We left the "City of Bricks" on the 30th day of March, at 11 o'clock A.M., and no
Regiment ever stationed in Milwaukee left with the good wishes of so large a portion of its
inhabitants. Better treatment than we received at the hands of the citizens could not be asked for,
and we hope to be able to repay them tenfold. We were also well treated while passing through
Chicago. At the Illinois Central R. R. depot the men received each a nice cup of hot coffee which
put them in good humor, and at 6 o'clock that evening we took the cars for the land of Dixie. The
next morning found us at Champaign City, on the I [Illinois] C.[entral] R.[ail] R.[oad], where we
drew some rations, and then jogged along to Cairo, which place we reached about 3 A.M. of the
Ist of April. About 2 o'clock in the afternoon of that day we again embarked on board the ROB
ROY for down the river, and arrived at this place at 4 o'clock of the same day -- pitching our
tents, or rather ourselves, where we could.

The force encamped at Columbus consisted of the 25th, 31st, 34th (drafted) Wisconsin
Regiments, two companies of Cavalry, and some Regulars. The whole force was reviewed by
Generals THOMAS and ROGERS, from whom we received great praise for our good conduct
and appearance; Gen. THOMAS also remarked that we were the finest Wisconsin Regiment he
had yet seen, and it made us feel as if we had the feather.

On the morning of the 3d the long roll was beat, and the Regiment formed in line. It
would have done your soul good if you could have seen Capt. Jo., of Co. D, come along with
some of those lengthy strides of his, with blood tn his eye, and cheese-knife in hand, ready to deal
death in double portions to the rebels. Co.’s A and F went down the river to Hickman, 15 miles
below this place, to see what the rebels had done, as reports reached us that they had made an
assault on that place and taken some of our men prisoners. The alarm proved false: everything
was quiet. At noon Co.'s D and B took the cars on the Columbus Railroad, and went down to
Union City, six miles into Tennessee, but found no secesh, and returned without having
accomplished anything.

The country through which we passed while on that expedition looks well: we were
surprised to find peach, apple, and pear trees in blossom; and wheat, which is about six inches
high, looks good. I have no doubt that the people of Kentucky -- if the State was clear of Federal
troops -- would be as rampant as the inhabitants of the other Southern States for Disunion; but
the gunboats make them good Union men. The majority are tired of the war, but stick to their
faith as much as ever, and all claim that if it had not been for the nigger the war would not have
happened.

There are about five hundred contrabands here that are supported and clothed at the
expense of the government; they are offered opportunities to enlist, but do not seem anxious --
in fact, we find they prefer to lay around than to soldier it. Gen. THOMAS gave us instructions
to allow the nigger to pass through our lines and treat them kindly, and fight the secesh ourselves.
It goes down pretty hard, but we have to make the best of it.

A number of prisoners are stationed here, mostly guerillas, and a hard looking set they are;
they make sport of Northern soldiers -- say that they will never give up while a man remains, &c.
Some thirty, including a Captain, were taken near Hickman day before yesterday and sent up to
Columbus. In appearance they have no advantage over the others, and they bid defiance to all the
force we can bring ag'st them. We would get rid of a great trouble, if all the guerillas that were
caught could be hung as high as Haman. Lieut. BORLAND, of Co. A, with 18 men, went down

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