Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-08-24
From the ThirtY-Eiffh Regiment.

From the Thirty Fifth Regiment.
-Koeen1e,ts Of 4 -HonA-Frona Fort Hudson
to St Cha1les-A Djsappointue,et-UD White
Rirer-Bujlding orGfcationS-A Seoul
The Country Destitute Of Men.
ST. CHARLES, Ark, August 4.
Editors State Journal Since my last note
the 35th has been moving almost continually.
On the evening of the 26th of June we ex-
pected to remain at Port Hudson for months,
but about 2 o'clock that night an Orderly
came from headquarters with orders for the
regiment to be ready to embark at II O'clock
the next day. ReveilIe was sounded ats
O'Clock the next morning, and soon every one
was ready to move.
By the untiring efforts of 1t Stevens, who
had charge of placing the companies on the
boat, loading Quartermaster and Commssary
stores, &c, everything was ready at the prop
er time and the transport moved up the river.
We arrived at MOrganzia about SHUTDOWN
stayed on the boat that night and the next
morning marched ashore, pitched tents, and
were again in camp.
In few days the regiment was ordered to
move camp about three miles farther south,
which was done rather reluctantly, We LEFT
our camp well fitted out. We rem aimed in
our new camp about two weeks. Here the
4th OF July was spent generally, IN think ing
about what was going on at home and in differ
ent parts of the State. There was no excite
ment here. National salutes were fred at
morning, noon and night. The monotony of
camp life was scarcely interrupted, and the
4th of July passed off the same as the day be
fore and the day after.
The regiment remained here two weeks
wheE suddenly orders came 10 be ready to
embark at Il moments notice. Then every
one expected that our brigade would follow
the lst and ID divisions of the 10th army
corps, which had gone to the army of the
Potomac, and there was universal Joy through
out the whole brigade. But, to our great
disappointment, when the transports left the
shore they moved up the river. None below
eagle shoulder-straps knew our destination,
but not until after the boats entered the
mouth of White river could some be per
suaded that the brigade was not going to
Maryland or Virginia, so certain were they
that troops were needed nowhere else.
The brigade stopped a few days at the
mouth of White river, where changed
boats on the 22d of July and started up the
river. The water in White river is quite low,
but we found no obstacle until we came to
what is known as the " bar" There the reg
iment was compelled to leave the boat and
march about two miles through heavy timber
interviewer with vines of every description.
The night dark and there was no path,
so one can imagine we had a sweet time. In
few hours the regiment was on board again,
and we found no more trouble on account Of
low water.
Upon arriving here we found nothing ex-
cept some old Notifications constructed by
the reb lis about two years ago, anG abandon
ed by tt en- on the approach of the Union
forces. While our forces were successful in
the Southwest there was little need of troops
here, but when Banks was defeated the rebels
scattered all over the country, seriously threat
cning Gen. Steele by blockadng the White
river and cutting off his supplies. To pre-
vent this troops were sent here and TO Du-
wallis Bluff, 90 miles above here and so miles
from Little Rock by railroad.
Since our landing here we have been at
work on the Notifications night and day
This new kind of business does not suit US
very well, as we were accustomed farther south
at MOrganzia and Port Hudson, to see colored
soldiers dig and shovel on Notifications. All
past objections to the cOlored soldiers would
vanish if a few regiment of UIlman'5 darkies
would come up here and relieve US from so
much digging and shOyeling on these earth
works.
ST Charles is situated high up on the right
bank of tie river and about so miles from its
mouth. Once there was hourishing little
village here but now every house is deserted
and many are destroyed. This place is natural
" fortified, and when the Notifications now
being constructed are completed It will be
impregnable- In this vicinity are oak trees
and brush, which makes 1t look like Wiscon-
sin. Oak trees are scarcely ever seen in
Louisiana or Southern Mississippi.
A few days ago a scouting party of about
500 men from the different regiments of the
brigade went out about 80 miles from camp
and were gone three days and Two nights
We travelled in all about so miles, and during
our whole tour we did not see a single man,
excepting one old gray haired rebel; but in
almost every house there were women and
children This shows how JEFF. Davis fills his
armies how many are exempt from the draft,
&c Coming back to camp every man was
loaded with chickens, geese, honey, apples,
pears, peaches, green corn, &c, &c, and
consequently we lived for few days in grand
style.
The health Of the regiment st present Is
good. The weather is quite cool and pleas
ant with frequent showers.
We are expecting to leave this place soon
and Join our division again al 4orgauzia--
We are to be relieved here By some 100 day
men from Memphis-probably the 40th Wis
consin will be among the number.
JUsTUs.