The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1864-06-21
Army Correspondence
Letter from the 74th Ohio.
In BIvoUAC, GEORGIA,
June 3, 1864


arms, and the march, I will drop you a few
lines. We halted in the forrest, in which
We now lie. Ye terday at 6 P. NJ, the
boys had found many chickens and pigs
on the way that "refased to take the oath, "
and as i. is their rule to punish all such
with death without trial, we ate abund-
anty of the fresh meat, and onions. This
morning an order from Gen. Johnston
eomplimente1 US on our ability to subsist
off the country Independent of Govern
men, saying that at least 10 days fresh
meat came into the Regt. last night, and
led US to think he was well pleased with
our thrifty character, but to our horror,
closed by intimatiDg that if we would do
so any more there Will be a "fuss in the
family" Oar march yesterday from near
Kingston, where We had been lying three
days was a severe one. The sun was hot,
the atmosphere close, aud the dust at least
one inch deep rose in dense clouds, render
ing it impossible to distinguish man but
a few yards distant.
Otawah, and HightOEer river lay in our
way and through it we marched, tie wa
ter being from 2 to feet deep, the bot
tom rough and rocky, and the current in
| some places 90 swift that it was a marvel
none were drowned. The scene was a
laugbable one, well worthy tie pencil of
the artist. To have been true to life
however would have slightly untitled it
for public ] 'urnal, as the disposition Of
many was to keep their clothing dry. We
are now stripped for f sht'' according to
Gen. Sherman's late order All baggage
has been sent to the rear. Our wardrobes
consist Of one suit We wrap ourselves
in our blankets when our clothing is being
washed Don't know where we are or
where we are going. I know am seated
on the ground, with my back against a
pine bush which affords me a grateful
shade, with my portfolio on my knee,
writing these few lines. I know the
Regt. lies few PAGES to my left. I know
that Gen. Sherman is in command, and
we will go when and where he orders, but
don't ask me any more questions, for I
don't know anything farther as to our
movements. Many of the men are bare
footed, and no effort seems to be made By
our Div. I. N. to furnish them. While
the feet Of the men bleed they "slumber
and Sleep and the more zeal an officer
manifests to have his men supplied the
more liable is he to be placed under ar
rest.
A few days since she "Xenia journal"
arrived il camp, containing some startling
announcement. Mr.. > x has gone for
to do guard duty 100, days Cwould it were
10 times 100 if the war lasts 50 lOng) and
he writes back that "no previous call has
brought such men in the field" that
"men at home who had commanded every
luxury oflife are there eating of "tin plat
ters" drinking out of "riu cups" wearing
"kersey blues, and short blouses," "sleep-
ing on the same hard hunks, and perform
ing the same duty with the humblest Of
the home neighbors" What an astonish-
ing announcement Again, that men of
every trade, profession and calling, are
thereI Van-winkle, in the CatsIill Mts.,
for the past years that he has not known
that every trade and profession and cal
ling has been reported in the ranks of al
most ever regiment ever since the war be-
gan? Where has he been that he has never
known men 60 to war, eat off "tin plat
ters," wear "kersey blues, and "short
blouses" who have previous to their en-
listmeut Commanded every luxury in
life ?'
It is laughable to hear the comments of
The soldiers upon the articles furnished by
the N.G's. One fellow says go. N. G.
stands for Ohio National Green Horns"
Onesreals the Sentoroe "no previous call
has brought out such men," thus ''no pre-
viOus call has brought out suci cowards.''
1t was long hours after dinner before
they got anything to cat. Wonder, says
one how they would like to wait 48 long
hours and then instead Of hard tack and
soft beef, pork, beans, hominey, coffee, rice
sugar and the condiments, get only ( ra-
tiOns Of hard tack, pork and coff.e They
arrived in camp Dennison, saysa ceres
pondont of the Sentinel, after a ''long and
tiresomo march" A long and tiresone
march by cars from Xenia to camp Den
nison, and the next morning he went
round aud saw the Elephant! Saw the
Elephant in camp DennisonI Had he
been with US, even since the 9TH inst, he
would say that he hadn't seen the shadow
Of the smallest hair that grows on the tip
mosttip of his tail at camp D. That cor
respondent of the Sentinel must surely be
the brother of the girl, who inquired why |
a certain friend of hors had been rejsctcd |
as unfit for service by tho surgeon; ''be-
cause" was the reply "his teeth are SO bad
he cannot bite cartridges. "Well, said she
"couldn't he soak them in his coffee ?"
He certainly manifests virgin simplici-
ty in warfare as did she. The first time
he is ordered on duty when it is raining
slightly, he will doubtless say as did one
Of our new recruits on a similar occasion,
II wish it woad rain hard so We wouldn't
have to 60 out"
Such simple hearted, and unsophstica-
toI v,rr, fi,ae Nc tais I,fIor ,-, ,,l ., 1,,, ,l