, 1864-07-15
FROM FORT RNDEELY.
From the 3Oth Regiment in mluneso-
sn-A Hard mnrch-Bound f0r the
Northwest

Correspondence OF the Madison Jouznal.l
CAMP ON THE PRAIRIE, NEAR Fort RIDGE
II, Minnesota, Tuesday, July 5, l8G4.-At st.
Paul Co. G Of our regiment, Joined US. and
on june 18th companies B. E, g and & lett
Fort Smelling for Fort Didgely, distance OF
enc enc hundred ar and forty miles. We made the
utst5nce in five days--the greatest marching
that has ever been done through this coua-
try--and presume 1t would eclipse many Of
the forced marches made In Dixie, when Ia
king into consideration that half the time the
men were without water. Our road ran
and Henderson, all three entefprfsing busi-
ness places.
Owing to the extreme heat and scarcity of
water, many Of the men fell by the way aud
had to be picked up by the train or they
would have perished on the prairies. 4 more
sorrowiul sight than the men and animals
presented the night Of the fourth days march
can scarcely be Imagined. We marched from
01@ o'clock a m. till II o'clock p, NJ, the
greater portion Of the time out Of water, the
SUMS rays scorchfng our skins to almost O
blister. The road for miles In the rear was
strewed with men, and many did not reach
camp TILL o'clock In tie morning. At the
sight OF water tbe poor animals Toared most
pitifnl1y, while the men threw guns aside and
dashed he,d1ong into It. a portion Of our
train did not reach us for the night, and had
we been in hostile section Of country but
little Of 1t would have reached Fort Ridge1y,
as there was not a guard with 1t, and it con-
The Afth days march brought us to Fort
Rtdge1g, in making which VIC marched tTen-
ty-elght miles without seeing house, and
twenty:four miles without meeting With wa;
ter. This march vas made ia the night, and
could mothers, wives and lovers haye seen
their SONS, husbands and sweethearts the fol-
lowing m. ming, tears would have flowed
for their noble defenders of liberty. Not
W1thstanding blisterea and bleeding feet,
limbs and bo3y weary with the march and
for want Of sleep, face and hands smeared
with dust and sweat, this brave boys bore up
Ridgel5 was reached, three hearty cbears
were given. which re-cchoed from the sur
rounding hills and walls Of the fertilization,
exemplary Of Wisconsin true grit
4 large portion Of the country through
which ne passed bore evidence Of the out
houses demolished, fences torn down and
fields lying Waste met us on either side.
Fort R1dge1y bears demonstratlve evidence
Of the bravery and determination Of these
flends to capture it.
A drought exists in this section Of the
country, never in the memory Of man equal
cd. No rain Of any consequence has fallen
crops Of every kind are perishing, and unless
rain comes quickly, there will be no har-
vesting to be done in large portion Of
Minnesota. Springs in many places have
gone completely dry. Large sized streams
and small lakes have also disappeared, and
nothing remains but their dry bed. The
scarcity Of water prevents as fine farming
country as ever lay ont Of doors, from being
titled, aud am Of the opinion that many
fa1me1s will be compelled to purchase their
entire supplies till change takes place.
An expedition will leave this place BONE
time during the fore part Of the present
month. for Fort Wadsworth, on the James
River. Companies B, c, and & wall COM
prise portion OF the expedition-company
G being left at Fort Ridgley. Thc reports
Of scouts arriving are indicative Of renewed
hostilitiee On the part Of the Indians. The
men, generally, aTe in good health ani ane
spirits, and recovering fast from the ELECTS
Of the recent march.