Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-04-28
From the 22d Wisconsin.
Correspondence of the State Journal.

SA44sA- SSoto ethS Aoii, OIi du1 III tliS uuSc
buildings being erected by government for
shops or storehouses, down to the rasping of
the shell in the adjoining tents, as the men
ply their trade in converting rough shells into
beautiful lockets for mother, wife or sister at
home EHE.r T. - 4. ~
Spring approaches slowly, though the
peach tree is wreathed in blossoms, the grass
growing refreshingly green, and the familiar
chirp ofthe blackbird comes down to US as a
flock fly past towards the marshes of Wis
consin.
We look forward with. confidence to the
coming tug of war, and whether it be our
task to bear part or guard communications
we shall do our best to advance the cause of
nationality. Ours is not a regiment of men
who love the maddening scenes of war. but
band OF patriots who took up arms in ma
tons extremity, and will gladly lay them
by when the necessity no longer exists to
return to peaceful pursuits and quiet homes,
At one time, the brigade, excepting the
SD Ind, home on furlough, were under Or
ders for Lookout Valley, but since the con-
solidatlon of the 18th and 18th army corps.
the prospect seems remote of leaving this
city, and ceaslng to become one of its subur-
ban villages
The 22d were on brigade drill Yesterday.
| with the 18th Mich, 18th Wis, and lO2d
ONO, and, uuder command of Lieut.. Col.
Bloodgood, acquitted themselves creditablv.
Col Utley has returned, and is temporarily
IN command of the brigade. New officers
are coming up from the ranks as the old hands
| resign, and general satisfaction attends
| these changes, which are rapidly RESTORING
| that harmony which must exist between off,
| GERS and men for execution of duty in the
| camp or field. There have been many appli-
canIs Tor commissions in negro regiments, and
| the most OF them have been successful, to the
encouragement Of others.
| We have been favored by visit from our
former Major, Mr.. Murrey, whose almost pa
| rental interest towards US has never been for
| gotten.
| Surgeon blanchard, who first learned of his
| promotion through the columns of the State
Journal, is an excellent officer and has gain
| ed the confidence of all parties, skillful as a
physician and most geItlemanly as an indi-
vidual. Through his instrumentality and the
kindness of the agent of the q. S Sanitary
Commission, several barrels of potatoes,
onions and cabbages have been received by
the different companies Of the regiment to
the decided Improvement of their unchanged
| bill of fare
| AS at Murtreesboro, the wants of the SER
vice and the capability Of the rank and file of
the 22d, have drawn largely upon the regi-
ment for details, and whether on the train as
guard, or at the barracks at the CLONE of
| Refugees" or the estates Prison." clerk, car
penter or blacksmith, the soldiers of the 22d
| Wisconsin will be found faithful to their
| duty.
| By comparison of our number and health
| with other regiments, we stand the first best
on health though we have barely eight hun
dred men, while each of the other three are
recruited to the maximum.
Cos f and A are full to the minimum, but
several companies have not been strengthen
ed by the addition of single recruit. There
is room and welcome to many more, and if a
man has any pride in serving his State and
country, now is his chance to show it, and
ours is the regiment in which to show it.
Soldiers and correspondents have so gene
rally written when the gloomy spirit came up
on them that prevalent but mistaken opin-
ion is held that military life is all hardship.
all exposure, sickness and wounds, but stand
by the groups playing at ball, pitching quoits,
filing shells, reading papers, studying scien-
tifc works or engaged in conversation, and
you will find no dependence, but manly
freedom and a cheerful feeling which they
| themselves were strangers to when confined
to the desk and pampered by luxury.
Uniforms are not clean and fitted as the
new coat from the tailor, and our coffee is
drank from nothing better than a tin cup.
| We cannot have the shelter of an umbrella
when rain falls, nor more than overcoats and
blankets for our bedding, but the life-current
flows with vigor, and the Drowned counte-
nance beams with determination and good
nature.
Though many comrades sleep the sleep
which knows no more of earths awakening,
many will return home toughened by the
campaign and well prepared to carry On the
| profession with success, they reluctantly left.
No community is so healthful but that some
die, and the mortality of our army now, IN
der the care and experience of old surgeons
and the attendance of agents of benevolent
societies, is little more than at home.
Hospitals are no longer the dread of old
soldiers, for the minister is frequent visitor
and noble women are foond there engaged in
the labor of the Samaritan. Clean as the
kitchen of tidy housekeeper, and furnished
with a variety of reading, the sick man often
| finds an attention to his comfort which home
could not give. -.....
The march is wearisome, but the rest is re-
freshing, and there are few who are not inte-
rested in the scenery of the country through
which they pass, the different style of arcEi-
lecture, the novel manner Of cultivation and
all the objects which challenge the attention
of the observer away from his home, and hay
ing no care for stage, car or boat, fare or ho-
tel, he having but to obey orders and look
out for SELF W. Fl. NJ.