Year: 1861

| ~ ae oich ana NokAdeQ-Dhe AoOtc HedTt-


Cd C5ayrsssmaA


WASHINGTON, July %, 1861.


Congress is doing little of interest ex-
oept discussing The tax bill in the House,


which the Committee Of Ways and Means
themselves do not seem to understand, and
must evidently be entirely remOddeled. The
battle of Bulls Run has also been de-
seribed until your readers are sick Of hear
ing a name that only reminds them of de-
feat and disgrace, although returned SOL
diers will tell gaping listeners of their per-
sOnal prOWess, which, if not true, would
have been, provided they had been furnish
ed with officers fitted for their several po-
siiions or their States had shown by their
equipments and other proper attention that
they consider them men instead Of walking
machines. Very few officers have q
proper appreciation of their position in re-
gard to the men under their immediate
command; and here let me give you in
stances; The New England troops ell
come here provided with everything needed
to 90 Immediately into the feld-elothing
with baggage wagons, hOrFes, ambulsnces
for the wounded or sick, and medical stores.
The reputation of the New England troops
to-day shows that they appreciate these
provisions. There is scarcely an instance
where they did not come up promptly to
the work of sunday. The well appointed
New York regiments did the same, while
others ran. Pennsylvania we will not talk
about. One Of her regiments refused to
20 into the battle at all, and left on Satur-
day, because their time had expired. Your
Ohio Regiments showed by their action that
they were not time servers but were willing
TO do for their country, and are entitled to
much credit, though they were led like
sheep to the slaughter. Michigan did we'll
but should have done a great deal better.
| must however, in this connection refer
to Minnisota, whose men seemed to forget
the way in which they have been treated
by their State, and fought for the honor of
themselves, their families and their com
mon country. They all fought like men
determined to win the day or die on the
field. Their returns show that they lost
by killed and wounded more than any 9TH
er regiment, and they WouldnO retire until
they had positive order to run by Col.
HeintzlemaR in person. To the disgrace
Of their State these men went on 10 the
field Of battle in rags. Not one in twenty
had coats, and many without pantaloons.
had occasion to visit them for the purpose
Of finding q son Of an old friend, and
could hardly believe it possible that men
could be permitted to be left in their con-
dition. found intelligent men there who
had not clothing to cover their nskedness
Some Of them had not even drawers and
were obliged to tie their blankets about
their hips. Their officers we're giving them
no attention or seeming to care for them,
SO they themselves could lounge around
the hotels and saloons.


Their surgeons were both killed or cap
tured, and they we're lying about sick,
wounded, and all sore from over exertion,
so that they could scarcely move. Had it
not been for one Of their members Of Con-
gress, (COl. Aldrich,) do not know what
the poor fellows would have done. He
seemed to be their g Good Samaritan" and
was unremitting in his attentions to them,
furnishing them WITH little comforts at his
own expense, even to furnishing three or
four of the men with pantalOons to cover
their nakedness. was there two OF three
times, and saw and head what he was
doing. He sent them physician, went to
the Hospital to find places for sick and
wounded, and saw that ambulanees were
furnished for their removal l could not
but respond, Amenw when heard one
Of the boys say 10 another, God bless Col
Aldrieh p and wished in my heart there
were more men like him among our brave
soldiers. Distributing q box of franked
envelopes that Uncle Sam pays for, is ell
very we'll, or q long Senator walking
among them may be pleasing, but does not
fll the hungry stomach or heal the sick.
What must be said OF the Governor Of 8
State who will permit men to 60 into battle
in this condition, and how can We expect
them to sustain the honor Of their State.
He may say that the General Government
were 70 provide these things. This will
not excuse him. 1t is his business to see
that it is done. Other States have had
their agents, or the Governor himself, to
see and know whether their men we're in
want, and if so, provide for these wants.
Gov. Ramsey may be 8 very respectable
BcHbAomhAt anu pEODaD1y ~ Dus Al Ao
watches the general interests Of the State
as be has these brave men, can only say,
may God help the State OF Minnesota, for
their Governor will do little for them.
give the sbove, to contrast the conduct Of
different States, and to show that it involves
the comfort of troops and the reputation of
States among their sisters. Your State
has several regiments in the field, and viii
have more. do hope that you will insist
through the LEADER that the Ohio troops
shall be well appointed before leaving the
State, and that a wat9hful care shall be held
over them by your State authorities.