Year: 1863

FRIEND RIcH A few more miles
nearer the north pole than when l last
wrote you, and several hundred thousand
footsteps in the path towards glory, as
my aching feet could testify the night we
arrived here.


We are undergoing at present huge
amount of rest, it being in military pur-
lance absolutely requisite for the public
service" to recruit exhausted energies
and heal up chafed and blistcred feet in
Cured during our trip here. No great
march TO speak Of, however, some eighty
odd miles in six days, but the weather
my friend-the weather Talk of dog
days, the tropics, Of 90 in the shade, and
you mention something cool in compar-
son with the heat here, scarcely drop
ofrain for three months, and no clouds
but clouds of dust, through which the
sun glares pitiless and Implying for at
least two hours longer than in regions
farther south. | used TO read in my
younger days that the north had two
seasons, cold winter and short hot
summer, and the last clause is no lie, as
| can fully testify, barring the shorness
which is yet to be verified. How the
wind blows too, night and day without
intermission, first from one quarter of
the compass and then another; not a
cool refreshing breeze, but hot, dag.
ging sickly wind, which takes all the en-
ergies from man, and makes one think
of the simeon Of the desert. There is
one good thing however, the nights are
cool and refreshing, indeed | may say
chilly, for many morning you can see
groups huddled around the mess fires
shivering in their great-coa,s, who at
noon would be glad il the primitive cos
tune of The garden OF Eden were made
a part of military law and discipline.


But enough of that hackneyed subject
the weather, | want TO tell you something
about Camp Pope and the great Indian
Expedition. 1t is "big thing at least
in the eyes of Minnesotians, although
beside the army OF the Potomac, no
doabt il is small affair. Let us take a
little walk around camp. for ii is now
the cool of the evening, and although
dust predominates that is al least beara
BILE after the singing we have gone
through to-day.


We are now 90 miles from Fort Ridge
ly (not 40 as i mentioned IN my last let
ter and pleasantly located upon the sec
ond rise or plateau above the Minnesota
river, and the ground you see is level as
parlor floor. What beautiful site iol
town, with the river near by and plen-
ty Of timber on the farther shore, good
water obtained by sinking wells eight OIL
ten feet deep, a pretty little lake just be.
low. and the bluff rising gradually until
they reach the broad table land or prairie
above. And is ii not a town already
nay city with a population of 5000
souls, streets laid out with mathematical
precision, several stores-but there the
resemblance ends /; CANVASS houses in.
stead of frame or brick, the steady tramp
of soldiery instead of the ,hronging bus
tie of citizens, the quick peremp,ory
challenge OF the guard rs you approach
the lines. instead Of the cordial greeting
of acquaintances, and the stirring music
OF the fife and drum, and the blare o.
bugles mark the time instead Of church
bells striking the hours, and you know
that in an hours time this city can van
ish, and leave as little vestige of crea


ton. as the mounds and tumult of th'
desert do Of the buried cities of age