The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1861-10-19
CAMP LYON, NEAR RoLLA,
n.E 1IL lAIl

Mr.. EDITOR We have just received tht
NonpareI of the 18th ult., and are all re-
ioiced to hear from home. One who has
never tried living in 'the Wilderness can
not form an idea of the eagerness with
which home paper is sought for. The
Bluffs boys are all noted for their ready
obedience, but no order Of an officer car
call them to "a.tention" SO quickly as the
announcement, "Nonpareil!"
| We have Just received the papers. etc.,
which you sent, for which Company B re-
turns you vote of thanks. received q
letter from you at the same time, in which
you state that you shave heard that the boys
at Rol!a are not we'll fed" l don't know
where you heard this story, but there is not
a word of truth in it. There is no scarcity
Of "grub" in our regiment, neither has there
been, to the best of my knowledge. We
all have plenty and to spare. of the best
the country affords. think am perfectly
safe in asserting that the men at camp Ly-
on live better than three ourths Of the peo-
pie in council Bluffs. ..asr
"a On last Saturday morning We struck tents
and started for Jefferson City; We marched
some fifteen or twenty miles, when the
marching orders were countermanded. We
waded across the Gasconade, and then waded
back again; and this, l believe, is consider
ed the "brilliant" Of our achievement. We
are again at Rolla, where expect We will
remain all winter. 1# sr3
Those thirty-two Founders here Ihow
many?l are now nearly all mounted, and II
we are ever attacked they will prove
wicked thing for the secesh. We are get
ting we'll prepared to defend ourselves, and
in few weeks we will have our fortifca-
tions completed, when the force that is here
about twenty. one hundred-can hold the
post against formidable army. This
place, being the terminus Of the Pacific
Railroad, is an important one for the Gov
erument to hold, and as all the force not
absolutely required to hold it has been with
drawn, I am of the opinion that the men
now here will remain all winter. Col.
.DopGE is now in command of the post
that is. when be is here; he is now absent
on business. ....a..,.... ..t....
Major FooTE, the pay master, who has
visited and payed off every regiment be-
tween here and Washington, says that the
Iowa 4th i, the most intelligent, and best
behaved body of men that he has had to
deal with. This, consider quite compli-
ment, coming from man of Major FooTE's
experiences.
You know / am moi candidate for pro-
motion, and consequently don't make bus
mess of fattering the officers. They oil do
their duty. so far as can see, Just as good
men should, but don't see Why they should
be palavered on this account, to any
aalarming extent, ''for it's just as much thti'
duty to do right as it is my duty. But ]
must be permitted to devia.e from my rule
little 10 the case Of Lieut. .(now Captain)
KissxaS. He lie the most popular officer
that know. There is not man in the
Company who does not like him; and when
the Captains Office became vacant, he vas
elected Captain, without dissenting voice.
And well has he earned his promotion, for
il there is an officer in this or any other reg
imept, who studies the comfort and welfare
Of his men, it is Capt. KrSsxas, C'Bob,' .
when he's not 10 uniformly. The men know
this-have evidence of it all the time, and
like him because they know he cares for
them.
Blu. | have already written more than I
intended to. Be sure you don't forget to
send the Nonpareii regularly.