Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1864-06-17
Correspondence Of the Journal.
LETTER FROM THE 12d O. v. v. l.

DEAR JoURSAL:-An alone in my tent, am
trying TO collect my wandering ideas and place
them in an ntelligible form. l received your
last number by the favor of General Buckland,
on the Goth ult. notice one mistake in my
last letter either made by printer or illegble
writing, the name Moscow is made TO read
aMascon ''..t af
Yesterday morning the regiment, in fact the
brigade, started on another expedition. Ire-
gret very much my inability to go, but have
been unfit for duty most of the time since we
returned from the last scout, and consequently
am left behind-the first time ON account of
sickness. love to be with the boys, and wish
to embrace every opportunity of seeing and
learning the peculiarities Of this country; but I
am destined to lead the lonely life of "eonva-
lescent" for a time.
| have been requested, many times, by friends
at home to tell them something about our camp
life, its incidents, its pleasures and crosses; and
while the thought of those friends at home is
fresh upon my mind, viii try and conform to
their wishes, as well as detract somewhat from
my loneliness, by describing to them as well as
possible how we have lived during the past few
weeks, and also give them the nsol,ts opeyand;
in our regiment,
Our daily routine of duty is as follows: At 5
o'clock reville, at which time we fall in under
arms, have roll-call and are drilled one hour in
manual of arms, skirmish drill, &c.: at 6k
breakfast call; Immediately after breakfast we
clean up our tents, police the streets, each tent
cleaning its own front; at II Surgeons cali.
each company sending in a list of sick, if thew
have any. who are examined by the Surgeon
and reported back to the company bv him
marked on the roll what duty they are able to
perform; at 8 guard mouting and relief sent IN
the pickets; at 8 company drill, which all not
on duty, or excused by the Surgeon, must at.
tend; drill continues until ii, when the recall
brings us into camp; at II dinner call. from
which time until is allowed for rest or anv
thing else we see fit; at call for battalion drill
which lasts until 4; at s dress parade and re.
treat; roll call 616, fall in under arms for roll
calls. AS the weather is quite warm, and q
large force of cavalry IN close proximity To us
have cut up the beautiful sward around our
camps making it very dusty, drilling is of more
profit than pleasure. After each drill cold wa.
ter for bathing purposes, finds plenty of consum-
ers. There is nice, cool and limpid spring in
a small ravine, only asfew rods from our left.
which affords an abundance of water for o,ir
whole brigade.
Wehaye two colored boys 'Nate and aDick.'' %
not brother "Dick,p by the way, but genuine
curly headed, thick pated product of this eli
mate, known now days as "eontraband. p who
are our cools-that is compound our coffee and
spoil our meat and beans, excepting now and
then some one does it for himself Nearly an
hour before meal time numberless frying mans
of which almost every tent has one. and little
pals, containing sundry preparations, are to he
seen congregated about the dozy smoky, gum
wood fire witing an opportunity of getting up
certaind degree Of "caloric, which is absolutely
necessary to prepare them for eating. To one
not accustomed to the peculiarities of camp life
it would be an interesting sight, and would af-
ford cause for merriment as well as study, watch
ing the expressions of the different faces as they
glisten with the prospective pleasure of enjoy
ing good meal; then to see the rush for the
coffee kettles, and hear the clanlorous express
ions of impatience because some one is in the
way or getting more than their share. Some
get their fingers burned in their eagerness to Sc
cnre the beverage, and there will be heard some
scolding and swearing, but when each one has
secured his ration. burned fingers are generally
laughed at. , .. ..s .f.-a1s -aa7
There was some complaining when the order
for the present routine of duty was issued, and
indeed it did seem like putting on the rstring
pretty tight, but we soon became used to it,
and now we hear but very few complaints.
Intruth il was the wisest thing our command
srs could do for our health. We had lust re-
turned from a toilsome march, our physical sys-
TENS completely enervated, and as a natural
We would eat of the new food
which we had in abundance-pretty heartily,
md having nothing to incite us to action would
lie in our tents until disease would have fol-
owed; it was just the season when the climate
has that torpid, dormant element in it which re-
axes the whole nervous system, and creates that
lesire for Incidence which has proved fatal in
20 many instances. that our officers and medical
staff concurring, the present role was adopted
o afford exercise, keep the energies replenished
he mind bright and the physical system strong
The officers are drilled in the same movements
hat the privates are, between and 9 A. NJ,
md at sundOwn they hold conversation drill be-
ore the Colonels quarters, at taps they have
oil call. Two passes 10 go to the city and re-
main until dress parade are allowed to each
company every day. ..... ..,..
The most of our officers are weil liked by the
,rivates, and, with few exceptions there seems
o be a unity offeeling existing between officers
md men, which makes duty easier and gives
est and pleasure to our life.
Sometimes Saturday afternoon is allowed us
o prepare for inspection Sunday morning, which |
With dress parade is all the duty we are obliged
0 perform on that day except those detailed
Or guard, dc.
" = AuSn bhC SCAid4 AHiuCuCC duQ
ocial pleasures of home, their places to certain
xtent are supplied by relating anecdotes, read
ng The news, discussing many questions that
rise in our conversation recalling the incidents
f some action where the regiment has taken
art and various other means are resored to TO
II the void. There are one or two old cracked,
ack broken yiolins in the regiment, and nov /
nd then their tones can be heard on the still
ir, and the voice of the player eau be heard,
alauland left" "cross over" eight hands
,und and we know that some one is enjoying ;,
1e pleasure of real old fashioned "boatman's
-ag dance" ee
There are some few singers in the regiment,
nd once in a while they get together, or 60 I
yer to the 95th and spend pleasant hour Or
r