Year: 1863

GER OF THE THIRD MIN. =
ned I 81 NESOTA. III o.3l sfli r.,


We are permitted to make the following ex-
tracts from private letter of a field officer of
the Third Minnesota, dated fre.. III.
E HEADQUARTERS THIRD MINNESOTA Vols, }
OAK RDGE, NEAR BIG BLACK BRIDGE,
MISSISSIPPI, July 13, 1868.
1 know you will be glad to hear any
facts about the present condition of the
Third Regiment. It is five weeks to-day
since we arrived in the vicinity of Vicks-
burg. For about week we camped at
Haines' Bluff; then, with the division we
were in, we moved to Snyders Bluff,
which brought us within two or three
hours march of Vicksburg, and there re-
mained till week ago yesterday, when
we were ordered to march out here. We
have been very busy in fatigue duty, dig
ging rifle pits and falling trees, and also in
picket duty. In spite of the noxious air
of the Yazoo-within half mile Of which
we were encamped for month--and the
hot weather, the men are generally in
vigorous health. am grateful to be able
to say that we have not buried man since
we came down. There have been few
cases of ague, but none very serious. The
men have been soldiers long enough to be
careful and temperate in their diet. Pa,-
ticular attention is paid to the cooking;
and what also promotes the health of the
regiment is the fidelity of our surgeons.
Blackberries have been abundant ever
since we have been down here, and during
the past two weeks there has been a
plenty of green corn.


The regiment is now Oh outpost duty.
We have with us two pieces of artillery,
and are nine miles from any of our other
forces, being about a, much detached as
we were one year ago this day when visit
ed by Gen. Forest.


We came down the Mississippi anxious
for chance at the enemy, but fortune
has not yet favored us in this respect.
This is a hilly region, tolerably we'll set
tied with hard working farmers. The sur
face is half covered with hardwood timber.
Nearly all the titled land is planted with
corn. | see no other grain growing. The
people complain of extreme trespasses
committed on their property by or army.
l suppose the horses have about all been
taken; and some families have had their
provisions taken to such an extent as to
ell bo
for their daily substance In ali cases
when provisions are needed the Generals
in command order them issued to the citi-
zens. am sure the responsible military
authorities do not allow damage to be done
to private property or citizens by soldiers.
There are yet good many cattle in the
neighborhood.


For few days past paroled prisoners
from Vicksburg have been struggling along
in small or large parties to their homes.
They are dressed in light colored cotton
clothes, and every one seems to be loaded
down with heavy knapsack and haver-
sack; the latter having been filled by
Uncle Sam. They frequently stop and
converse with our men, who of course
treat them with kind civility, sometimes
offering them coffee or refreshments
The most OF them denounce Gen. Penn
berton; and yet they admit having been
reduced to eating mule meat. The most
of them look robust and hearty, and some
| openly avow their loyalty to the Union.
All say they have been finely treated by
our army since their capture.


Immediately on the fall of Vicksburg
our troops began to move-a large part of
| them at least, after Johnston. There was
skirmishing some days ago on the Big
Black, and yesterday morning quite a bat
| tie at or near jackson. From all we can
learn, Johnston has large army, proba-
| bly, 10000 men.


Last evening we had most cheering
news from the army of the Potomac. We
| hope it may prove true that Lees army is
put to route. The Mississippi open, the
| rebel armies routed and the south as much
exhausted by the conscription as France
was after the wars OF Napoleon, we may
begin to look with confidence for the ear
ly suppression OF the rebellion. Now is
the time to begin to do our best which the
North never yet has done. Certainly it
has not relatively made tenth part ofthe
exertion, nor tenth part of the sacrifice
which the South has made. Yet the peo-
pie ever loyal and patriotic, have nobly
responded to all the demands which have
been made on them. In spite of a little
clamor here and there, and a disloyal ut
terance now an'; then, the g; eat heart of
the great and populous North is true and
sound, and will never even contemplate
the infamy OF submitting to the dislnem-
b:rment OF their country and the subver-
sion of popular government


The most complete confidence is repos
ed by all the army in Gen. Grant Like
the best Generals who have tourished, he
is willing to risk something. What we
want now is moderation and justice in
civil counsels, and the most intense activi-
ty in the field. A.


LETTER FROM VlCkSBURG.
!