A soldier writing home from Fort Slocum, near Washington, gave the following anecdotes of life in camp: While in Florida we had an Irishman named Murphy, who was very much afflicted with the prevalent camp malady known as “Spring Fever.” In order to escape duty, he reported himself to his Orderly Sergeant as sick, and in due time was taken to the doctor. Being asked the nature of his disease, he complained of a very heavy lightness in the head. “Why,” replied the doctor, “that is a paradox;” and giving him a light dose of “ipecac,” he returned him to duty. Mick left the tent in high dudgeon, exclaiming, “The devil take a doctor who will put a man on duty with a paradox in his head.”

Another fellow, by the name of G____, tried to play the “old soldier” on the same doctor, and also got a dose of “ipecac.” He did not get far from the tent before he began to “heave Jonah.” Cursing the doctor, he went back and said he wanted some other medicine, as the first did not stay on his stomach. The doctor gave him another dose of the same, slightly colored, and G____ went off perfectly satisfied. He did not get far before he realized that he had another Jonah. About this time he “appreciated,” and was content to do duty.

The other evening, one of our bold Lieutenants went up to a “pizen shop” on the hill, and was returning to camp with a little heavier load than the regulations require, when he lost his way, and came through a field but lately cleared. Just as the sentry gave the usual challenge–”Who comes there?”–Charley struck his shin against a fallen tree, and feeling more expressive than poetical, he cried out lustily, “The devil.” “Corporal of the guard, post number six, double-quick,” called out the sentry, adding, “Mine Got in Himmel, here comes ter tivel!”

While on Staten Island, previous to embarking for the South, one of the captains was severely injured by a block of wood falling from one of the third tier of casemates and striking him on the head. The next morning, a New Jersey Dutchman, one of his company, called to inquire after his health. “Good morning, Captain,” says the Dutchman; “how are you getting along?” Being assured that the Captain was out of danger, the Dutchman said: “I heard something drop, and I thought it was a Lieutenant had fallen from the top of the fort, and was knocked all to pieces; and I didn’t think it worth while to pick the pieces up till the coroner came.”

One of our Lieutenants, who boasts of eighteen years’ service in the “regular army,” has been very much troubled by the privates coming into his quarters. To put a stop to this, he has displayed a large notice in front of his tent. It is, as near as I can copy it, verbatim et literatim, as follows:

Notis
No 1 aloud in here excep on bisnes,
By order of
Lt. H_____ F______
Ferst leutenant.

A few days ago one of our boys played a rather small game to get on guard as “supernumerary” –who only have to stand on post while any of the men may have to leave for some necessary reason; at other times he can stay in the guard tents out of the storm. The rest of the boys did not like it much, and agreed among themselves to repay him. As soon, therefore, as their “relief” came on, one of them called out, “Corporal of the guard; post number three wants to be relieved,” and the supernumerary had to take his place. As soon as number three returned and took his place, number five called to be relieved; and so they kept the poor fellow traveling from one post to another all night. Since then he has gone by the name of “Supernumerary.”

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