Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-07-23

| arrival of the mail. 4 never before knew
the value of letters.
The Journal makes it appearance regularly,
seven days old, but greatly priced and dill
| gently sought after, Notwithstanding.
Hoping that the dreuth may not entirely
ruin the crops, and that we may return to
find you all happy and prosperous.
remain yours truly, Z. ii. A.
From the s0th Regiment in Minnesota
Hard Mareh-BOund for the Northwest.
Correspondence of the State Journal.
CAMP ON THE PRAIRIE, NEAR
| FoRT RIDGELY, Minnesota,
Tuesday, July 5, 1864.
After an inglorious stay of over twenty
months in the old Badger State" the 4th of
June, 1854, was welcomed with cheers by the
members of Companies b, E and X, 30th
Reg. Wis., Vol Upon that day we bid adieu
to the FILTERED existence spent as soldiers in
| keeping peace in your rebellious State. We
| arrived at st. Paul at IL o'clock II. NJ. of the
| 9th, and remained aboard all night. During
| the forenoon of the 7th we were marched
through the principal street of st. Paul, on.
our way to Fort Smelling; and, notwithstand-
ing the fatigue of the journey, the excellent
| military appearance of the men drew admir-
i ing crowds of men, women and children, who
expressed their appreciation by loud and pro-
/ longed huzzas and the waving of handker-
chiefs. Arriving at Fort Smelling we were
greeted by the soldiers in garrison, according
to military usage, after which we were march
ed to comfortable quarters.
| Fort Smelling is a solid work of stone and
| lime, built at an elevation of one hundred and
| fifty feet above the level of the Mississippi
| river, and commands that and Minnesota riv-
er. The country surrounding the fort is not
the most prepossessing, nor is it the best ag-
ricultural country. While stopping at Ft.Snel-
/ ling /, in company with several others, visit
| ed the Falls of Minne-ha-ha and st. Anthony.
| Minne-ha-ha means laughing water, and is on
Lake Creek, about two and half miles from
Fort Smelling. st. Anthony Falls are eight
miles up the Mississippi from Fl Smelling, and
at the village of Minneapolis, an enterprising
and manufacturing place of between 1000 and
5000 inhabitants. For beauty and pictur
/ esque scenery Mime -ha surpasses any
Falls l ever beheld, while the waters of Lake
| Creek are as clear as crystal and tranquil as
| an angels smile.
| At st. Paul Co. e of our regiment joined
u.s. and on June 18th Companies b, Il, G and
| X left Fort Smelling for Fort Ridgely, dis
lance of one hundred and forty miles. We
made the distance in five days-the greatest
| marching that has ever been done through
this country-and presume it would eclipse
many of the forced marches made in Dixie,
when taking into consideration that half the
| time the men we're without water. Our road
ran through the villages Of Shakopee, Bell
plain and Henderson, all three enterprising
and business places.
Owing to extreme heat, and scarcity of
water, many of the men fell by the way and
/ had to be picked up by the train or they
| would have persisted on the prairies. Almost
sorrowful sight than the men and animals
presented the night of the fourth days march.
| We marched from 81 o'clock a. m. till IL
o'clock p M, the greater portion of the time
| out of water, the suns rays scOrching our
skins to almost blister. The road for miles
| in the rear was strewed with men, and many
did not reach camp till o'clock in the morn
| ing. At the sight of water the poor animals
reared most pitifully, while the men threw
guns aside and dashed headlong into it. A
portion of our train did not reach US for the
night, and had we been in a hostile section
| of country but little Of it would have reached
/ Fort Ridgely, as there was not a guard with
| it. and it contained all the ammunition of the
expedition.
The fifth days march brought US to Fort
Ridgely, in making which we marched twenty
eight miles without seeing house and TWEEN
| ty-four miles without meeting with water.
This march was made in the night, and could
mothers wives and lovers have seen their
sons, husbands, and sweethearts the following
morning, tears would have flowed for their
noble defenders of liberty. Notwithstanding
plastered and bleeding feet, limbs and body
weary with the march and for the want of
sleep, face and hands smeared with dust and
sweat, the brave boys bore up heroically, and
when the summit of Fort Ridgely was reach
| - OH oh
echoed from the surrounding hills and walls
of the fertilization, exemplary of Wisconsin
true "grit."
large portion of the country through
which we passed bore evidence of the out
RACES committed by the cred skins" in '62-
houses demolished, fences torn down and
fields lying waste, met us on either side.
Fort Ridgely bears demonstrative evidence
of the bravery and determination of these
fiends to capture it.
A drouth exists in this section of the
country, never in the memory of man equaled.
No rain of any consequence has fallen here
since year ago last March. Grass and crops
of every kind are perishing, and unless rain
comes quickly, there will be no harvesting to
be done in a large portion of Minnesota
Springs in many places have gone complete
ty dry. Large sized streams and small lakes
have also disappeared, and nothing remains
but their dry bed The scarcity of water
prevents as fine a farming country as ever
lay out of doors, from being titled, and am
of the opinion that many farmers will be
compelled to purchase their entire supplies
till change takes place.
An expedition will leave this place some
time during the fore part of the present
month for Fort Wadsworth, on the James
river. Companies B, G, and K will comprise
a portion of the xpedition-Company G be-
ing left at Fort Ridgley. The reports of
scouts arriving are indicative of renewed
hostilities on the part of the Indians. The
men, generally, are in good health aud fine
spirits, and recovering fast from the effects of
the recent march.
The thirty-eighth anniversary of our Ma
tional Independence was duly celebrated in
accordance with military usage. The Grafton
was delivered by Mr. Conkright, formerly of
your city, and indeed was grand success.
The exercises of the day we're brought to a
close by singing ''The Battle Cry of FREEDOM"
after which the boys partook of Hard tack
and salt pork" gave three cheers for the
Union, and dispersed.
Having exhausted your patience, ask par
don therefor, and remain,
Respectfully yours,
FRANK j. ROWE