Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-04-27
From the 22d Wisconsin.

This mornings air is alive with the sounds
of industry, from the clatter of the hammer
as the carpenter drives the nail, or the black
smith beats the iron, on and in the huge
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.
Spring approaches slowly, though the
peach tree is wreathed in blossoms, the grass
growing refreshingiy green, and the familiar
chirp of the blaekbird comes down to US as a
flock ay 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 regiment of men
who love the maddening scenes of war, but
band of patriots who took up arms in a ma
tion's extremity, and viii 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 furlongh, were under or
ders for Lookout Valley, but since the con-
soldation of the 18th and 18th army corps,
the prospect seems remote of leaving this
city, and ceasing to become one of its subur
ban villages.
The 22d were on brigade drill yesterday,
with the 18th Mich, 18th Wis, and 102d
Ohio, and. nuder command of Lieut.. Col.
Bloodgood, acquitted themselves creditaDly.
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 a 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-
| cants for 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 geGtlemanly as an lndl-
| yidual. Through his instrumentality and the
| kindness of the agent of the L. 5 Sanitary
| Commission, several barrels of potatoes,
onions and cabbages have been received by
| the different companies of the regiment to
1
/ the decided improvement of their unchanged
! bill CT fare
| As at Murfreesboro, 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 "Home OF
Refugees" or the Estates Prison." clerk, car
penter or blacksmith, the soldiers of the 22d
| Wisconsin will be found faithful to their
| duty. s-...-. ..
BY a 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.
Co.'S 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 1t, 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 a 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,
| fling shells, reading papers, studying scien-
| titic 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 viii 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 army now, I'M
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 a 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 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 archi-
lecture, the novel manner of cultivation and
all the objects which challenge the attention
| of the observer away from his home, and hav-
ing no care for stage, car or boat, fare or ho-
tel, he having but TO obey orders and look
out for self W. H. III.