Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-02-10

coincidence oftbe State journal

Having q few leisure moments to spare
thougsttI would improve the opportunity by
writing & Camp Letter" so that the friends
ct the sh.aEpsllooters LAY know how We
flourish. IL the first place be it known that
after the November campaign over the Rapi-
dan, we encamped near Brandy" on the
grounds Of John NJ Bolts, and were not long
IN putting our camp in shape for winter quar-
tiers. Log huts with shelter tents on top,
and good large fire places (some of brick at
tached, gave our encampment an appearance
ANYTHING but uncomfortable. There we re-
manned throughout December without any
thing special transporting, our duties being
principally picket and camp guard. One
great drawback existed, however, which was
the scarcity of timber, although the great
Virginia statesman had a patch OF hard wood
close by; which, however, being under guard,
required, to smuggle the same without being
caught, some little strategy on the part of the
soldiers quartered near That any soldier
did actually appropriate to his own use, any
of Bolts timber or Bolts rails, couldn't tes-
tify, but as the weather at times was cold
and unpleasant with snow, slush, &c, and
frewood scarce, Mr. B. probably concluded
that they did, as orders were frequently pub
lshed fOrbidding it. All trouble about Bolts
ano his timber however, finally ended in a
removal some two miles IN advance the second
week of the present month. And although
the season was so much advanced in wintry
weather, yet has the weather been rather IA
vorable than otherwise for this time of the
wear. The consequence Is that at the pres.
ent writing the lst division, Sd Army Corps
l. fort al mud no 81.
shooters OF the Sd brigade have cut down
many trees and chopped off the stunlps, can
now show u well drained and regulated camp
on ground that ten days ago was covered with
a dense forest of hard timber and no small
amount of underbrush. Talk about pioneers
Why, Messrs Editors, you ought to see Uncle
Sans soldiers convert forest into village.
It's no job at ala mere matter of exercise.
Its among them where you can find pioneers.
Every old soldier here is a carpenter, house
builder and mason, with a knack of doing any
other job you may call for in fact a regular
jack o all trades-not the least conspicuous
OF which is the culinary department. Every
soldier is a cook, and all know how to make
" Johnny cake 4" out of "hard-tack Is il
good ? ask you. Well, if there's anybody up
your way that doubts it, | should advise him
by all means to como down here and try it on
besides many other little affairs that con
stltutes a soldiers hte
The boys sometimes get "box" from
home, although naught as yet from the vari-
Gus Soldiers Aid Societies formed throughout
the State. This however may be accounted
for in the fact of our not being known as
Wisconsin, Michigan, New York or other
state troops, but simply I. S. 5. S.-Uncle
Sans Sassy Sogers
The Company and Regiment are much re-
duccd in numbers of effective men-many of
whom are recruits of the fall of 90. The
latter fact will account in a great measure for
the small number of Veteran Volunteers fur
nished; our stock of old 8 year men being
pretty much exhausted.
In Company G, nine Badgers, " old grey
fellows" every one of them, | assure you,
that is in the matter of grim yisaged war
and Virginia campaigning, have gone in for
the new term and expect daily the arrival OF
thier stipulated furloughs. Their names are
James Ragin, an old hunter and a model sol
der; George Wmtson, 1. E. Buckshot," a
good-natured but sturdy veteran Amos Sum
ner, a worthy pioneer; our infuut," Michael
Costalo, the big listed Badger boy Westley
Armfeld, the humorous and fearless scout
"our Senator" Abner johnson, the accom-
modating cOmmissaTy John W. RathbHn, Il
young and toughened Badger; Henry W.
Woodbury., Corporal of the Colors, and Seneca
Hawes.
These men are every one old veterans and
have participated more or less in the Compa-
uy's - engagements. Some of them have
been shot several times but not hard enough
as yet thank God, to stop their career as
Union soldiers. That they viii continue to
DO their duty as heretofore I'll back EN-. The
State of Wisconsin cannot fail to recognize
her representatives in the organization of
United States SharpshOOter's, when the facts
become more fully known, as they undoubt-
edly viii be, at some future time, in regard to
their doings in the Potomac Army.
Our present camp is named after a Phila-
delphia gentleman, who very kindly presented
TO every man in this division pair of mittens,
which have been distributed. The general
health of the camp is good, although a case of
measles has appeared. But don't be alarmed,
nobody's afraid on't-not by darned sight
There is naught at present Of warlike news
to communicate, although guerrilla parties
are said to hover around, prepared at any
moment to pounce upon the unwary sentinel
and gobble him up, bag and baggage. We
receive the papers about three times per
week, such rs the Haal6 Euq,5irer and CtroJ.-
icIe The former paper has, however, the
greatest demand. Your kindness i'll furnish
ing the Madison Jou3Woi so often gives the
Badgers view of home matters and from
its well stocked columns more general news
can be found than in the Eastern papers -
The Fox Lake Gazette Is also frequently re
ceived.
We have now but one field officer left, viz:
Major G. G. Hastings, at present absent on
detached service, the regiment being under
command of Capt. Hetherington, of New
York; the redoubtabIe Colonel, II. Berdan,
Chief OF Sharpshootcrs under Gen Burnside
having been discharged from service on ac-
count of physical disability. The latest Com
pany promotions are Willard S. Isham to
Sergeant and Emery Munsen and Edward f.
Bean to Corporals. y recruit has lately join
ed us, Conrad Murat, who has seen service
before. .. S. S.
Thr late Judge Wheeler.
The Oshkosh -Northeesters. furnishes the fol-
lowing obituary notice and brief biography of
the late Judge Wheeler:
In pvpuiua Of Iavrarr- 99I