The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1861-09-17

ourh INC ~. IL. bridge that crosses tt
Usage River at this point. We wei
aboard the cars and reached our des,ins
ton at l2 a. m. A few com panies of th
Illinois Irish Brigade were stationed o
the west side Of the river, acting as pick
cts above and below, and guarding a
approaches to the town. Upon our Al
rival they returned to jefferson. Will
we pitched our tents, cooked dinner, an,
detailed guards as soon as possible. Al
attempt Gas you will recolloct) was mad
last spring by some Of Jackson's minion
to burn the bridge at this point and wa
partially successful, fully eighty feet a
the western end being completely des
troyed, and the telegraph wires tori
down the whole length. The traces o
tar and other substances that they hat
used to accomplish their fendish work
is still visible. The bridge is now re
built, but in rude and imperfect man
ner and is hardly safe for heavy train
| have read of many bad mean looking
places, heard stories of others, dreamed
Of some, and seen few, but none tha,
the imagination can compare, or exper-
fence call to memory, compares with the
sol dsum town Of Usage. The town, OF
what was intended 10 be one, stands up
On the western bank Of the river, in a
kind of clearing. The good old proprie-
tors forgot. in laying out the city, to
leave any streets. or to place the houses
at right angles, and the result is rather
unfortunate for beauty or artistic skill.
Nothing is now standing but the Depot
Building, three or four deserted dwell
ing houses, and a solitary coop, on
top OF which was perched gaunt chan
ticleer, the sole survivor of once happy
flock, who had all been inundated upon
the altar of culinary science, to appease
the voracious appetites of the Irish Bri-
gade. Glorious Bird" exclaimed /,
with Joseph. "to bear up so well under
-
The soil is Of a clayey mold, low and
mai anu aquaut producnoks, consisting OF
Bull frogs, Fleas, Mosquitoes, and Alcei.
and fenuel weed, Consperi Htus) and a
species Of broad mullen. AS for the few
people who are compelled by poverty to
live here, they bear the indclible marks
Of Fever and Ague. Not one but what
was poor, and emaciated and appeared to
be half starved. They would come into
camp, bringing small quantities of corn
and potatoes, which was eagerly exchan-
ged for coffee and sugar. All pretended
to be strict Union men, but no confidence
is to be placed in them. Like Esan, they
would sell their birthright for mess OF
pattage, Tor what would be more tempt
ing to them. drink of whiskey,) being
wholly devoid of all honor and principle.
Schools appear to be unknown. Many
young men from eighteen to twenty years
of age, do not know the first letter. They
are poor. ignorant. and degraded. the
cause of all being. as they confessed to
me, Slavery. Occasionally we formed
scouting parties, and went out over the
country, for the purpose Of making re-
connoisances and taking persons Of
doubtful sentiments prisoners. They Of
fered no resistance. Quite an incident
occurred on the night OF the 3oth ult.
Tattoo was past beating. when dis
charge Of tho sentincl's gun was heard,
followed by the cry of 4" Corporal Of the
Guard, No. g." All haste was made for
the spot, when the sentry was found,
standing with his right hand hanging
shattered by his side. lie stated that a
person approached him from the X. Il.
track, and on being challenged drew a
revolver and fired, and then run into the
bushes. Search was made but no man
found. The wounded sentinel was taken
to the hospital, and is now doing well.
Gurilla warfare is adopted by the seces-
sionists in all cases, their bravery ex-
tending no farther than to attack patrol
squad. or shoot an unsuspecting guard.
Five days WAS the time assigned TO us
for our stay at Usage, and on Monday
tho I'd inst, we returned TO Jefferson Ci.
ty. and were Immediately placed under
marching orders, but no one knew our
destination. Our knapsacks and cloth
ing. which had that day arrived, were
distributed among the companies. The
coats, or blouses, are black, with brass
buttons. and single breasted pants blue
and warranted to rip well f: the cap is
black, and small crowned. understand
that these are only intended for fatigu,
suit, and that the regular military uni
forms will be of grey. Each man wa