The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1846-10-09
rrcspondcncc OF ihe F,te T,adcr.
Leiierfrom the Editor.
NO. MI.
VlcroRtA, TrxAs, AuGusT y

~ MIA . NNT' 'h''N9' - 1850
Hopirg that you have received my list COM
INJUNCTION, sent by private conveyance from,
Camp irvine near la Baca, und, date Of Aug
9, will resume my journal from that date.
The 10Th was busy day with the Illinois vol
un'eers, in preparing to leave IN the MORROW
Hitherto their trip had been on the water, with
few harships, aud comparatively one Of pleasure.
But now they were to experience the rnugher
part Of a soldiers life. They had before them
long march, through a wild, nearly uninhabited
country, under tropical sun, in a climate tel
which they were totally unaccu-tnmed; Gnl al
though they fell capable of bearing up under all
ordinary haTIahps, they looked forward with no
ltIe Apprehension. For more than week pre-
yinus TO the time fixed for leaving Camp Irvine
it had raineJ more OF less every day, and the lit
lie Pscidore's creek, upon the banks Of which
We were cncamped had swelled into quite re-
spectacle river, SO that ii became necessary, as
this stream had to he crossed, To bridge 1t. Then
hs roads must necessarily be bad and as there
was no convenient place to en,amp nearer than
Victoria some 90 miles of, all fit that the first
DAYS march must be a very hard one.
'Tue-dly morning, August II all were up aud
had breakfast by four o'clock and then com
mcuced the process Of Icadng the wagons. The
provision train, about % from four 10 six OK
teams, had been got in readiness the day before.
The company wagons were now packed, ami
greatly disappointed were many who had counted
on having per, Ct their baggage hauled, when
lhcy found that the wet tents camp cqulPpage
Ind officers luggage were heavy load Tor every
team. Then there was quite "smlr, chance
Of tradirC, and many sacrifice was made 10y
such as had been foolish enough 10 bring murc
calhng than they were able to pack upon their
hacks. The whole train was in readiness TO
start hy O'Clock. Ga account Of the difficulty
experienced in procuring teams, the sick, VITA
sui'icioucy oi tents aad provisions for ten days,
hd Ia he LEFT behind. The number OF them, in
both regiments, was over so, and among them
were Lieut.. Reed aud II mon Of Capt. Dckey's
company, and Capt. Dodge, with about the same
number Of men Of his company, bis orderly ser
scan', Mr. Naudeuser. of Oswego, H., died on
the previous day. The number al sick was un-
usually large, owing to the measles, which ; 81
broken ut violently in both regiments, aud at
oac tinc had brought down nearly fourth Of
he men.
! 1t was hard 10 pant with so large number,
who were left l,icndless and helpless, with but o
single phy sician, aud three ar four men in health
to attend them; and tears, though said 10 he un-
worthy soldier, were shed before we left Camp
Irvine; aud many, who had secuted at the hard
ships ola soldiers life, and were intoxicated with
its novelty and adventurous variety when IN
hoalth we're ready 10 admit that it was terrible
place tc be sick.
Two miles mach and we came to the bridge
that had been thrown across the creek, 1t was a
rickey aillr, and took over two hours to get The
whole tain across, aud it was 10 clock, the
hottest part Of the day, when the sun is nearly
vcriiclc, and the Gulf breeze has not fairly CON,
up, before ~e got hrly on the way. The heat
was terrible, ard after going two miles farther
the prairie became low and wet, 50 that the meu
had To wads in wa'er from half foot To two l,el
deep, in grass foot or two higher Thus they
marched on until they reached dry spot at
bend Of Phcdore's Creek, about S miles iror
where they had left ia the morning. Here they
haled, aud took dinncr, many overcome by The
hard walking aud heat. II was then debate,
whether the should stop until next day, or G.
on aud during the debate "lhc shy with loud
; was overcast 1t raine1 a lillle, aud became coo
ahd peasant aud then the majority was for 60
, ing ahead. But leave was given 10 such us pre-
itrrcd to remain, to do 30, the understanding he
ing that the res, would lay over day ut Veto
ria, to enable them TO come up So, about
fourth Of the army halted, aud the balance push
: ed their wny through. The walking all the |:
miles 10 Victoria, was found to he fully us had u
any they had yet meth with. It was an uninlcr
rup,rj wade, IN water knee deep every mile OF it
aud many dropped down by the roOd side com
plrtely exhausted, and had 10 be picked up tn
wagons as they came along.
II was in the evening when the main bod
reached Victoria and now new trouble pr,
I scented itself. The wagons, on account Of lh
. bad roads, had not come up, but had halted 70