1 Bucks County Intelligencer,  From the Ringgold (104th) Regiment.  February 11, 1862  Page 2  Col. 3 1

 

LETTERS FROM OUR VOLUNTEERS.

From the Ringgold (104th) Regiment.

Correspondence of the Bucks County Intelligencer.

CARVER BARRACKS, WASHINGTON.

Saturday Evening, February 8, 1862.

Messrs. Editors :—I suppose there is a possibility that

you and your readers may become tired of the weekly re-

peated account of our doing nothing.  “You will have to

brave, however, this once more.  The blame must not be

laid at our doors, but at those of the often complained of

—and I must say I think now with some show of Justice

—“clerk of the weather.”  If that functionary does not

make a change in the management of his affairs down

here, we will have to run the risk of “ violating good or-

der and military discipline,” by petitioning for his dis-

charge.  This week foots up two morning drills and a

dress parade, and as fair a prospect for a rain to-mor-

row as any one need wish.  If our parade ground has

only half a chance, we would soon have a place to stretch

our legs, which are becoming cramped for want of it.  It

is first-rate when dry, but I defy the best-disposed ground

in the world, to get in good travelling order when raised

on every other day, and afflicted with two or three days inches

of snow on every two or three of the alternate days.  The

mud is just as one of you saw it last week, only a little

more so.  Teams now stall with empty wagons on Four-

teenth street, and to get through with anything like a

load is impossible.  We hear of Union victories in Ken-

tucky and Tennessee, but it will be some time before you

hear even of a Union movement here?  Our General can

beat the rebels, but he cannot conquer nature.

We have got our flag-staff up at last, and would have

had the flag flung to the breeze from it, with the neces-

sary ceremonies, but the weather and ground would not

permit.  It was to have done on Thursday morning,

but about the time it was to take place we were treated

to a curiosity in the shape of a rain.  As it is, our boys

amuse themselves climbing the pole and attempting to

put their cape on it, but very few succeed, as it is a diffi-

cult task, requiring skill in climbing and good wind. 

Most of those who attempt it are forced to give up as a

bad job.  A new source of amusement to our boys is the

Brigade Horse.  This functionary is located near the

guard-house, and consists of a long pole raised some four

or five feet from the ground on crotches.  On this horse

the other morning could have been seen some fourteen of

the boys, headed by a corporal of the 52d.  It seemed

fine fun, to them for a short time; but soon the novelty

wore off, and sitting bye the hour astride of this pole with

their feet a foot or two from the ground beame, rather

tiresome; and when accompanied by the speeches of

those looking on, who are in no way sparing of their re-

marks; is, I think a pretty effective mode of punishment. 

Justice to the 104th requires me to say that but five of

them have enlisted in the new-style cavalry.  The facili-

ties of getting out of camp to visit Washington are being

reduced, and I hope with benefit to the service.  What

men find to do in Washington so much I am at a loss to

conjecture.  I have been there once since we have been

here, and having gratified my curiosity am content.  I

believe only some half-dozen passes are given out in each

regiment of the Brigade daily-all others have to be coun-

tersigned by Gen. Casey.  The effect of this order must

be to very much diminish the number of officers and sol-

diers to be seen in the streets and grog shops of Washing-

ton.  Our Colonel deserves great credit for his efforts to

break up the grog shops in the neighborhood of our bar-

racks.  In this he has been ably seconded by the Colonels

of the several regiments of the Brigade, and scarcely a

day passes but a descent is made upon some house where

the liquid damnation is sold, and the contraband poured

into the street.  I am no teetotaler, and drink a little

whiskey once in a while; but if the D—I did ever invent

anything it must be what is sold about here under the

name of whiskey.  Only night before last it caused the

death of a member of the 87th New York.  This camp is

directly back of the camp of the 77th, who are on Four-

teenth street, between us and the city.  This man had

been down town and got drunk ; coming up he was hailed

by a guard of the 77th, and ordered to stop.  He gave no

attention; but passed on.  After hailing him, three times,

and he failing to halt, the guard fired, and the ball struck

him just above the hip; passing clear through him.  He

died this morning.

Several men have applied to be discharged from the

regiment on account of sickness and general debility. 

All such came to be examined on Monday, at Gen.

Casey’s office, and a number of them will, I doubt not, be

 on their way back to old Bucks county before long.  Some

of our officers and men are home on furloughs for a few

days.  No movement being purposed for some time, this

is no more than right.

I would like to make a visit home myself, but the trip

walks rather too far into a month’s pay to allow me to

treat myself to the luxury even could I get the chance

I hope to go home at the expense of Uncle Sam after the

rebellion is crushed out.  That this may be fast approach-

ing, ? the earnest prayer of                   A PRIVATE.