Opening of the Mississippi, or, Two years campaigning in the South-west : a record of the campaigns, sieges, actions and marches in which the 8th Wisconsin Volunteers have participated : together with correspondence / by a non-commissioned officer

              TWO YEARS' CAMPAIGNING IN THB SOUTHWEST. 97
otio and are half inclined to enlist in the service of their country. But the acounts in the papers picture too much horror and destitution for their feeble nerves to withstand for the amount of pay, and they re-resolve to remain at home under their mother's apron strings, or lounge about the streets of their favorite town, rather than hazard their precious lives on the battle field. Old women get nervous over their knitting and accumulate a vast amount of Macaboy while scanning through their spectacles the latest war dispatches, and wonder why the poor soldier should be compelled to " suffer so much," All of which annoyance at home in caused by these sen- . sation articles written by " special correspondents !" For this reason alone, I have been prone to discontinue until this late hour. So many conflicting accounts, even of our battle before Corinth, have been given, t'would puzzle the brain of the clearest headed m;in or woman to form any accurate idea of the facts, and as a truthful writer states, " these reports were mostly coined in our rear." They were not all "eye witnesses of the fight," as some of these letters were known to have been written the day previous! to the fight, and pictured as best to suit the anxious multitude at home—exciting, and eloquent in their tenor and worthy of a better cause than thus deluding the nervous and superstitious ones at home.
These writers all seem to be rivals, and each one is anxious to send in his report in advance of the other, whether they savor of truth it matters not, so long as they get well paid for it—it leaves room for more controversy through the columns of each of their favorite journals, thereby adding new lustre to their already distinguished cognomens. These hirelings of the press, who have been prowling through the army, are desirous of making an im¬ perishable reputation, (I think they are accomplishing it.) Soldiers keep a close watch of your ration—the enemy are still among us ! "We Journalists" are the men of tlie age! happy are we in the belief that we are ' pum somkins !' in the estimation of the reading classes on this continent. AVe will administer to our comfort, and add new laurels to our renown."
Old women, resume your knitting—politicians your wire-pulling—loungers your daily avocations, and ardent "luvyers," who have "heart sweets" in the army, do not let these airy sensation articles deceive you, but trust in an Over-ruling Providence, that he, in whom your dearest affections are centred, is doing his duty to his country, and will some day return to you bearing laurels, when you can seat youfrself by his side, and listen as he relates to you his adventures and exploits in search of the elephant, that these "special correspondents" have never yet had an opportunity of see¬ ing. B'uture historians will, I apprehend, be somewhat puzzled when they come to write a history of this rebellion.
So many changes have been made iu the reorganization of this army, and the location of our troops, that 1 have neglected to keep the run of matters. The life of a soldier in the field is so monotous, that days of the week, dates of the month, and even the year, are nearly forgotten. Since our chaplain left, (who is home on a furlough,) our Sundays too have disappeared, and were it not for the newspapers that come teeming into our camps daily by the wagon loads, at ten cents each, and the letters we receive from home occasionally, we would be entirely in a state of nonentity!
I believe my last was written at Farmington a few days previous to the evacuation of Corinth. In that letter, I believe I prophesied that we would soon publish to the world the "Third Epistle to the Corinthians." In this I was mistaken, and so was the boy that stuck his finger in the fire. I had good reason for believing, and it was the prevailing opinion of the military generals, that there would be fought the most terrible battle this continent had ever known. Though I presume, before I had prophesied so wrongfully, I ought to have paid Mr. Beauregard a visit and ascertained what ideas he