The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-06-22
Sherman'S Army.
HOW THE BOYS FEEL.
CAMP 18TH Mo. VEr Vol. NIFTY,


near Louisville, Ky, June 18th, 1865.
Col. DANFoRTu-Dear Sir You will un-
doubleday see, by the heading of this, that we
are once again almost at our starting place
of a little over q year ago, after having made
q circle around and through a large portion
of the late Southern Confederacy." If any
person had predicted, year ago, that Gen.
Sherman would accomplish what he has
done, he would have been considered like
Sherman) "crazy," and fit subject for q
lunatic asylum. And people would have
been right IN thinking. When l look
back and think of the almost impossibilities
we have encountered and overcome, il puz-
zles me to think by what chance we ever got
through / wouldn't like to make the trip
again but, as il is, shall always feel proud
of having been with the man and army that
has neUer knopn defeat.
As the connection OF the western and east
ern armies, at Washington, produced too
many bloody noses and black eyes, which, as
mourning is not now the fashion, did not suit
very well, the ''powers that be" concluded il
would benefit all parties to separate US
Accordingly, therefore, the 9Th inst,
.Sherman's heroes, who deserve 80 well of
this free, generous aud enlightened nation"
from some ody's late specify had the pleas
ure, after lille Waik of upWards Of eight
thousand miles, through mud and water, car
rying gun, knapsack, hsversaok and canteen
of being treated to free ride on first class
| hog, cattle and coal cars, on the Baltimore &
| OHIO railroad. far as Parkersburg, Va,
where tre we're, together with horses, mules
and other government property, CROWDED. on
dirty boats, for this place, where we arrived
| On the 10th inst. Some people may think it
| glorious to be a soldler-and l confess that
| we like praise-but / am of the opinion that
! Nf shnr hava IN
of 'specs" before they can ''see it." / VEN
ture to say that our late tri p from Washing
ton caused more sickness IN dirision than
our sirty days campaign through the Caro-
| ltnds. The heat was awful through the
mounta ms and tunnels of Virginia, and the
water was none of the best,
| There is a great deal of speculation among
the boys to the reason why we are retain
| ed in the service, now that the war Is over.
If the government has anything for us 20 do,
we are willing enough &c do it, but We pro
test against being kept in the service without
an object. Our terms of enlistment were for
three years or during the ioar, unless sooner
discharged. The war is over. None denies
it. Our work is accomplished. Is it any
wonder, then. that we are becoming dissatis-
| fled, and, for the first time, hOmesick We
| hare kept our promise to the g0Uernnent-sChy
| should it not Keep the promises made to as ?
Another cause of complaint is that, zoe haue
not been raid for ten months. The quality
| and quantity of our ratIons are also COM
! planned of. If there is not some satisfaction
| gwen soon, am afraid there will be trouble
There is large army in camp, in this i'm
mediate vicinity, at present, viz: the 18th,
18th, 18th aud q portion of the Goth army
corps The largest portion of the 10th were
Pennsylvania troops, and were left at Wash
| ington. Gen. Logan is in command of the
troops here.
| / understand that Gen. Sherman's head.
quarters are to be at st. Louis. GOV. FLEET
cher, of Missouri, was here last Monday, aud
made us short speech. He said he would
use his influence TO have my regiment sent
to Missouri for duty, if we are to remain in
the service any length OF time. hope he'll
do so,
1t is pretty hot here. Our camp is situat-
ed in a swamp, where we have delightful
French Music" by the frog-, aud mosquitoes
large enough for ''fsh. bait" A wagon can
not get any nearer to us than q mile and .
half / understand they are going 80 move
camp tomorrow. All right. ANYTHING for
a change.
But must close now, for fear of becoming
tiresome. Give my regards to all my friends.
am, as ever,
Respectfully yours,
j. Ii. IvHRsoN.