Utica Morning Herald and Daily Gazette

UTICA, N.Y., TUESDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 16, 1864

From the Army of the Potomac

CAMP OF THE 146^TH REGT. N.Y. VOLS

WARRENTON JUNCTION, FEB. 9

To the Editor of the Utica Morning Herald:

Permit me, through the columns of your paper, to express the feelings and sentiments of the men comprising this noble regiment.  We are not entirely destitute of friends at home, and thereby we gain some intelligence of what is going on in the world outside of us.  It is with feelings not very gratifying that we read the columns of the Oneida county papers and see the praise bestowed upon our sister regiments, while we of the 146^th receive none whatever.  It is now about sixteen months since we marched for the heat of war for the purpose of aiding in putting down this rebellion.  Since that time we have always been in front, and shared with the Army of the Potomac in all its heavy marches, battles and engagements, and all the experiences attending an army in an active campaign. It seems to us that the people of Oneida have forgotten that there ever was a regiment called the 5^th Oneida.  We have never, to my knowledge, received a box or donation of any kind from the people of Oneida county, but we have often seen in the papers that others have.  Those remaining of the regiment are in very good health, considering the season of the year.  The regiment is so altered from what it was that nobody would know it except by individuals.  The boys make a good appearance in Zouave uniforms, and they pride themselves that they are about equal to any regiment in the service.  Last spring our ranks were filled up to about 200 men from other regiments, viz: The 5^th New York-Duryea’s Zouaves- and the 17^th New York, but only about 30 of these men remain.  This fall we were reinforced by about 200 conscripts, but many of them were discharged immediately after joining us, from disability.  The regiment now numbers about 500 effective men, the rest being absent at Washington, in the Invalid Corps, or detained by sickness in hospitals.  Our old commander, Col. Kenner Girrard [sic], is now Major General in command of a cavalry division in Tennessee.  Col. David T. Jenkins, our late commander, is now in command of our brigade, and not of the 5^th corps., as I saw by the papers, and Lieut. Col. Armstrong, of Rome, commands the 146^th regiment at present.  He is liked very well.  In writing the above, I do not do so with the intention of hurting the feelings of any one but for the purpose of letting our friends know that we are yet in the land of the living, and we can say truly that we have been of some use in aiding to crush this rebellion.  We do not care for what is sent to other regiments in regard to donations, but we do wish to have a little of the praise that has been bestowed upon other regiments of Oneida county so lavishly.  We are now detached from the main army for the purpose of guarding the Orange and Alexandria Railroad against guerrillas.  Our duty is very hard, some of the men being on duty every day, and but little complaint is heard amongst the men.  The rest of the army is having it somewhat easier than we.  But when the word comes for forward again, we expect to go with them.  We have now become acclimated to Southern soil, and are capable of enduring much which we yet expect to meet before this rebellion closes.

I wish to call your attention to the manner in which our regiment is becoming officered.  There is but a very few of those left who came out with us, and in a great many cases their vacancies have been filled by men who have earned no reputation in the regiment.  Some have become officers from citizens, and hardly know the difference between a right face and a left face.  This is hardly right.  But I do not know who is to blame for it.

We are now in a pleasant camp, within a short distance of the railroad, and have quite a city built up around us with log huts covered with shelter tents.  We are drawing first-rate rations from government, and enjoying life as well as possible under the circumstances.  If it were possible to see our friends, I think we would be satisfied where we are.  Hoping by placing the above before the public it will show the people of Oneida that the 146^th is yet in the field, ready as ever to give battle for our country, I subscribe myself,

Your obedient servant,

GARRARD ZOUAVE,

or, 146^th N.Y. Volunteer