Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1864-05-18
Army Letter.
CAMP 1l5th RECT Pa. Vols,
Near Brandy Station, Va, April 27.

y
Mr. EDIToR:-Having a few leisure
moments this pleasant Spring morning ]
take the liberty of communicating to you
few passing thoughts, that ever and
anon come forth during the quiet hours in
camp. During the inactive part of SOL
diering camp life grows monotonous, and,
too frequently, the mind indulges in
gloomy reveries or dark forebodings, even
leaving the participator feel to surrender
to sad despair So, in order TO flank these
manoeuverings of the brain it is necessary
to either read or write, when not in the
routine OF daily duty, and having thus
concluded, my Thoughts were first with
the good people of the Allegheny Noun
tains-tEe place of my childhood, dearest
friends and brightest prospects.
Feeling an interest in the welfare of the
Dem. q Sent. and the integrity of Cam
bras noble sons and daughters, whose
virtuous actions have spoken in tones of
thunder, l know 10 other medium than
the pen. The country and soldiery owes
her mountain of gratitude for her deci-
sive voice and punctuality in furnishing
her quota of soldiers.
Reviews, inspection, cleaning and fixing
up quarters has been the order of the sew
eral last weeks, preparatory to the import
ant movement which we are daily antici-
pating, but entirely ignorant of Its desti-
nation, or how it may terminate. Never
before has there been so little room for
speculations about any movement as the
present. We never hear u word about
moving from any official source, but sac
tions often speak as loud as words" and
there have been sufficient preparations for
mighty move. Between the Engineers
and Pioneer corps great deal of corduroy
road is laid, and many bridges erected
over streams that might prove an obstacle
in the coming movement.
The reviewing of troops by Lieut.. Gen
Grant a few days since, was grand dis
play of American soldiery. 1t was sup
posed to surpass any previous one.
Court martials are being speedily pros
ecuted, and sentences put into execution.
On the 25th ult. two sentences were put
into execution in our (2d) corps. One in
the forenoon and the other in the after
noon. The one in the forenoon was hung,
and the one in the afternoon was drum
med out of the service. Unfortunately
the latter was of our own regiment not
being sane in mind he took it merely as a
piece of sport. There is much said about
consolidating our Regt. with the Goth
p V, but as vet they have not accom-
plished their tavorite scheme. 1t will
cause much dissatisfaction amongst the
boys of our Regt. to lose both cOlOrs and
State number. Our regiment turned in
its old flag TO the State capitol last winter
in exchange for new one, the old one be-
ing unserviccable. l judge were the old
colors to bc exchanged, ours would not be
left in the shade of honor to any other one.
Some of the regiments time is about
expiring, and feel both disappointed and
dissatisfied that they will have to remain
until three years from the date OF being
mustered into the L. 5. service. which
will in some cases vary near two months
from the date of enlistment, or from the
time from which they were first payed
The weather has been cold and wet
generally, this spring, attended with sew
eral high waters, but of late II has become
pleasantcr, and now the ground is getting
green with grass and herbage, and the
trees in their foliage are presenting beau
tiful spectacle.
For fear of trespassing upon your room
I will close, with best wishes for the read
ers of the Dan. q Sent.
NoX.