Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1865-06-15
Prom the Primitive Methodist Magazine.
Letter from the 18th Wisconsin.
NEAR MONTGOMERY, ArA.l
May 9TH, 1865.

having had a slight attack Of ''lnter-
mittent fever" I was therefore de-
barred the privilege Of being with
my regiment through the campaign
which resulted in the capture Of Mo-
bile. / returned to duty April 18th,
and learned that the Eleventh had
taken conspicuous part in the grand
charge at Blakely, being the first to
plant their colors on the works, and
to receive the surrender Of those OF
the foe in their immediate front. But
in war the winner is generally a loser,
a truth verified in the assault on
Blakely, for when the victors return
ed nineteen brave boys lay asleep to
wake no more, and forty wounded
heroes claimed the attention and
sympathy of their more fortunate
companions in arms. May the green
turf lay softly over the graves of the
fallen, and christian consolation be
awarded the wounded sufferers.
The day following my arrival in
camp the 10th army corps, Of which
the Eleventh forms part, received
marching orders" and at 10 A. NJ.
we took up the line Of march for
Montgomery, Ala. After an agree
able march of thirteen days, in which
we travelled one hundred and seventy
five miles, We reached the objective
point.
The first sixty miles of the coun-
try through which we passed is very
sandy, covered with tall pine trees.
1t is so poor that few settlers have
thought it worth while to make homes
there. As we drew nearer central
Alabama the land improved in rich
ness, and greater variety Of vege
tation is seen, for nearly every kind
of tree displayed its peculiarities.
This part being very productive the
choicest portions have been improved
into plantations of various sizes, leav-
ing thousands of acres, which, if not
the best, would well remunerate the
industry Of any thrifty farmer. The
surface of the country is, in some
parts, very broken, with considerable
low marshy land between the hills !;
but generally it is moderately high,
dry and a little undulating. We
found plenty Of wood and good wa
ter, SO that we had no trouble in
finding agreeable camping grounds.
The climate at this season of the
year is delightful. Cool nights, pleas
ant mornings and evenings, and warm
enough at noon to make the sweat
ooze with little exercise. Nature
is clothed in its richest garment Of
green, interspersed with colors of ev-
cry hue, making all around appear
lovely, and filing our hearts with
gratitude to Him
Who makes the grass the hills adorn,
And clothes the smiling fields with corn"
We travelled on State road, and
yet in all our journey we passed but
one village-Greenville. [ suppose
we ought to call it a country town,
for it is about the size of Shullsburg,
and has about the same number of
inhabitants within its limits. The
Pensacola and Montgomery railroad
passes through it, which is the only
attractive feature about it.
Montgomery, the Capital of Ala
bama is the chief place of interest,
being the place where the Confede-
rate provisional government was or
ganized, and where JEFF. Davis was
the first time inaugurated President
of the Confederacy. This city is
built on very billy ground, and has
the Alabama River flowing smoothly
at its feet. With the exception of
the State and Court house, General
Wilson, who passed through here a
month ago, destroyed all the build
ings and feundries likely to be of any
service to the enemy. This being
the case | can say nothing as to its
former greatness. 1t has been great
cotton mart. Its railroad and river
facilities inducing the planter to for
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