The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-11-11
OUR ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.
Letter from the sixth Regiment.

OUR Army CORRESPONDENCE
Letter from the sixth Regiment.
HELENA, ARK, Oct 26, 1861
To the Editor Of tho Pioneer:
The Sixth Minnesota Volunteers are still
here and improving in health very rapidly,
two hundred convalescents having returned to
duty within few days past Every one car.
ries cheerful countenance and the men arc
working with will completing log houses for
winter quarters. I think, that should an op-
portunity offer of going into fight, we would
give good account Of ourselves. The mortal
ity Of the past four months has been Terrible
however, scarcely equalled by the slaughter OF
several severe battles. There are still large
number in the hospital, of whom several will
probably die, and then the winter diseases, as
pneumonia and other forms Of pulmonary dis
ease will probably carry off others who have
been reduced by bilious diseases during the
summer.
Our Chaplain, the Rev. D. Cobb has not es-
capped the miasmatic influence Of the climate
He was taken sick very soon after his arrival
here, and is still In the hospital 1t is more
than probable that he will be compelled to re-
| sign his position, as he seems to have brought
| with him variety of chronic diseases. This
| is poor place for such men. We need re-
| gular Back Woods Preacher here one who
can carry a musket in one hand and bible in
fight and stand it and tho rusty bacon and hard
tack like the rest Of US, without fear of any
thing or any body. We sincerely hope how
ever, that he will recover his health and soon
be on duty, for we like his style. and would be
sorry to part with him.
We have stirring rumors that large force
Of bushwhackers are in this vicinity and pur
pose attacking Helena very SOON That Mem
phis, Little Rock and Helena arc nenaced, Is
quite certain. They form a triangle. ard men
acing all these places at once would prevent
troops being sent to the particular point they
attack. Which is probably Memphis Or Hele-
ma, though Helena is so strongly fortified BY
nature that a few troops can hold large force
at bay, or drive them out il they should sue
coed by a dash in getting through our lines.
Gen. Buford. who is in command of this dis
trict, seems to be wide awake, Is well inform
ed of all the rebel movements in his district,
and keeps large scouting parties out all the
time, so that we are not likely to be caught
mapping" One of our scouts was killed last
week while venturing too near the rebel lines,
which are about twelve miles from Helena.
The Sixth may have plenty of fighting to 90
yet, before their term of service expires, and I
thiRk very few of us would be satisfied to go
home without having At least ono "big fight"
with the rebels though we shall have no rea-
son to feel chagrined if we do not, for I fancy
we have had good share of hard work and
suffering since we came into service
Col. Crooks is in command of the regiment,
though he has been quite i'll and Is still suffer
ing severely with neuralgia He will not stay
in his tent when able to be on his feet. wish
we ell had such iron constitutions as he has.
1t is rumored that he is ordered North on duty
and is TO leave in day or two
Our friends st homo mag imagine us COM
fortably quartered in our new log houses,
which are wen "chinked and daube@i.' We
are quite a. well Off in this respect So many
Of the pioneer settlers in Minnesota. The duty
tho spring quite healthy and strong, rs Uncle
Sam gives Us an abundance OF comfortable
clothing and good healthy. food.
We want some men to take the place Of
those who have fallen by disease, to bring the
Sixth up to the standard, and hope that Col.
Brydolf of the rendezvous, will be permitted
to send us hundred of his drafted mon.
We would welcome them, treat them kindly,
al4 make good soldiers of them ca the
,nuble quick" The unhealthy Locality We
asa in deferred many from enlistiRg for our
regiment this summer who would otherwise
have done so We have received only about
O dozen men against near two hundred last
spring when the regiment was III the State
and likely to remain there as home guards"
Soldiers become accustomed to hardships
and danger, from the nature of their profes-
sion, and camp life soon becomes irksome.
We long for active employment Of some kind
hence the alarm and the march arc hailed with
cheers by the soldier. Whether, when the
war is over we shall be eontented to settle
down on our farms and in our shops and
offices, remains to be seen, but it is hardly
likely that the United States need 20 begging
to keep mp her standing army, while the men
| live who are now in the service.
We received visit a few days since from.
| DR.. ErHRIDcE, of Hastings, who was sent oat
| by the Governor on tonr of inspection among
the Minnesota troops in this Department The
Doctor seemed to think We were improving,
and that he would able to make favorable re-
port of the sanitary condition Of the 9th regi-
ment. 1t cheers US not little to know, that
while we all have been sick and suffering here,
our friends at home have not forgotten US, and
we feel under debt of gratitude to Gov. Miller
for his efforts to better our sanitary condition.
not the least of which was commissioning our
| noble and faithful Surgeon, DR.. BELpEN, and
his Assistants, who have been unceasing in at
tention to their duties, at the expense OF health
and comfort
DIED.
WILLIE G., son Of John and Isabella Summers,
aged years and IL days.