Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-10-11
our Kansas Correspondence.

Our Kansas Correspondence.
KANSAS CITY, Mo-, Sept 80, 1851.
DEAR JouRNAL:-After a few days rest,
our party went into camp near Fort Leaven-
worth, and were attached to Captain Fred.
Swayer's company, Jennison's Reg, until we
could be forwarded to our own regiment, then
at Fort Scott.
We remained there some two weeks, during
which time we were partially initiated into
the mysteries, miseries and duties OF camp
life, which we found not altogether so dread
full after ALL The volunteers afford no little
amusement to the regulars from their awk-
wardness in military matters. But we all have
| something to learn, and are willing to learn it.
We left Leavenworth Saturday night, 2lst,
at nine o'clock, in company with party OF
recruits for Johnson's regimen, also from
Iowa, marching five miles that night. Our
detachment numbered in all, twenty six mem
having in charge train of ammunition wag-
ons, and some ambulances for Lanes Brigade.
Our trip was rather pleasant one, as We had
the privilege of occupying the ambulances.--
We were four days going down, and passed
through the city of Lawrence, where still re-
main portions of the Notifications thrown up
by Lane in 1856 for the defense of the city.
We also passed through Ossawattimie, where
John Brown, with forty men, held three times
their number in check for three hours, and
where young Showbrer, of Indiana, was
killed, and reached West Point Mo-, on
Wednesday evening, Gen. Lane having previ-
ously moved his headquarters to that place
from Fort Scott.
The principal portion of the brigade came
in from an expedition to the town Of Osceola,
Mo-, the same evening.
As the command filed into the town, quite
n sensation was created, and in fact, more
mo tley collection could hardly be imagined
Soldiers ON horseback, soldiers on foot, and
soldiers in wagons-contrabands of every de-
Scyintion from the veritable contraband pan
ercel,sucs down to yearling mule. The pro-
cecis of the expedition amounted to some
thousands Of dollars worth Of property, con-
sistins of military stores, dry goods, horses
mules, cattle, and other property, besides
from thirty TO forty head Of human chattels
OF these, twenty four We're claimed by on'
man, who gave his name as harrs, wh'
was taken prisoner, and nov remains in caml
as such. He is an old man, with lons
f white beard. and seems to bear his mistor
t tunes quite philosophically. 1t is asserted
that he has occupied high position in tn
Southern army, and that he was at the battl
Of Dry Wood, near Fort Scott, some thre
weeks since but this of course is not salts
factorily proven.
1t seemed to afford the poor "contrabands'
5 great satisfaction to see sold massa" prls
, oner. They would come around him ant
} look at him with broad grins of satisfaction
/ showing their ivory in great rows. The.
(the negroes) were all taken from ''Secesh.
The town Of Osceola was taken, and all tn
5 yaluables removed that could be,-and as tn
, place had been used as kind of depot 70
5 the Southern army, the whole place, togethe
with a large amount of goods Of variou
kinds, was destroyed.
After returning to West Point and restin!
one day, the whole brigade pulled up stake
and started on forced march for the north
our destination being Lexington, as the pr
Yates supposed. We had a severe march Q
two days, after which, owing to information
received, our pace was slaclzened, and W
shaped our course for this place, arriving her
today at noon. We find here two or tire
Ohio regiments, the Sd Iowa, the I'd Kansas
large number Of Kansas Home Guards, an
6 Jennison's regiment which we left at For
g Leayenworth, besides number of Missouri
5 Home Guards, amounting including Oh
force-to about 10000 men. 1t is suppose
we are to act, in conjunction with othe
forces from the east and north, against tn
rebel forces at Lexington.
All kinds of ramors are ahoat as to the do
ings of the enemy, and Our own destination
but we have very poor chance Of knowing
anything about what is to be done, until W
receive orders, and then we obey them, what
ever they are.
| Col. Montgomery's regiment is composed
, of six companies of infantry, three of cavalry
, and one Of artillery E. II. G.