Year: 1862

Of not being able to carry it in their KNAPP
sacks with the other necessary traps the
boys were obliged to part with it at sac
riice and cncasc themselves in a rigging
which is at present ragged and threadbare.
A deduction Of $l4,25 from their regular
pay, under such circumstances makes the
boys growl at what they deem injustice,
and have protested against it to the head
of the department. Every one up your
way knows to whom the welfare of regl.
ment is intrusted, and when these individ
uals fail to avail themselves Of proper food
and clothing for the troops over which they
preside, which the government so amply
provides is nothing more nor less than vii.
lainous swindling. There is something
rotten in Denmark" and moreover the am
brosia thereof is visible to the naked eye
very strong!


Since coming out here we have been
drawing cracker rations Of the most villain
Gus kind, and so black, tough and repulsive
were they that it required a most cxtraor-
dnary love of country and still more extra
ordinary molars to go them at all, yet worse
than the other beautiful qualities they woe
sometimes come to US highly crusted with
green mould, and it was upon the receipt
Of batch Of this latter kind that spirit
Of rcverential indignation siezed hold of the
boys, who resolved to make demonstration
and give the quartermaster a gentle hint
that they were not bretd to such kind of
hard truck. 4 plan was not long in reach
ing maturity, and it was pronounced that
John Hardbread had dicd-a clear case Of
mortality green mould on the face of it
inccntinently pegged out-"cut of in the
-four, &C." and so completely gone up was
| he that it was deemed but charitable to per.
form the last sad office to the remains and
give them decent burial. Accordingly
the deocascd was placed in a rude coffin
covered with black pail, and funeral
procession improvised in good order First
came the martial band with muffled drums
beating the solemn dead march: then came
the defunct borne upon bier Of muskcts
by four pail bearers wearing white mourn.
ing havelocks, and headed by the chaplain
doc. Pike,--grave joker) carrying in his
hand copy of Webster's dictionary, una
bridged, after which was the mourning
colors carried by a detected private wrapped
in grief and a black blanket and wearing
on his head an inverted black, oil skin hav.
ersack, and supported by two attendants
similarly attired; then followed all the
mourners with reversed muskets and hag.
gard features-distorted by the gnaacings
Of anguish. A grave had been prepared
near head quarters whittier the procession
moved silently and soberly, and sadly here
it came to a halt and the deceased was con
signed to the earth. Touching and appro.
pirate words were said, and three volleys
fired over the grave, then with full heart
and sad eye the procession retired from the
spot with the band playing the pathetic re.
QUEEN of ''root hog or die" A headstonc
with an appropriate cptaph was reared a,
the head Of the grave and everything cor
Quoted in the most approved style. Poo,
Johnny! you died hard and allow me tc
observe h re, that from the mould which
now covers thee may there spring grass as
green as the mould which was wont to give
lustre tc thy venerable phiz.


Col. Williams court martial is not ter
minated yet, and still leaves our regiment
without Colonel. Capt. Sladden is sick
at St. Louis and has not been able to b.
with our company for many weeks. Lieut.
Lcffingweil is at Benton Barracks as wit
J ness on court martial with Lieut. Shredder
also; the latter is unwell though not in SC
critical condition as reported. Tell the
folks to direct letters to ST. Louis omittins
Benton Barracks" Company G are en-
Ijoying good health, and also anxious to Gel
out of the wilderness, and none more Sc
than Yours, high-privatcly,


! ..... r.... DICK.