In a list of distinguished Pennsylvanians in the army stationed at South Carolina, recommended by Gen. Brannan for promotion, for gallantry displayed in the late Pocotaligo battle, the first name is that of Lieutenant Colonel George W. Alexander, 47th Regiment Pa. Volunteers. Col. Alexander hails from this city. He has been in the war from the start, and proved a brave and gallant soldier in every position in which he was placed.
From a letter in the Daily Times, we learn that Capt. Diehl is now acting Major of the 50th Regiment. P.V., and will be Major in a short time. Henry A. Lantz is in command of Company E. Lieut. William Herbst, of Company E, has resigned and left for Leesport. Orderly Sergeant Richard Herbert has been promoted to Second Lieutenant of Company E. Company E has 50 men left for duty. The Regiment has 300 men fit for duty, showing that it has passed through some sever and trying scenes. Col. Christ is in command of the 2nd Brigade 1st Division of the 9th Army Corps, and Lieut. Col. Brenholtz is in command of the 50th.
Orderly Sergeant, now Lieutenant, Henry Hyneman is in command of Company B (Capt. Herman's). Orderly Sergeant, now Lieutenant, Henry Kendall is in command of Company H (late Capt. Parker's).
Capt. W.F. Walter, of Company H, (the "Lauer Infantry" of Reading) 104th Regiment P.V. has been compelled to tender his resignation, and is honorably discharged from the service on a Surgeon's certificate of physical disability, produced by a contused wound received at Fair Oaks.
Lieut. A.D. Bechtel, of the 7th Pa. Cavalry, arrived in this city on Saturday last. He has been compelled to resign on account of ill health.
Lieut. Col. Richards M'Michael, late of the Army of the Potomac, arrived home in the forepart of the week, very much prostrated by illness, occasioned by severe duty and exposure. Col. M'Michael has been in the Army since the outbreak of the war, and has acted the part of a brave and gallant officer throughout.
Persons sending letters to their friends in the army often wonder why it is that they are miscarried. This is generally owing to the fact that they are over-directed, which serves rather to confuse than make plain. All that is needed to be inscribed upon the letter is the name of the person for whom it is intended, the Regiment and the Company to which he belongs, thus:
"Private John Smith
Co. E, 128th Regt. P.V.
Washington, D.C."
Never state the Brigade and Division, as there are constant changes going on in the various commands. The Post Office authorities at Washington are always aware of the location of the Regiments, and therefore it is superfluous to name more than the Company and Regiment.
Headquarters Co. C, 93rd Regt. P.V., November 21st, 1862
Dear Journal: Our Regiment is now lying about eight miles from Acquia Creek Landing in Stafford county, Va. Since our encampment in this place, the weather has changed, and, instead of the mild genial sunshine which has characterized the past week's experience, we now have nothing by rain and cloud. The prospective horizon, also, prefigured by late events, looms up before us as a gloomy reality of sufferance, and, in mute reconciliation, we have only the privilege of looking forward to some epoch in the Future when circumstance will usurp the depressing empire of gloom which now enthralls the once happy 93rd.
In adversity, when the tumultuous emotions of the soul are almost smothered by sorrow, and Hope's faint flicker is lost in gloom and darkness, is exemplified the true manliness of a soldier. 'Tis not only on the battle field—when Death's winged arrows are darkening the air with destruction that real nobility of character is exhibited; but, also in the uncomplaining endurance of those little privations which annoy and too often vanquish the faint hearted. Where is there a more exalting triumph than to overcome the pain of these small troubles without murmur? It is certainly a glorious victory in the great "battle of life: yet few can succeed in its successful accomplishment. To be able to banish fear, discontent, and all the other evil demons that haunt the imagination is a Herculean task, and he upon whose brow rests the laurel, should receive his full meed of praise and admiration.
The forthcoming campaign will be prolific in opportunity for undergoing these trials, and we are assured that those who are blessed with health and moral stamina enough to weather them through, will like the coin that is brightened by hard usage, reflect the greater luster for the ordeals to which they have been subjected.
Our Regiment is greatly depleted in numbers by the effects of "General Orders No. 92" enforced by Brig. Gen. Howe--requiring all soldiers who have been absent sixty days, to be stricken from the rolls. This necessity is to be regretted, as it robs us of men who, while here, were good soldiers, but whose absence is made compulsory fy effects of wounds and sickness. They have the alternative left, however, of returning and being re-mustered--a procedure which guaranties them the same immunities as though they had never been stricken out. In order, therefore, to fix matters, Lieut. Yeakel, and Sergeants Rise and Pyle, were dispatched to Harrisburg to secure a sufficient number of men from the militia to fill up this vacancy. Our hopes, however, were dissipated by the news that the drafted men were unwilling to join the old Regiments, and our recruiting officers were, as a consequence, obliged to return without bringing with them any fruit of their labors. Lieut. Yeakel, by the way, on being interrogated as to the number of men he had recruited, jocularly said:
"We are coming, Father Abraham, three hundred thousand more."
The Lieutenant speaks in glowing terms of a flying tip he made to Berks. This evening he edified his fellow officers-- with a recital of his adventures--producing much merriment and pleasure to his auditors. There is a vein of originality about our friend Yeakel that never fails to secure him the respectful audience of all with whom he may come in contact. We say: "Long may he wave!"
The recent heavy rains in this vicinity have so swollen the little rivulets that they begin to assume the appearance and dimensions of large creeks. One of the streams flows immediately in the roar of the staff officers' tents, and even while here writing, (in Lieut. Col. Arthur's tent) we can distinctly hear the gurgling torrent, as it sweeps along, heedless, even, of its own strength, and the strange sensation which its music produces.
Incidents are a scarce article in camp, or we should not fail to close this letter without giving them a passing notice; yet one event which will have a weighty influence upon the well-being of the 93rd, we cannot forbear mentioning. This is the sorrow we have in parting with our esteemed friend, Lieut. Col. Arthur. The debility produced by the hardships of the campaign, have quite unfitted him for any further duty. He has nobly stood by us, and it is only from sheer necessity that he now leaves us. Long has he lingered in obstinate resistance to disease, but the frailty of human nature has at last succumbed and he now purposes returning home to private life once more. The "boys" of Co. B, in appreciation of his merit and the faithfulness of their old Captain, have presented him with a beautiful sword. Such a testimonial needs no comment. It speaks for itself, and exhibits to the world the fitting reward that worth never fails to evoke. We bespeak for our friend a host of friends wherever he may go, and humbly trust that at home, enjoying its pleasures and comforts—he will not forget the pleasant associations that have existed between him and R.G.R.
Submitted by Nancy.
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