Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1861-11-01
From the Iowa Third.
Correspondence Of the Gazette,


Correspondence Of the Gazette, ...s
81 .....-. s.. KANSAS CRY, No., Oct. 18th, 1861
The last night in Kansas City. The boys
are jubilant at the prospect Of again meeting
their comrades, for the long wished for or
ders are received at last, and we leave on the
boat in the morning for Quincy, Illinois,
For nearly three weeks has this sadly mutt.
lated detachment Of the Iowa Sd plodded
around this very muddy, very dusty, city.
Rain falls and dust blows alternate days, and
it is hard to say which is ahead. The soil
is of such nature that sprinklins worries
the surface greatly, but few rays of Old
Sol' puts backing again into requistion.
In its palmy days, the city boastcd 5000 in
habitants and the amount of business tran
sacted was enormous. In conversation
with the editor of the paper here, he told me
that SIT 100000 worth Of goods were sold
here for the trade in New Mexico and South
ern Kansas, and that he took the figures
from the ledgers Of the merchants. Large
government trains were fitted out here, and
all, down to the Juvenile apple venders were
busy as bees. Steamers arriving and de-
parting constantly, bringing an active, stir
ring. additional population, as residence,
then, in this locality, was almost equivalent
to fortune.
Three miles south is the town Of Westport,
an old Indian and emgrant trading post, and
this was Wcstport landing. But the site
Immediately On the river, presented many
advantages for commerce, and the city of
Kansas was plated, settled, and totally
eclipsed her rival sister Of only 1000 people
Streets have been cut through the bluffs at
great expense, the e"ts in many cases being
thirty to forty feet in depth; the main thor
ougl,fares are macadimzed and everywhere
is seen evidences of once spirited public inn
provcment. But the blight of Secession has
had it's effect here as elsewhere in the State.
| Block after block of unoccuped buildings are
to be seen, hotels deserted, the levce here
and there covered with jiml son weeds, and
long faces abundant. At the first outbreak,
the seceshcrs were rampant and claimed pos
session. In day the glory of Kansas City
departed, only to return, when Missouri as
State shall return to her allegiance, and the
hordcs Of rebels under Price, McCulloch &
Go. are driven beyond the borders, which
act | think now bids fair to be soon accom-
plished. 49,
The last Of Gen. Sturgis' Brigade moved
yesterday to effect junction with the Grand
Army" and a muddy time they are having.
It has rained the greater part of the week,
and the country is one vast pudding. Gen,
Lanes forces left on Monday last, the s9th
Ohio on Tuesday, and the 27th Ohio on We'd
nesday. At one time We had marching or
ders with them, and the prospect ofeveragain
seeing our comrades, camp equipage, bag
gage, grew exceedingly dim, but owing to
our forlorn and dilapidatcd condition, the
General relented, and the order was counter
mandcd, or, should say, our sentence was
commuted to temporary imprisonment in
Kansas City, as guard over government
stores. We were to take up our quarters in
the fort, where we would have shelter and
the protection afforded by a 80 pound swivel
Still we grumblcd, but we are now made glad
at the prospect of an early reunion. Com.
pany X has four in the hospital at Wyan.
dotte, but as Corporal Fry is in charge, We
know that they are receiving the best of care
in addition to the invaluable services Of oul
worthy and talented surgeon, DR.. Cool. Hs
IS untiring in his labors among the lame
the halt, and the blind" and could he have
had the superintendence Of the camp at Hud
son for the past few weeks, that part of the
regiment would not have been SO reduced
! We consider ourselves peculiarly fortunate
in his presence with our detachment, for his
cheering words and smiling face are them
selves an antidote to pain.
The town has until yesterday been under
the strict surveillance Of a Provost Marshal
and it was amusing to see the squad OF pris-
oners taken up hourly by the patrols to head
quarters for examination. Soldiers away
from their companies without a pass, citizens
who could not give good account Of them
selves, saloon keepers for selling liquors to
soldiers, a promiscuous lot who We're CON-
PEELED to march the main streets within a
line Of bayonets, with woful countenances,
ashamed to look either to the right or the
left, for fear their friends should see them.
But as all the troops have left except the Sd
IOWA, each man Of that corps being "model
of department" martial law is now dead.
Whew there goes charivari." Some
body has got married or has been doing some
thing equally suicidal, and-Jehu-that was
a awful blast. will investigate. =
| have found that 81 Iowa uniforms are fig