Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-01-27
From the 18th Regiment.
denoe Of the State Journal.

oANNCuSo III SetlAAlS osel CUtlSAucAaDIe SIouhu
/ IN fine style and short time. Again has il
sought $ foeman worthy of its STEEL and
again it has been disappointed; the redoubt-
able graybacks most unaccountably getting
wind of our approach, getting up a grand
skedaddle and leaving for parts unknown with
such vigorous effort that we failed even 10
get dissolving view of their rebellious
rears
But TO particularize: At noon on the 2lst
Dee. orders were quietly issued TO be all
ready 10 march at O'clock p. m. with 40
rounds of cartridge, days rations of bread
and groceries, ! days meat and salt enough
to season days rations of fresh meat"
Several companies of cavalry went out on
the Pine Ridge road; and about > O'Clock D.
m the infantry force, consisting Of the 29th
and sgd Ills, with ours" and four guns I'M
der Capt. Rogers, the whole under command
of Brig. Gen. Gresham, moved out on the
| Washington road, reaching tie village of
| Washington, s miles out, just at dusk As
the principal portion of the inhabitants were
looking from their doors 1T the unusual mill
tary display, Col. Proudft, of d" ours,r with
delicate perception of their wants, which
does him honor, in order TO complete the
glorious pageant, and crafty their preiudices,
requested the field music to play that good
old tune, Old john Brown" which Was ac-
cordingly performed in effective manner,
! judging by the rapid insertion OF aristocratic
fingers into feminine ears, and the sudden
| disappearance of sundrv fair ladies within
| the grateful barriers of doors and walls
| We crossed Washington Greek on a very
| good bridge, which spanned a wide BAYOU
now nearly dry, but at times holding water
| enough for gunb0ats to vancouver in. Here
we halted and rested, filled our canteens, and
prepared for further adventures Some com
panies OF mounted infantry under Col Farrar
of the 3oth Missouri, moved to the front, as
an advance guard, and to act as inyestigat-
ing committee" in case o. opposition being
offered TO our progress.
Crossing st. CGtharine's bridge, and anoth-
er little run, now nameess and bridgeless.
we marched on some l0t miles BY moonlight,
blyouacking IN a corn field on the banks of
HoltS creek, about y o'clock p. IN. As the
ground was very thoroughly water-soaked, our
rest was not of the most comfortable charac-
rer but we cared little for that, seeing that
We were stealing march upon our trail
tor-toe. \ party of the miserable scamps
had been visiting at Washington and retired
at our approach, eating supper at the house
of the owner OF the field where we were
staying, but again fell back before our arriv-
al, 10 their main body beyond Fayette.
At daylight we were again on the road
crossing Hollis and Evans creeks, proceeding
III peace and quiet to within two miles Of
Fayette, where halted for dinner At
o'clock p m. we again started, but this time
on the back-track, it having been ascertained
that Writ Adams, the rebel commander. had
declined the honor of a Christmas visit from
our forces, broke up his encampment and was
on his way to Christies Springs, 80 miles
from Fayette, on the double quick"
We marched back several miles and cooked
supper during which we learned that the
Marine Brigade had landed at Rodney and
had been fighting the rebels back towards
Fayette, and had driven some $50 Mounted
infantry through the town since We had started
back, and if we had remained there they
would have fallen into our hands. 4 Lieu
tenant and some four or five privatcs were
brought past us under guard, and we were
informed that the Marine Brigade had cot
some fifty or sixty more prisoners, the pro
duct Of several skirmishcs along the road 10
Fayette, and its vicinity.
1t being cloudy and threatening weather il
was decided to fall back to the west side of
Hollis Greek, it has the reputation of get
ting high on very short notice, and keeping
in that condition for an unreasonable length
of time without paving the least respect TO
any persons necessities. During the very
last rain, it had gone on a regular " high old
time, and drowned a rebel lieutenant who
was attempting to cross with small scouting
party W G travelled along rapidly, an occas-
lonal shower besprinkling Us, until we crossed
the creek and bivouacked in the woods BY the
side of the road about o'clock P. NJ.
At daylight we again fell in and started
along--the old 18th Wisconsin leading the
column-reaching Washington about 10 A. NJ;
our feId-music ravishing the ears if not the
hearts of its population with the melodious
strains Of . Yankee Doodle safely arriving
at home about O'Clock P. NJ, an event that
gave uubounded satisfaction to many sore
footed hero, as their cheers abundantlv testi-
fed.
Since leaving Natchez for Vicksburg we
have received a visit from Mrs. Harvey thro
whose interposition, it is alleged, the regi-
ment has received a set Of new wedge tents,
in which we are now snugly esconced, bidding
defiance to rain and Storm a condition we
have often wished for during the past year,
but with only faint hopes of ever obtaining.
You may he sure that Mrs Harvey has lost no
friends in this regiment by her kindness.
Our regiment is in most healthy condition
not more than one to three having been in
the hospital at any one time for weeks past
There is considerable excitement among
the troops here on the subject of re-cnlist-
ment, and many are coming forward to sustain
the honor and preserve the glory of our noble
country. 1t is supposed that this regiment
will soon be entitled to 90 home and reor-
ganize, on account Of their re-enlisting so
freely.
The weather is quite mild and open yet, and
although we have frosty nights occasionally,
we enjoy it exceedingly.
The military of this Post have been enjoy
ing Christmas hugely. Balls dinners and
parties have been the order of the day. and
tipsy uniforms might be seen upon ." their
winding way" at all hours Of night. Arrests,
OF course, have been plentiful, but then as
Christmas comes but once YEAR every
body goes in for enjoyment, and laughs at
trouble. W.
DICKENS TWENTY YEARS AGo-Twenty
years ago Charles Dickens ruled the realm of
fiction We college boys joked III Wellerisms,
and wept over Oliver and little Nell With
a letter from our friend Mrs. NJ, | sought
the young lion in his lair; but he was at the
seaside finishing his famous d" American
Notes that bore so hard on our national salira