Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-02-11
From the Wisconsin SharpSh0eterS.
Correspondence of the State journal.
CAMP BULLOCK. Va, Jan. %, 1856

CAMP BULLOCK, Va, Jan. %, 1864.
Having few leisure moments to spare,
thought | would improve the opportunity by
writing Camp Letter. so that the friends
of the sharpshooters may know how we
flourish. In the first place be it known that
after the November campaign over the Rapi-
dan, we encamped near Brandy" on the
grounds Of John N. Bolts, and were not long
IN putting our camp in shape for winter quar-
tiers. Log huts, with shelter tents on top,
and good large fire places (some of brick at
tached, gave Our encampment an appearance
anything but uncomfortable. There we re-
manned throughout December without anv-
thing special transporting, our duties being
principally picket and camp guard. One
great drawback existed, however which was
the scarcity of timber, although the great
Virginia statesman had a patch of hard wood
close by; which, however, being under guard.
required, to smuggle the same without BEING
caught, some little strategy on the part of the
soldiers quartered near That any soldier
did actually appropriate to his own use, anv
of Bolts timber or Bolts rails, couldn't tes
and unpleasant with snow, slush, &C., and
irewood scarce, Mr. B. probably concluded
that they did, as orders were frequently pub
lished forbidding it. All trouble about Bolts
and his timber however, finally ended in
removal some two miles in advance the second
week of the present month. And although
the season was so much advanced in wintry
weather, yet has the weather been rather IA
vorable than otherwise for this time of the
year. The consequence is that at the pres.
ent writing the lst division, Sd Army Corps
is again comfortably quartered, and the sharp
shooters of the Sd brigade have cut down
many trees and chopped off the stumps, can
now show well drained and regulated camp
on ground that ten days ago was covered with
dense forest of hard timber and no small
amount of underbrush. Talk about pioneers
Why, Messrs. Editors, you ought to see Uncle
Sans soldiers convert a forest into village
It's no Job at ala mere matter of exercise
It's among them where you can find pioneers.
Every old soldier here is carpenter, house
builder and mason, with a knack of doing any
other job you may call for; in fact a regular
jack O all trades-not the least conspicuous
of which is the culinary department. Every
soldier is a cook, and all know how to make
Johnny-cake " out of "hard-tack" Is {
-
your way that doubts it, [ should advise him
by all means to come down here and try it on
besides many other little affairs that con-
stitutes soldiers life.
The boys sometimes get a "box" from
home, although naught as yet from the vari-
| Gus Soldiers Aid Societies formed throughout
the State. This however may be accounted
| for in the fact of our not being known as
| Wisconsin, Michigan, New York or other
state troops, but simply Z. S. S. S.-Uncle
Sans Sassy Sogers.
The Company and Regiment are much re-
| duced in numbers of effective men-many of
whom are recruits of the fall of '62. The
| latter fact will account in great measure for
the small number of Veteran Volunteers fur
nished; our stock of old year men being
pretty much exhausted.
| In Company G, nine Badgers, " old grey
| fellows" every one of them, l assure you,
that is: in the matter of grim visaged war
| and Virginia campaigning, have gone in for
| the new term and expect daily the arrival of
| thier stipulated furloughs. Their names are
James Ragin, an old hunter and model sol
! der; George Whitson, !. e. "Buckshot," a
good-natured but sturdy veteran ; Amos Sum
ner, worthy pioneer; our infant" Michael
| Costalo, the big-fsted Badger boy; Westley
Armfeld, the humorous and fearless scout
"our Senator" Abner Johnson, the accom-
modating commissary; John w. Rathbun, a
| young and toughened Badger; Henry w.
/ Woodbury., Corporal of the Colors; and Seneca
| Hawes
These men are every one old veterans and
| have participated more or less in the Compa-
ny's % engagements. Some of them have
| been shot several times but not hard enough
as yet, thank God, to stop their career as
| Union soldiers. That they will continue to
do their duty as heretofore I'll back 'em. The
State of Wisconsin cannot fail to recognize
| her representatives in the organization of
| United States Sharpshooters, when the facts
| become more fully known, as they undoubt-
| eddy will be, at some future time, in regard to
| their doings in the Potomac Army.
Our present camp is named after Phila-
delphia gentleman, who very kindly presented
to every man in this division pair of mittens,
which have been distributed. The general
health of the camp is good although a case OF
measles has appeared. But don't be alarmed
nobody's afraid on't-not by darned sight.
| There is naught at present of warlike news
to communicate, although guerrilla parties
| are said to hover around, prepared at any
moment to pounce upon the unwary sentinel
and gobble him up, bag and baggage. We
receive the papers about three times per
week, such as the Herald Enquirer and CA,'on-
icle. The former paper has, however, the
greatest demand. Your kindness in furnish
ing the Madison Journal so often gives the
Badgers a view of home matters, and from
| its well stocked columns more general news
can be found than in the Eastern papers
| The Fox Lake Gazette is also frequently re-
| ceived.
We have now but one field officer left, viz
Major G. G. Hastings, at present absent on
detached service, the regiment being under
command of Capt. Hetherington, Of New
York; the redoubtable Colonel, II. Berdan,
Chief of Sharpshooters under Gen. Burnside,
having been discharged from service on ac-
count of physical disability. The latest Com,
pany promotions are Willard S. Isham to
Sergeant, and Emery Munsell and Edward F.
Bean to Corporals. A recruit has lately join
ed US, Conrad Murat, who has seen service
! before. S. S.