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[217] of hard bread, pork, and coffee, in quiet possession of the field.

In a few days after, stung with disappointed hope that the enemy, who should have been ours, had escaped from our grasp, we found ourselves retracing our weary steps to Tennessee, where we now are watching the movements of our subtle, traitorous foe.

In the four months embraced in this report we have been without tents sixty-six days, during which has occurred the severest snow storm this regiment has seen the past year.

In all we have now in the regiment,709
Total present for duty,556
Total upon the sick list,66
Absent in different hospitals,54
Sick in camp,12
Amount of hospital funds on hand,$69
Total number of miles marched from August first to December first,642
Total number of miles travelled by this regiment since we left Fort Snelling, Oct. fourteenth, 1861,3166
Total number of deaths in the same time,69

In all we have now in the regiment,709
Total present for duty,556
Total upon the sick list,66
Absent in different hospitals,54
Sick in camp,12
Amount of hospital funds on hand,$69
Total number of miles marched from August first to December first,642
Total number of miles travelled by this regiment since we left Fort Snelling, Oct. fourteenth, 1861,3166
Total number of deaths in the same time,69

The number of deaths during the last four months has been unusually small. Companies A, B, C, G, H, and K have lost none.

In company D, there have died, Leonard Town, Charles T. Watkins, and Charles W. Bartlett.

In company E, three have died: Edward Pasco, Benjamin Roundville, and Warren Spaulding.

In company F, there have been two deaths: Oliver N. Keyes and Marquis D. Mitchell.

In company I, one has died: De Loss Eustice.

The health of our regiment amidst such severe exposures and toil calls for special gratitude to God.

As we have literally here no continuing city or abiding-place, and much of the time have been in hourly expectation of skirmishes and battle with the enemy, while this service has been so active, full of toil, fatigue, and anxiety, and when a few hours have been spent in camp, there has been such a demand for rest, that few and far between have been the opportunities for public worship. Still we have had religious services occasionally during the last four months.

We have such a vast number in our hospitals who can be reached by religious instruction under highly favorable circumstances, while the services of the field are so active, leaving no time upon the Sabbath as upon other days, for any thing but strictly military duties, it is a serious question whether most of our chaplains should not confine much or all of their time to the afflicted in hospitals instead of remaining in the field, where their opportunities for doing good are by necessity, exceedingly small, whatever may be their devotion to their work.

With sentiments of high regard, I remain, dear Colonel, your humble servant,

T. R. Cressy, Chaplain Minnesota Second Regiment.

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