Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-05-18
correspondence 81 the state journal.

Serious Demonstrations on to
+ Nay -1he Sihtatioa at Cairo.
Correspondence Of the state Journal
CAIRO, H., May 18th, 1852
The Marching Twelfth has had its fur
Tough and got so far back on its way :. Dixie,
liable TO take j fresh start at any moment Tor
the seat of war, in order to light the good
fight, and finish our course (of three years
serylce) with joy rr
On Saturday, the 3oth ult., the appointed
time having arrived, the regiment was drawn
up ia line before our headquarters IN Camp
Randall, and received our new eolors from
the hands of our worthy Lieutenant Governor,
accompanied With short and patriotic speech.
They are certainly splendid set, and our
boys feel proud OF them l assure you. The
Z. S. flag has inscribed on it, ''Lamar, Cold
water, Vicksburg, Jackson, Bakers Greek,
Meridian Expedition quite a testimonial
to the character of the services performed
during the first term of enlistment. Soon
atterward we left your city, many of US prob
ably never to return, and swiftly sped toward
Chicago.
About 9 D. M we reached that city, and
were marched through it to the Illinois Cen
tral Railroad Depot and introduced to a train
of freight cars, destined TO convey the bodies
and rations of sundry " heroes and patriots"
whom generations vet UNBORN snail utll4ul
to honor" to the city Of Cairo. The present
generation of Illinois railroad men do not
seem inclined to honor Wisconsin's heroes
with very good travelling accommodations.
We were taken from thence TO the =" Soldiers
Rest and received an excellent supper from
the fair ladies of the city, who evidently have
a proper understanding OF the most accepta-
BILE way TO honor a battalion of hungry
heroes" it would be well if their husbands
and big brothers, who run the railroads, had
as correct an appreciation OF the wants OF
tired and travel-weary soldiers. After sup
per i've returned to our boxes-box-cars |
mean-and clambered in, and as some of the
cars had been newly painted, we carried off
many marks of the considerable arrangements
for comfort provided for US. The cars had
rough, unplaned boards stretched across
them for seats, d swing lamp hung in the cen
tire, with half barrel of Lake Michigan be-
low it, and mary spring" about them.
4 little after 10 o'clock we left the depot,
with jerk, hard enough to upset several IN
suspecting soldiers, process repeated at
every one of the numerous starts and stop
pages In order to obtain correct idea OF
how rough a railroad can be, and how much
humanity can endure, suggest that voyage
a Ia n1jlitaiye be made from Chicago to Cairo
in freight car, without lights, fire or cush-
ions, as did this "noble regiment, of which
any state might be proud If the eyes of
our neighbors our state and our country are
upon US, as we are told, they beheld a very
queer sight on the first of May, 1864, and
must have ached sadly at our mishaps on this
trip. --
4 part of the 9Th Michigan heavy artillery
travelled in company with Us TO Cairo, but
their State furnished them with passenger
coaches to ride in while a lot of recruits for
the SD Indiana, who joined US at Nation,
were honored" with similar accommoda-
tons, in freight cars, to ourselves.
About s O'Clock on Sunday evening, when
within one miles of bingham, and 81 miles
from NATION, an axle of the tenders truck
broke, throwing four cars off the track, in
which the Indiana boys were riding, causing
the instant death of two, and severely wound
ing some six Others one of whom had his leg
amputated by our DR.. Rogers, it being fright
fully crushed. This accident delayed Us I'M
til / ! o'clock Monday morning, and We shiy
cred through the weary hours, while storm
of rain and snow drove fiercely around and
about US. While the train was at Efingham
depot, and under slight motion, Eugene Rob
erts, of Co. G, missed his hold, while endeay
oring TO Chamber into one of the accommoda-
ting freight cars, falling partially on the
track, when wheel ran over his leg, crush
ing it so severely that il had to be cut Off
NAV be true that he was not as free from
the effects of whiskey as he might have been,
but if there had been a platform with steps
attached, so that the car could have been en-
tered from the ends, instead of scrambling up
al a side door, whose floor was on q level
with his chin, Roberts would have been a
sound man, ready for duty to-day, instead Of
being left behind a cripple for life. Uncle
Sam has lost a veteran, and Roberts a leg
through the peculiar way of honoriug the
brave" which the Illinois Central railroad
has exhibited in furnishing Us with such trans
portation.
Everywhere We were received with great
demonstrations of enthusiasm by the citizens,
ladies waving flags, bandkerchiefs and other
things at Us from almost every house. at
Centralia several girls passed among the
boys and along the cars, handing their Sun
day school papers TO all who would accept,
ard | saw none refuse, all seeming eager to
get these tokens of good viii and sympathy
from the children.
We reached Cairo about half past two on
Tuesday morning, and went into camp north
of the city at once, in company with many
other troops.
Yesterday We were inspected by our new
Corps commander, Maj. Gen. Frank ?. Blair's
Adjutant General; therefore il Is calculated
that we shall be on our way to Alabama, 10
take position on the right of Sherman's grand
army, very soon nov.
! The weather is quite warm here; the trees
are in leaf, flowers in the gardens are IN full
| bloom, mud-holes in the streets, neither lev
nor far between, are covered with very
/ thick coat of green scum the hotels are
craramed with shoulder-straps from double
s.als down while the levee is a perpetual
( scene of activity, loading and unloading carr
/ and boats.
Gen Gresham. with part OF ouI Brigade, i
/ at Clinton. on the Tennessee river Oul
I Brigade headquarters, with another part Of
/ the Brigade is across the river at Birds Point
! Missouri while our Corps ard Division head
( quarters are here, close TO our camp.
! Yours truly, w