way" at all hours of night. Arrests,
of course, have been plentiful, but then
christmas comes but once year." every
body goes in for enjoyment, and laughs at
trouble w.
DICKENS TWENTY YEARS AGo.-Twenty
years ago Charles Dickens ruled the realm of
fiction. We college boys joked in Wellerisms,
and wept over Oliver and little Nell With
a letter from our friend Mrs M, | sought
the young lion in his lair; but he was at the
sea side finishing his famous " American