Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-12-13
OUR ARMY CORRESPONDENCE
BENTON BARRACKS.
st. Louis. Dec z 1881

Jun ARMY CUkRESP6NDEN
BENTON BARRACKS,
st. Louis, Dec. 3, 1861.
Dear Jos'rnal: OH how cold the Their.
mometor has fallen, and this morning old
mercury has relarsed into stupid melancholy
under the singing snart dictated bv Gen
Zero. Yesterday morning we were consider.
ably surprised to find the ground covered
with snow to the depth of about two inches
nor is our surprise lessene6 as we look out Of
the window at this time, beholding as we do,
the descending fakcs,the size Of which would
astonish an old New Englander. Incur sim
plicity we had always believed that snow
storm in Missouri was Of rare occurrence. but
if the past may be judged by the present, the
citizens of st. Louis must have had fine sport
last winter. The changes here are quite as
sudden as they are in Iowa, and 50 far as my
experience goes, can see but little difference
In three days of December in Missouri, and
days OF the same month in Iowa. But, not
wlthstanding the inclemency of the weather
the military are out in full, going through the
evolutions which are to be found in the Uni
ted States tactics. None are excused from
drill excepting those on the sick list. Day
before yesterday had a most interesting
shake Of the ague. If l escape shake to- day
tomorrow l will be reported as all right and
ready for duty. e,o -r.-4F
This morning called upon Capt. Reed and
found that he was complaining of the same
bothersome disease, and upon enquiry found
that many others in camp have a correspond.
ing sympathy for Messrs. Shakes and Fever.
Aside from the ague, there is but little sick.
ness in Camp Benton. Two or three cases Of
small pox have been reported in the barracks
but as Surgeon Watson has taken the pre-
caution to vaccinate our whole regiment, we
have little fears of taking this contagic us dis
ease.
To-day the boys of our company have de-
termined to vacate their old quarters and &c
into their tents This I think good idea
from the fact that the building occupied by
us was but poorly ventilated.
The boys have invented some very curiou.
fire places in their tents. My attention was
particularly directed to Sparks invention
By some means he became possessed of al
old milk can which he ingeniously converted
into an underground stove. He used an ole
oyster can for stove-pipe, and am happy t.
announce that his invention works to
charm. Sparks is a genius, and no mis-
take.
Last Sunday we had another grand review
There were between twenty and thirty thou
sand soldiers present, Gen. Haleck made
his debut amongst us. He is soldierl,
looking man, and we expect much from hin
| when all the forces have concentrated at thi.
point. His command have great oonfdenc,
in his ability to perform the work assigne,
him by Government, and l have no douh
but what Gems. Pillow and Polk will 500,
testify to jeff Davis that Gen. Halleck pos
sesses vast amount of military knowledge.
After the review, while the Iowa Sd Infan
try were preparing for dress parade, mos
distressing accident occurred. 1t seems tina
two Of the boys of company K of that regi
ment were going through the bayonet exer
else, when one Of them playfully cooked hi
gun, and not knowing that it was loaded, dis
charged it, the contents taking effect in tn,
head of the one he was playing with, KILN.
him instantly. The name of the unfortunate
victim believe, was Riggs. This accident
trust will be warning to those addicted t
the careless handling of fire arms.
Troops are daily arriving here, and l thinl
it will not be long before we will be ready fo
our march down the river.
The gun boats arc now being sent to Cairo
for the purpose of being put in readiness fo1
active service.
The examination of government contractors
and swindlers is now going on in the city
By the evidence 50 far elected, it seems thai
some one will have dark record to answer
for Who that one is, the future will reveal
E.C.H.