Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1865-08-02
From the S5th Rs@im mt.
Camp a5ts Eeg't. Wis VI

tltAthNf LIE, ICAttS jury lftl, $500.
Ma Bliss: Having a little leasuro !
Thought proper to make use Of it in writ
ing to you to let you know where we are,
how we get along, what the prospects are,
&c
Ne left Mobile, Ala, June lst, and
after q tedious journey Of eight days on
| the Gulf Of Mexico, cast anchor out side
the bar at Brazos Santiago Texas;
after considerable delay and perplcxities
We succeeded in discmbarking, to the
great Joy All concerned here we went into
camp and remained some fifteen days
suffering from a great many disadvanta-
1c8 and inconycnicncics for want
of wood and water rs there is not ono
drop Of water here only what is distilled
from the brincy water from the Gulf and
the conyeniences Tor distilling are limited
the machinery being only Of capacity
capable Of diytilling for three thousand
drops, running day and night at that, the
consequences was that we were limited to
one gallon Of w ter to each man per day
and fiulIiy as moro drops arrived the nj
lowancc was reduced to one quart per
dav Under the circum stances it became
necessary for us to hunt water or starvc
50 wc pulled up stakes and marched
across TO the Rio Grand river, about eight
miles, and cncampcl Immediately on tho
bank Of the river, directly opposite Bag
dad, In Mexico, where VIC now arc. Well,
the tth Of July At last came and it was
| thought hest to not let it pass by without
4 celebration; so at about II o'clock all
the white troops (six rcgimcntS) ut this
place assembled on the extreme soGth-
west corner Of Texas, about one hundred
| feet from tho Gulf Of Mexico, and not
/ more than three hundred feet from the
/ Rio Graude river, each regiment forming
/ close column by division. our first division
RICH. in front; stacked arms and pros
ccc1cI with the services in the following
order Tst music by the band, Hail
Columbia AMI the Star Spang7cf Banner:
II Prayer by the chaplain Of 29th Iowa
regiment music hy tho band-tunc Old
Hundred, 81 reading Of the declaration
Of Independence; music-Bonie Blue
Flag 18th, Grafton by the chaplain; music
Com Of the Ocean; 9TH. speech by
Brig Gen Cole, L. :. CoIored infantry
short, comical and full of mirth music
Yankee Doodle; 9th, speech by Brig Gen
Slack post commandments and to the
point, and very patriotic; called our attcn-
- -. q, Al
now yictoriously waved over the land from |
the river st Lawrence on the north to the |
Gulf of Mexico on the south from the
Atlantic on the east to the Rio Grande in |
the west; and finally wound up w highly |
compIcmenting US for our kind attention,
good behavior, &c-, music by the band |
rally round the flag, boys, and Lincoln
Gunboats; 18th, bencdiction by the chaps |
lain. When we were all marched back |
70 our respective camps to sumptuons |
rcpast gotten up by means of each man
furnishing his own hard tack and coffee /
and his own cooking. Taking every con-
sideration all seemed to be we'll pleased |
and satisfied with the celebration.
There is great deal Of speculation here |
rs u the reason for concentrating so |
many troops at this point no one seems |
able to solve the question. There are |
under command Of Gen. Steel SIX thou
sand white troops, the whole OF the 10Th |
Corps Do Antique Gen. Witzels, esti-
mated at one hundred and twenty five +
thousand But am willing to aeknow- /
LEDGE that those who have n right to send /
the troops here nave also the right to
know for what purpose they arc sent, and
it is nos exactly as could wish
it, am fally satisfied to avoid develop
mcnt; it Is probably not always best for
every body 70 know everything
| hay~ no doubt but there is great
Teal of wondering ~ some of the loved
mes at home (who have friends in the
;5sl) as 10 how soon they shall see them
Il lolue 10 such l would say. Le sJiA j
s. ), i. ..os So yolE lr.o-4@ sooner t...-1