Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-08-19
Some Letters of War lime.

~ u me Ht4Alu N4SSOuSlH Infantry
was Charles D. Waldo who enlisted
from West Bend September II, 1861
He served just three years to day,
when he was honorably discharged,
having risen from the rank of private
to that of first sergeant of his COM
pany. He was before enlisted, one OF
the editors of the West Bend Post, a
paper that has since then suspended
publication.
After coming to Camp Randall
with his company he began to send let-
tiers to the Post so that the West
Blenders might know how their boys in
Company D were getting along, ana
what service the company and regi-
ment were giving their country.
These letters 30 of them written at
different times during Comrade Wal
dos three years OF service,-also some
letters written by others of the com
pany-have been hidden away in the
old files of the paper from A to AZ
years. Lately the publishers of the
West Bend News have discovered
them, and they are publishing them
One letter appears in every Issue OF
the paper and they are now very in
teresting reading. They tell about the
war and camp life just as the soldier
in the ranks saw it day by day; and
then Charlie" was a good writer.
He knew what was interesting and be
had direct way of telling things.
The editor says that the finding OF
these old letters is like the discovery
of valuable vein of ore. He seems
to realize the worth of such a source
OF history.
In CCmrade Waldos fifth letter he
puts down some facts a State Journal
reporter had compiled from the de.
scriptive book of the 18th regiment, as
follows:
The whole number Of men is 1,040.
OF wnom II or Is were in the LIST regi.
ment three months. The average age
is % years.
The average height of the men is 5
feet S15 inches. In the companies ana
the band there are 100 men feet tall
and upwards, the tallest being feet
8 inches, the shortest 4 feet. The to-
tai height is rs miles
The average weight is 1891
pounds. Eleven weigh 200 pounds or
more. The heaviest man weighs 21S,
the highest 90. The total weight is
so tons. This regiment, like all others
has gained in weight since coming to
camp. One company was weighed
few days ago, and it was found that
every man had gained, no one less
than pounds. 1t would be safe 10
put the present average weight at 100
pounds. This speaks well for the com,
missary department
Birthplace.
"Of those whose birth place is 'o-
corded, we find that 252 were born in
New York, Is in Ohio, 80 in Pennsyl-
vania, As in England, 40 in Wisconsin,
40 in Norway, 40 in Vermont, 81 in
Canada, SO in Maine, IS in Germany,
80 in Ireland, % in Illinois, II in
Massachusetts, IA in Indiana, IL in
Connecticut, II in Michigan, 10 in
Prussia, 8 in Wales, 9 in New Jersey,
8 in New Hampshire, z in Kentucky,
in Sweden, 5 in Scotland, in F1r-
ginia, in Prince Edwards Island; 3
each in Missouri, Iowa, Switzerland,
New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Den
mark; 2 each in Maryland, Saxony and
Belgium; and one each in Tennessee,
ALBANIA, Delaware, North Carolina,
Isle of Man, British America, Hungary,
Brussels and France. 1t also appears
that one was born lin bed"
Occupants.
There are 551 farmers, So lumber.
men 81 laborers, 81 carpenters, -
blacksmiths. u clercks, 10 sawyers, 8
printers; each of teachers, millers
and coopers; 7 each Of lawyers, shoe
makers and riyermen; each OF sal.
lors, painters and miners; each Of
engineers, machinists and gunsmiths;
4 each of millwrights, masons and inn
keepers; 3 each of mechanics, hunters.
wagon makers and editors; 2 clergy
men; each of book keepers, physi-
clans, tin and copper smiths, saw FL
ers, students, showmen, rovers, single
weavers, brick makers, harness max
ers. bakers and rattsmen; / each Of
fisherman, Accountants, farrier, tailor,
plasterer, banker, wheelwright, saver
OF stone, confectioner, collier, furnace
worker. caulker, pilot, clothier, grocer,
distiller, tobacconist, photographer.
ship carpenter, butcher, mail carrier,
veterinary surgeon, musician, pow
grinder, wood chopper and char
maker"
] have been looking over the Journal
from which Comrade Waldo took tho
above statistics. / find there the aver
age weight and height of the men in
the different companies, which / viii
put down.
Company Weight Height
A Isl ID. #. IL in.
B 152 ID. # 10lain
c $50 ID. 5ft. 5 in.
d 1924 ID. ; IT, sAin.
z 154 10. 5 # 9 in
F 155 b. ) # SIz in.
G 155 ID. II. s in.
z 154s. ID. #. SIS in