Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-08-09
Our Army Correspondence.

We have received letter from our regular
correspondent in company c, dated Camp
Sturgis, near Springfield, Mo-, July %, but it
is too long for insertion in the present crowded
state of our columns. The writer was in the
detachment under Gen. Sweeny which gained
the brilliant victory at Forsyth. The details
of that engagement have been already pub
lished. The march over the Ozark mountains
to that place, sixty miles, was made in the
hottest weather and under the most trying
circumstances, but the boys in company c
stood it nobly, and would have participated in
the fight had not the cavalry and artillery
routed the enemy before they had chance.
At the time our correspondent wrote the
uniforms for the 1st regiment had not yet mr.
rived. He says:
"Looking along our own company's ranks
gives fine illustration Of the regiment. Some
with bare feet, blistered and scalded; some
| with shoes without heels or toes-others with
| out sides or soles boots cut down, and cut
| fr the accommodation of blisters and cornS !;
trousers with original seats gone-a few re-
placed with carpeting coffee-sacks or flannel !;
others with fronts of legs gone, presenting the
lining in singular contrast with the original
| goods; others worn out around the feet, inside
| Of the legs, and torn to the knees Our round
abouts not having been worn much are in
good condition. We do not reflect upon the gen.
crosby of Muscatine citizens. Our first suits
done as we'll as could be expected, to be worn
night and day. The material for trousers,
think, did not meet the expectations of the
purchaser; yet they could net be expected to
last an entire campaign such as ours. Our
men have been compelled to buy clothing and
shoes, which are now worn out. They have
also boarded themselves. l venture the asser-
ton that the actual value of the rations re-
ceived by the men of the LIST Iowa has not
exceeded five cents per day since we left
Boonville, while the government pays the con-
tractors thirty cents. 1t is an outrage upon
the government and upon the men who serve
it, and calls for correction.
You all recollect the beautiful flag presented
by the citizens of Atalissa to company c.
Company c by rank is the color company Of
the regiment. The regiment having no colors
when we left Keokuk, the Atalissa flag was
selected, and Sergeant Hayes appointed color
| ueateI OWHIS " lIlc SlCkIlcSS VI MT. H. dIlu
the necessity of his remaining in hospital
Private AXE was made color-sergeant, and
from the time of leaving rendezvous to the
present he has borne the flag in its appropri
ate place. Our friends at Atalissa may vel
be proud of the honorable position assigned
their highly -prized gift. 1t has not been rid
died in battle, but it has followed the enemy
with its best spirit Our dog
"Union," is in good health, and stands higt
with all. He is very faithful in the discharge
of all camp duties. W.T..
From all accounts we venture to say tina
the First Iowa Regiment have done more rsa
hard service than any other regiment now il
the U. S. service since the commencement o
the campaign. They left Keokuk about Jun'
18th. From that day until they arrived a
Bonneville they slept not but on their arms
A long march from Renick to Bonneville was
their firstactual experience. But iowa finchet
nor faltered not From Bonneville to Spring
field, and thence to Forsyth, they have march
ed, when others, strong and athletic, fell from
sheer exhaustion. All honor to the gloriou.
First