Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-02-17
FROM THE ETH WISCONSIN.
Correspo ndence of the State Journal.
CAMP hEwIs, rear of Nicksburg,
Jan. Goth, 1864.


Again l am chronicler of the movepoentg
OF this restless regiment, which, in all its
past history, has been movable column -
or a g column in motion, and has in the near
future a series of prospective movements,
which may form the basis of I" moving tale''
and which may verify the old saw that ssthree
| removes are as bad as a fire s" to our traitor
| foes
| Ever since our arrival at Natchez the ten
ure OF our stay has been of a very uncertain
/ character. Going on a scouting expedition
! 1T was deemed necessary to disembark in
| order 10 repel threatened threatened at
| tack, and We have been expecting to leave at
| an hours notice, all the time. The long ex-
pected order came on the evening of the 22d
/ to be ready to leave camp at o'clock next
morning, and accordingly next day saw Us
| embarked, the 18th, on the steamer ". l.
! Lsr.ug; the sd Illinois on the DHiQezt, and
| Gen Gresham, with his staff on the Prinqls
About I O'clock p NJ. we left the levee amid
| the cheers Of a drunken officer of the 2Sth
| Illinois, and the waving of handkerchiefs ofa
few diseonsolate females, whose military
swains, were leaving with US, for " fresh faces
| and fresh fields regardless OF the girl l
/ left behind me-"
We had pleasant trip up the river, with
| out any incident worthy of special notice,
/ the heat during Sunday being felt severely on
! the hurricane deck, the night being rather
/ cool We arrived At the leyee of Vicksburr
about o'clock Z. NJ Sunday evening the
| Esd inst unloaded our wagons and part Of
| our baggage and staid on the boats until morn
| ing. About sunrise on the 18th, the column
/ was set in motion, and we marched out of
| town, through the lines, and then " over the
| hills AND far away some miles to our for
| ner camp near Clear Greek, and now occupy
| the same ground we abandoned when We
| started for Natchez, and which has been nam
! ed Camp Lewis in honor of our worthy Gov
/ eTnor, whom we all respect and honor. look
| ing upon him as the soldiers friend" who
| viii protect and defend us in all our rights,
/ procure Us every privilege we are entitled
! to, and be guardian to our loved ones at
| home.
| We are on the eve of a most important ex-
/ petition to the east of Nicksburg, Judging
! from the forces preparing to take part in 1t
! At Clickasaw Bayou, Gen. Hurlbut is disem-
! barking with the 10th Army Corps, while the
! 18th to which we belong are all on the gJi-
| gigs, and the hustle of preparation is visible
/ on every hand. PontOOns are building, sup
/ ply trains are loading with 20 days rations.
/ the railroad rapidly pushed to completion
! from Black River 20 jackson, and everything
! indicates movements OF a most extensive and
| effective character. / am not at liberty TO be
lumber Of men to be used on this occasion,
| but the - old 18th viii be there, in all prob
! ability; in respect to our destination, howcy-
| er we shall be apt to see the east side of this
miserable State, before We return.
In my last, I told YOU that some $50 OF the
/ l2th had rc-cnlsted. l am credibly informed
/ that $50 would better express the number of
| veterans now to be found in cur ranks
| As far as can be ascertained this makes our
/ regiment tie largest, amt Il great many
| StutE, tie best gttFaIt regiment 1J tie United
| States sggice. We ought to have been mus
| tered out Of the old and into the new term of
! service long ago, and should have been, had
/ not the CommissaTy of Auster for the 81
Brigade misunderstood his orders, and kept
| Us waiting for new rolls, when none were
| needed. We are to be mustered in this
| week, before leaving here, and upon our re
| turn from the proposed expedition, we shall
| start for home as soon as we can get ready,
| a period of say 90 days, OF about the middle
of March.
The 18th Wisconsin are expecting to leave
| here next Thursday for home, to rc-organize
/ and, we understand the 10th, now at Red
bone Church, viii soon follow We would
! have been at Camp Randall ere this reaches
you, if it had not been for official plumbers,
| but we are to have all Strengthened out now,
! so that there may be no DELAY in the future,
when we can be spared better, to hinder our
coming home.
BY the bye, believe we have a good claim
on the State for the banner promised to .be
| largest veteran regiment of her soldiers, and
| If SO, we shall be pleased to receive it, and
| proud to bear it during our veteran service.
| There Is not better regiment in the field
! TO lay knowledge, than the old 18th, or one
that has been better managed. As proof of
/ this, witness our numbers after two years
| service, and enduring tine siege Of Yicksburg
| ! W. a,rf~b
| Kansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Missis-
/ slppl; and no better proof can be given Of
! the estimation in which the officers are held,
/ than the fact of such large numbers re-enlist-
| ing to serve under them for three years
| longer; not a single company but what over
| thrce-tOurths have rc-enlisted, and some have
| only three or four men to be left out in the
| cold"
The weather IS quite pleasant just now.
| warm days, as warm as in May III "Old Wis
| cons" with cool nights There has not been
| any snow fallen with US during the winter
and no ice to last over two days. People at
Nateh.z have been making gardens for the
past two weeks, and many barrels of potatoes
have lately been purchased for seed there
The health Of the regiment is good, moi
more than one or two in the hospital, and
eight or ten cOuvalcscents. There have been
! some cases of small pov, but all have rec0v-
! cred, and in fact, We all feel pretty vel.
| Some shaking has been done, and some
have thought the weather Chilly" but qu-
| nine, rest, and pleasant weather are abolish
| ing all these disagreeable sensations.
You shall hear more of the expedition when
| we get back, if able to write them - ".
| TIE STATE AID TO VOLUNTEERS. Some days
| ago resolution was adopted by the Assembly
I inquiriug of the Secretary of State whether
some means cannot be devised to prevent
frauds upon the State Aid Fund, by persons
falsely claiming that they are dependent for
support upon sons in the service. The fol
! lowing is Secretary Fair,cbilI's reply;
/ state Of Wisconsin, Secretary Ofice,1
! Madison, Feb Sd, 1854. {
| Hon. IT, ". F1ezd, Speata. Of tie 1ssenl5lgj
| SIE,-I have the honor to acknowledge the
| receipt Of Assembly resolution No. Is.
! To prevent frauds in the cases therein men
| toned l have the honor to suggest that the
Secretary Of State be directed to furnish as
| soon as possible, to the Provost Marshal Of
each district, Il list of the names of All who