The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-06-24
FROM CAPT. BALLARD's ROCK IS
LAND COMPANY.
DExoPoLIs, ALABAMA,
JUNE, 5th, 1865.


JUNE, 5th, 1865. Il
: Col. DAsroHrH, Deer SRI acknowledge
the receipt Of D package of ARoUs' of differ
emit dates, for my company. and can assors
you thst the favor was highly ap ,reciated By
the boys. Iwould have written 20 you be
for this but nothing of interest has occurred
lately. A.
On the 10th day of May we struck tents, at
Montgomery, and started on a march for Sci.
ma The distance we travelled was about 65
miles. On the 14th, at u o'clock NJ, We
marched through the streets OF Selma, and
pitched our tehts half a mile from the city,
and On the 10Th we embar ked On the cars for
our present camping ground, one mile from
DemopolIs,on the banks OF the Black Warrior
River, and arrived here at O'Clock Pm. OF
the same day, distance by rail of fifty miles.
Our present camping is a splendid location.
Selma is situated on the Alabama River, in
q tolerably good country. The city, at pres
emit, lie in dilapidated condition, all the pub-I
lie property having been destroyed by Gen.
Wilson, on his raid through this part of the
country. Selma was the greatest ordnance
manufacturing city in the south, and had on
hand and in process of completion an i'm
mense quantity of guns of large calibre, to-
gether with small arms, ammunition, &C., all
Of which were destroyed by Wilson and his
men.
Demopolis is a Very quiet little village. and
judging from the appearance of the buildings,
has never been . place of much note. There
is capacity for about three thousand inhabit-
ants. The village is situated on the Black
Warrior aud Tombigbee Rivers, surrounded
by a splendid country, said to be the best In
the state of Alabama. Although no consid
cradle force of rebels occupied this locality,
the public property will probably invoice
higher than the average Of the state. and
this property is not munitions Ofwar but mon
ey value. In this county there is fifteen
thousand bales of cotton belonging to the
government, purchased by the so called cot
ton loan," st from twelve to fifteen cents per
pound, paying for the same in confederate
bonds taking duplicate receipts for the deliv
cry of the same at the nearest shipping point.
The cotton is being delivered, not by order of
the Z" Southern Confederacy," but under the
jurisdiction of the United States. The cotton
of the foregoing counties, under the same
rule, will probably amount to fifty million
dollars. Besides this there is considerable
corn, bacon, DC. There is stationed at this
place three regiments of the second brigade
of the first division of the sixteenth army
corps, consisting of the eleventh Missouri,
fifth Minnesota and forty-seventh Illinois,
commanded by Brevet Brig Gen. l.. +. Hub
bard. of the fifth Minnesota, a splendid COM
mander and gentleman. His administra-
ton at this place gives entire satisfaction
among the citizens.
The next few days will DE the most impor.
tant days of any in the army. The paymas-
ter arrived here yesterday and will commence
paying the troops up to the 18th day OF Feb
ruary, which leaves our company without
pay this time.
There are all kinds of rumors about mus
tcring out, none OF which are reliable.
My company is In good health, with few
exceptions, none of them are sick. The oOm-
pany is well drilled, for the time and oppor
tunity we have had for such exercise. They
are well disciplined and make good appear
ance on parade or review. All, of course,
would like to come home,-at the same time
all seem willing to fulfil their obligations with
the government if necessary.
"a Orderly Sergeant b. Nj. Shuruef is detail
ed at headquarters, chief clerk.
LIST Lieut.. NJ. Shaughnessey reported to the
company on the 22d of May for duty having
entirely recovered from his wound.
Leroy Lawhead is promoted to S b Ser
geant.
Richard L. Jones and ii. c. Routszong are
promoted to cUp0rals.
The negroes are disappointed, having ex-
pected, before our arrival. that they would be
taken from tue plan cations, Ieu, ciOtneu anu
have nothing to do. But instead Of such a
course they are compelled to stay on the plan
tatiOn to go into ''freedmGn's camp"
and are sent out into working parties which
is much worse than the plantation, and from
which they will soon run away, having had
their curiosity satisfied in regard to the great
theme Freedom"
The crops in this secten are very good, of
which corn is the principal product.
Our duties are to watch each other, to prov
vide against the stealing of anything from
the citizens, together with the ordinary rou-
tine of drills, parade, reviews. &c. OF course
there is no one to blame-thefe never is The
nature of the service and circumstances are
such that we should be on short rations and
that not fit to eat. | would not grumble-it
is not soldierlike, as a good soldiers duty,
according to the opinion of the shoulder
strap gentry generally. is not to think. act
or speak for themselves, but to eat what is
given them, do what they are told ard ask
no questions. More Anon
j. w. BALLARD
Alexander H Stephens has applied for par
I'D in for Of