The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-12-11
Army Correspondence.
BENTON BARRACKS, ST.. LOUIS,
-. Nov OGth 1871

Nov. 26th, 1861:
Dear Times IL make bold to saw thcr,
is not veteran among our Clayton Coun
ty boys who would not rather choose be-
tween soldering in the summer and follow.
ing the same heroic pursuit in the winter
the leafy Juney month Of June, also OF
July, likewise the same Of August and
September with its warbling songsters and
mosquitoes, its social camp fires, it's gentle
and greasy bacon, its more simple though
arduous 'ard-bread, with its pleasing di.
versity of inevitable chickens and savory
and willing young pigs, with other con,
cohitant fowls and things, than the present
and chilly month Of November and yet
you'd not make this presumption did |
not, in my evening perigrinations among
he soldiefffKss fffKss last Water >. 'nally feeling
..,,n their lips such as "sol-
WIS played out" or ''these ere over
.,s are no good thing for this sort of
weather." or that's so; the hemisphere is
% cold and the overcoats Also" and that $
what's the matter. These complainngS
are not uttered without some shadow of
reason for it is stern and frigid fact that
this Sd Iowa Infantry have been shabbilv
niSfooled by the ubiquitous fat individuals
whose office it is not by any manner OF
means to swindlc the Government, bam-
boozle and impose upon the helpless vol
unteers, but who were elevated to their
position for an honest and great deal some.
what different charge, take it, "and that s
what's the matter" Our 'soger close are
not equal to til. emergency. The fabric
from which our pantalOons are manutac-
tured would grace with i'll becoming taste
the hook Of secondrate rag picker; and
it the fret-work hangs together four weeks
longer will allow myself to be reduced
from my present and humble position Of
! high private to that Of commissioned Of
ii er. Our Ovcrcoats are too thin by two
thirds, Of poor quality, are not lined by any
means, and in poi7, Of comparison, for rough
weather, are but few coats better than
no coats at all and full as good as brown
paper ones, "snd that's what's the matter"
with the overcoats. Our under coats we
have not received, yet we have been draw
| cred and sacked and have received shirt.
also shoes and a cap, all Of which are good
| enough and more expected shortly Let
me say here that these sad mur,nurs are
not the progeny Of selfish or mercenary
thoughts, but they are sired by the mascu
line reality, that all the other Iowa rcg
ments have been furnished with the best of
clothing and promptly, while We arc forc..l
to accept an inferior article and that too at
the very latest, land that's what's tho mat.
ter"
The change from living in tents and
coming into barracks might be well enough
were it not for two or three exceptions in
the first place two companies are or ,wded
into space designed for only one, and in
the next place the institution is so badly
ventilated that coughs and colds are per
manent fixtures, and this is clearly notica-
bic in the coughings, sneezings, barkings
and wheezings on any time you may choose
to drop in here between now and the close
of the war; In the next place We do our
eating IN an open building exposed to the
dust and bitter cold, and Of freezing day
1t requires most excellent jugglery to ham
die knife or fork and at the same time
keep the wind from blowing the grub off
the -ware-ask anybody. Our food is
excellent and plenty Of it and served up in
a manner which might out saw Sayer.-
Let any one who has ever tasted of Pat
Gracery's indomitable Garibaldi stews and
in3incble Rocky mountain soup hold up
his hand and testify that's what's the
matter with modern Gracery's cuisine. 1t
is only few over fed individuals and
growing boys who are incessently grumb-
ling about bad are-peopls who never saw
better times in their livcs-who are clothed
better than they ever We're, and individual
ly to whom this war IS substantially bless
ing who have scarcely enough patriotism
to last them from one meal to another
and that's what's the matter with these
kind Of folks, few Of whom infest every
company. ....... ....r
Regiments Of soldiers are continually
pouring into this camp and one can step
scarcely two feet from the door withou,
jost'ing against biue-coat or being knock
cd over by cavalry horse. If the wealth
er were not so disgustngly cold soldering
might be quite pleasant thing, but as i,
is, it is several degrees removed from the
thing; and we all sigh to BE- taken to
warmer and more congenial cline. An
expedition is to move from here shortly for
Kentucky, but whether this regiment will
be ordered off or not is a matter Of unccr
tainty. Price is coming north and force
will be necessarily to admisister to his aid
and comfort and keep him from spelling;
therefore it is not sure thing but that W.
may remain in Missouri this winter. If
this is to be the case, and the soldiers are
to be hived up in these close and ill-venti-
lated quarters, Ipredict more havoc from
Jack Frost and disease than could be rca.
>"nably expected from the eneny's balls.
! Even now while write there is q rumor
that small pox has made its appearance in
camp; already the measles has appeared in
our midst, and there are several cases in
our own company, and in rooms SO thickly
peoplcd as these contasion cannot long be
| avoided, I take it. Col. Williams is still