Weekly Gazette
Elgin, Illinois
December 18, 1861

From the Thirty-Sixth Regiment

Headquarters 36th U.S.V.

Rolla, Dec. 11th, 1861

DEAR SIR:- As it has been some time since I have seen anything direct from the 36th in the columns of the "gazette" I tho't having some spare time this morning, I would indite a few lines relative to our condition at the present time, and pour prospects for the future. Although stern winters up on us, yet we are living in tents suffering with cold. To be sure the weather is somewhat milder than with you in a more northern clime, yet we fancy there has been weather here, in which barracks or buildings of some kind, would be far more than these small, airy tents. I the same orders were sent to this relative to building barracks and time they were to the Iowa 4th, who are encamped next to us; yet they have been for some weeks, whilst nothing has been done towards providing us winter quarters; consequently the boys have to go cold unless they purchase their own stoves, which most in our company have done paying from ten to twenty dollars for the smallest sized cook stoves; and of course should we have here soon, they must lose them or sell them for a mere son, as they cannot get them transported. But the probability that we shall remain here for a month to come, if not longer, as there is a court martial in session which concerns some of our officers and undoubtedly it will take a month or perhaps two to settle it. We have thus far been highly blessed by Him who holds our lives in His hands , as only four or five in our regiment have been called to that bourne from whence no traveler returns; yet the number of the sick is daily increasing owing to our exposed condition. Many are having the measles-indeed it has passed pretty extensively through camp-others are suffering with fever, and nearly all have had colds and such coughing as constantly greets our ears is perfectly awful. But the hand our Master seems to be heavily laid upon the 4th Iowa, for they bear some one to the silent lamb every day; indeed as I am writing, I hear the solemn music of the band playing the funeral dirge of some poor "soldier boy" who never again can ---- ----- with his presence. How song poor another's heart must bleed when shelter that her son; perhaps her only son, is gone and that he died in a strange land away from home and all its endearments, where he could not close his eyes or stand by to receive his last word. Last Sunday seven --- in the post hospital, and nearly every day four or five are carried to the tomb of the silent dead from their. None but He "who Knoweth all thing" can tell the amount of suffering this war is causing.

Keyes got back all right and brought back numberless little bundles and ----- to the "boys" which caused us joy, inasmuch as it showed we still held a place in the ;memory of friends there. A few days after his arrival we welcomed Lieut. Chapman, of Company B, cavalry, and he too, was loaded with bundles and letters to us, and had, of course, numberless questions to answer. The boys in his company are doing good service as they are engaged in something a good share of the time. Last Sunday night ferry of the dismantled by Lieut. Durand were called out about nine o'clock and attended by a guide who had been taken prisoner the day before, and whom they obliged to show them they succeeded in catching six notorious "Secesh" who had been marauding and plundering successfully for some time and only the day before had chased and driven in our pickets.-- they rode all night and brought them in early in the morning. They (the prisoners) were well armed and rode splendid horses and were very intellectual men. Quite a laughable incident offered in which Lieut, Durand, being a very tender hearted man, came very near losing one of the men. It was in this way: The first home he went to for one of them, the woman was very sick and begged so hard to have her husband left that he nearly consented to her persuasion; but upon going to the next and finding the same game played and so on the third, he "smelt a rat" and took them all, and found the women got well so exceeding quick that they could follow him to the door, heaping all manner of abuse upon his head.

Capt. smith still reports himself as commander of this company and will not resign, although he has received a petition signed by all the company requesting him to do so. But he knows if he does so he can never hold another commission, so he is waiting to get a transfer to some other regiment, when he finds a place to please him. But it keeps the company in a perfect stew, as they want to know who to look to as captain-at present Lieutenants Chapman and Durand command them and are unanimously liked by the boys of the company.

In company with Lieut. Durand and several others, I visit a large cave which is some five miles from here. It is a splendid sight and at its opening quite large. We drove our horses in some eight or ten rods, then had to dismount and light candles, and cautiously following each other single file, we preceded in this was into the bowels of the earth somewhat near an half a mile. I have heard and read of caves, but nerver formed and adequate idea of one. Wildest standing gazing at its beauties, I was lost in wonder and surprise. If I had descriptive powers of some of the wise sages of like to describe its beauties; but for a person possessed of as few traits as your humble servant, it is impossible to do it justice. Suffice it to say that none can realize without seeing it.

We ----ad one slight fall of snow, yet it all disappeared the next day after its advent beneath the warm rays of the sun. For the past week, until to-day, it has been glorious weather, warm and springlike-but to day makes us gather closely around the stove.

We are now blessed with the receipt of a mail every day, and you may be assured value it highly.

Ed and Major, with their wives, are very comfortably situated, and enjoy camp life very well, Capt. Baldwin is also improving in health every day. Our Elgin boys are all well, and having got a stove, feel perfectly reconciled to anything, but seeing the large list of marriages published weekly in the Gazette, are beginning to think that the young ladies are all going to marry before their return, yet we think, now that we have got pretty well accustomed to being without them, we might even be reconciled to that.

The "Gazette"is very popular and anxiously looked for, as it contains news from home and friends.

Excuse haste, and next time I hope to give further particulars as regards our future.

Yours, Anon