, 1864-02-17
OUR BOYS At CHATTANOOGA.
4 LETTER FROM TIE NINE.
TEENTH ILLINOIS.

from our Special Correspondent
.CA4F or THE 18th ILLINOIS VoLs.,
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. Feb. =, 1861.
EDIToRs TR1BufE:
a man from the North told me, the other
day, that the people in Chicago were wonder
ing what lad become Of the Nineteenth:
Well, l will try and tell them. We are in the
charming city Of Chattanooga-our camp lies
on Fort Pa1mer-we are living on full rations
md; blessings On the Sanitary Commission,
now md then get some sour craut, with an
onion as large as n piece Of chalk thrown In.
Already the flesh; hath returned unto our
ribs and our cheeks are swelled out with
fAt- a short time since famine looked Us In
the face and We were reduced "muchly.'
But when full rations came We pitched in,
and, after getting onco filled up again, CON-
1uenced gaining in weight. five had matted
nIucl longer though We wonld hare been IN
an awful fix for we were getting 90 dreadful
thin That VIC often missed each other {in the
mi.k) y
Right In front of Missionary Ridge, and
between forts Wood and Ncgley, our camp
Is situated, and here ne dFlll and mount
guard and lave dress parade, and read Of tho
ausp SspMa1 Maof ndss p y sace as
docs all the boys, that he is only . ProVi.
sional Major, and didn't get the golden leaf
in the front. Now, folks Of Chicago, we
claim to be The ;" Zoo Zoos"' Of Chicago, aud
mem to assert our rights wheu We return
from fgLting-at least that is what we are
zooh rart.whiie in camp, on picket. and build
ing forts. We learned the trick while
marching weari1y nna foet-sore through the
dust. We learned the hoW-to-do-it Willie
climbing the rocky sides Of the Cumberland
mountains. We learned how to ftload and
lire at will" low to "double quick" ," how
to "c1,orgc bayonets," how to do III, all IN
the battle amidst tho rattle Of mnsketry :nd
the roar Of artillery. We learned how to
Lieut.. COL Ratlln has Just returned from d
visit to the North. BE looks so good natur.:
ed and pleasant and smiles so fatlerly that
am euro the TIM 0'!Shantt7 u au right yet.
came back, but his right coat sleeve hangs
dangling by his side. He lost an arm at
CLickamauga, He is the bravest Of tho brave.
Adjutant Baregs l. faat recovering: He lost
leg at Mission Ridge. Always IN advance
Of the regiment shouting for tho boys ;ts
''ceme on" Always 2 target for tlio enemy,
syen now his leg Hes on the battlefield. an
outpost Of the many dead Capt. Gnrriott, Of
Co. II, was tried II short time since for cow
nrtllce Mt tue battle of ChIckamauga aud Mis-
sion Ridge. His sentence has not been pro-
mulgatcdyet: His company soy he Is a COW"
ard.
The vetc.an service is not a big thing
9Th this regiment, 40 far only come ten Or
fifteen have re-enlisted, but think there will
more 60 in soon. Splendid Inducements are
held out. 'Tis big pay: Bnt then, the boys
rant to be citizens again. III fact they would
sooner re-en1ist In the Sanitary Commission
or in heavy artillery. On dress parade the
ayeragc number present is 120 rank aud file,
and all told there ase not moro than 200 pres
But soon We hope to befon the move again,
and then for another battle for the right.
With justice On our side, We shall n.ircl'
alopg Until the rebels shall be forced to lay
down their arn,s, and then We can return to
our homes to the happy North, inflated with
triumph, in tho knowledge that our work i
finished and the rebellion efushed- Good
friends Til1 proudly greet us. Fathers, moth
era nnl sisters will embrace us, whilst theJ
drop tear for the fallen dead. Many viii
| will cause them! But witnessing tho joy o
| others will recompense them for their loss
Weary, but. not worn out, VIC will rest our
/ selves, and once more. will peace Tcigt
| oyer our land. Tint noble. flag shall a4aiu
! float in triumph over the whole United States
and even the little children shall shout thf
b Battle CRY Of Freedom Peace be unte
be our satutatlon, for God helped rs; He was
| On our SIDE
The Adams Express Company runs through
| to this place, and 1t is good chance to send
| boxes and packages of good things to ffiends
| in the regiment The boys send their lore
and they think your paper is the paper Of Chi
| cago. Yours trnly, aA1S1E.