The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-09-16
HOW PRIVATE SOLDIERS FARE.


the months Of May and June, to see the grey.
backed rebel Johnnles coming In to take the
oath OF allegiance. As general thing they
had a healthy appearance. Their horses and
mules looked like they had been fed on shaw
ings and vinegar, but they have all disap-
peared like the things of the past. Every
| thing is going on straight so far as rebels are
| concerned. But there are still worse enemies
| of our country-namely, those gents who
wear the shoulder straps, or, as the boys
term them, "Sardines." They fare sumptu-
ously, having nothing to do and receiving
big pay. They are making good thing of
it, using their utmost endeavors to keep up a
| large force. Five weeks ago, when we ex
pected the force to be dismissed at this post,
three brigades of the I'd division of the 18th
army corps arrived here and filled up all the
| vacant barracks and then had to put up
| tents besides. This looks more like they
were preparing for another campaign than
mastering out the men. There is no dis
| turbances in this part Of the country, and no
likelihood of being any. The rebels are sat
lsfed to attend to their own affairs and let
ours alone for the future, The iniquitous
works of their own hands and heads are too
visible over their destitute country for them
ever 10 kick up again.
The force at this place on the LIST day of
August last was about 10000 men. At the
present time they number about 4. OOO.-
| There s great deal of discomfort in
the ranks. The men know that the war is
over and that their services ought not TO be
required any longer, as 1t is keeping them
selves In punishment ana adding To the al
ready enormous national debt which we will
have to pay. and we think we are as much
entitled TO get home TO our families and farms
at least as the Arkansas Federal soldiers,
L H.
60 home TO theirs. Ii this is law know it
is not Justice Dur duty is pretty heavy
Every single day, we have TO go on guard of
various kinds, viz camp guard, city prison,
post and patrol guard, keeping refugee camp,
brigade horses and mules, guarding citizens
orchards and roasting ear patches, and grocery
saloons, most of which could be dispensed
with Most of this duty is to keep up style,
and the instructions at most of the posts
10 salute the officers according to rank. No
wonder the officers are DESTROYS 10 be kept in
service. If most Of them were mustered Gus
and sent home they would be too proud to
beg and too lazy to work. These are the
gentlemen who patronize the prostitutes of
this place and in cases of disturbances, place
guards around their h-ish dens.
We have about 800 men in the 18th regi-
ment, from 90 to 50 on the sick list. Their
treatment is worse than none. \ good many
die of disease contracted in camp and are left
to die in their quarters, without proper treat
meat, care OF attention. The sickly season
Is now upon Us and we have been mo ed to
another camp, close TO the general hospital.
and the road lea ling TO the graveyard,
where rest the bodies OF over 3 600 Union
soldiera. So you ses it Is making things
handy.
Company F. lS5h III. Regt.. had L very
solemn burial procession some days since
On looking out of my quarters, / espIed Il
burial procession consisting of eight men, In
charge of u corporal, with their guns at re-
serve arms also two men on the rear bear
ing litter, ana four pail bearers all with
black Grape tied around their arms and ap-
parently feeling sorry, from the SLOW gait of
the procession. ! thought | would 90 and
see what was up. and they were ut the
officers headquarters | caught up with the
crowd which had got pretty large by this
time. and was struck with Amusement as ]
discovered that instead of dead body, it
their ten days rariOns Of meat which was !
rotten it became offensive and they con |
cuded to bury II, knowing that the dogs |
could not approach 1t on account of its obi |
Gus smell. After arriving at the place pre- I
pared for receiving the purified carcass, they |
halted, formed line, in the usual way of huri |
al escorts, and after firing II salute of six |
guns, tNey ule ptFttu ne hDOVe are the klDQ /
of ratiOns we have been receiving from the |
commissary's department for at least one
third of our time. Tho men cut up about it |
considerable, but all does not avail anything.
1t lie a money making game and their days
are numbered. They want to make good
their time, no matter who becomes the suf-
ferer thereby.
The quartermaster's department furnishes
plenty of clothing. We were obliged to
draw dress coats and regulation hats, paying
a high price for them. The most of the boys
have get clothing amounting to $50, and
when discharged it will take most of their
pay TO settle up. Shoes were needed very
much. but we could not get them A great
many have been going baretooted for some
time past.
The Arkansas river was out of its banks
in the valley above this place and the couse-
quences were that huge trees aud logs came
floating down aud tore away the poutoon
bridge at this place. carrying with it several
men distance of &c miles, leaving them to
foot it back. | guess they thought they
were going to Kingdom come" among the
dog nettles.
After getting fixed up at these quarters,
we arranged our hunks, calculating to have
a good nights rest after the fatigues of the
day. But to our astonishment we heard
something that resembled the war song com
ing from the Cher okee Nation, at 9 o'clock
r NJ, our quarters being totally surrounded
by these deadly enemies. Our men being
largely In the minority, had hard time in
driving them back but after severe bayo-
net charge succeeded in repulsng them, but
shis was only for short time, for in a few {
minutes they came back with reinforce
ment and made an attaak which lasted un. !
Ill daylight, and have no doubt these sava-
,es will continue to attack Us as long as she