The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1861-10-24

CAPE GIRApEAU, Mo-, Oct. 5th.

~ lie hlENDo al IloNF.
Would were with you, when the world for
getting.
My weary limbs upon the turf are thrown,
While bright and red the evening sun is set
ting,
And all your thoughts belong to heaven alone
While happy dreams your thoughts employ.
Would were with you in your joy.
Not that wish t. change the lot !
have voluntarily chosen. or that / am
IN the least unhappy in my present posi-
ton, but however well contentcda man
is, there arc times when thoughts OF
home and friends crowd upon him, and
miles he is devoid the affections Of man.
kind, he will feel desire and gaze once
more upon the familiar scenes Of home,
and again grasp the friendly hands al.
ways outstretchcd to welcome him to
their abode. Since l last wrote you,
we have learned by experience that all
things are nncert ain in tunes Of war.
When we retired to rest on the evening
Of the ed Of September, after seeing
many Of our friends from home, and
while we were congratnlating ourselves
with the thought Of seeing many more
during the State Fair, aud the pleasant
times we were to have with them, we
little thought that at three o'clock the
next morning orders would be received
for MS to march to st. Louis, vet such
was the case, and Mt six, we were all
aboard the cars, aud after bidding
adien to our friends, we moved off on
our way to "D,xie's Land; at two we
took boat at Davenport, and ~ round
after round ct cheers were being given
BY those on shoe, and answered by our
boys, VIC sailed down the river. After
very pleasant trip, with nothing more
unpleasant happening than one whole
day Of dripping rain, and two or three
1t our men getting overheard and living
couple If days upon half rations, we
arrived At St. Louis. and marched to
Benton Barracks four miles from the
City, 4 beautiful situation for a camp
and very pleasantly and comfortably
arranged There we expected 10 beaiinel
and equipped for war in earnest. and
stay long enough to learn the use Of
arms, bat oh how vain are the expcc-
tations of man. and how little he knows
what day may bring forth. We ar
rived at S, Louis on Thursday eyenin.
Friday was devoted to making on, selves
comfortable in camp, Saturday we re-
ccived our arms, and aboWt three clock
received orders TO march to Jefferson
City As soon as We were ready. SUNDAY
our Uniforms and blankets were d,s,li-
buted and We were to leave Monday At
noon, but about eleven o'clock the or
der we had previously received was
conntermanded, and we were ordered
here, for which place We started that
night, and reached here Tuesday NOR
ming. Our march through St. Louis
was one grand triumph, AMI was
honored by almostthc entire population,
the glorious old Stars and Stripes were
wave! over us from thousands Of VIM
dows, and held by all who had strength
to hold them, from the little infant in
it's mothers arms, to the gray veteran
whose silvcry locks and trembling hand
told truly that = few more months would
find them in that home from whence
no traveller rctnrhcth. And the ladies
here as elsewhere fockcd by hundreds
to the streets and with their smiles an.l
cheering words encouraged us to 60
forth and fight manfulIy for that flag
we all SO dearly love.
fsay it was triumph because the
good behavior Of our men, even during
the short time we were there, had won
the confidence and respect Of the citi
zens,
Cape Girarlean is situated about %
miles above Cairo, upon an eminence.
with every natural advantage to make
it imEregnable by Notifications but
through the negligence Of the comman
ding officer Of the Post, was when We
arrived here, in an almost defenceless
condition.
Our Colonel was ve:y much dissatis.
fed with the condition Of things, and
immediately recommended a vigorous
policy to be pursued in relation to the
defeases, went himself and examined the
country around, gave his opinion of
what WAS necessary, and the command
ing officer although he had not know
ledge sufficient to plan, had sense to exc
cute what was planned for him.
For three days past We have had