New Oregon plaindealer. (New Oregon, Iowa) 1859-1866, 1861-12-06
NEW OREGON IOWA, DEC 1MBER G. 1851

o'Sh vi HShG yet. Our boys are not
in as good order now as they were when
| wrote to you before, but still they
are not in so bad condition as some Of
the companies. There are fourteen of
our men sick, twelve with the Measles
and two with the Fever; bat they are
fast recovering, and few more days
will find them in the ranks again ready
and willing for service. 1t is very mud
Idy here this morning, on account of a
heavy shower which we had last night.
| Col. Vandever has left us for the win
ter; he started for Washington on the
18th. Lieut.. Col. Heron and Major
Coyl are now in command. We fare
middling we'll here, but not so we'll as
we did at Camp Powers, I assure you;
for we miss those "chickens etc., that
we used to get there. We are kept
pretty close here; we are not allowed
to 60 outside of the lines without a
pass, neither private or officer, and
then it has to be signed by about a
dozen before one can pass. It is get
ting pretty cold now in this part of
Missouri; but we hav'nt had any snow,
and but very little frost. After Dress
Parade last night, there was q train
from Rolla, bringing with it the brave
and gallant General Sigel. Our Brass
and Martial Band went to the Depot
accompanied by oil the commissioned
officers in Camp, and the Brass Band
saluted the Gen. with that favoritc tune,
"Dixies Land" The Gen. is a noble
looking man, and I feel proud of being
one of the number that had the honor
Of seeing him. Accompanying him was
General Asbcth, and other men of note.
But We were more pleased to see our
old friend, Luther Sabin. He is Cap
tain of a Company in the 44th Ill. Reg
iment, under Gen. Sigers commando
He was on his way to St. Louis with
some of his men that were sick; he
looks fine, and will be here again on
Monday next. We have not got our
guns yet, (that is, our new ones, nor
l don't believe we ever will get them,
but still We may; for a soldier is not
allowed to know anything, as I told
you before: but if they put us into
battle with these guns, 1 pity secesh
that gets within one hundred yards of
one of them, for he will be sure to get
hole in aim about the size of Hogs
head. Our non-commissioned officers
are getting full supply of drill now;
they have to get up and drill from six
till eight in the morning, and then
they have to drill wi tn the privatcs
from nine to eleven: then again at
half:past two they have to drill an
hour, and then at three until five, P.
NJ; then comes Dress Parade, 80 it
keeps them in the ranks the most of
the time. Our Artillery Company that
belongs to this regiment has not got
their guns yet; but they have as fine
lot of horses as were ever sent from To-
wa. The report now is that te are un-
der marching orders for Washington,
but no one can see any signs of move
yet. Lieut.. Col. Heron is a fine COM
nander, and l think he is capable Of
leading lis anywhere; and he has re
giment that will follow him. Our com
pany is about as we'll drilled as any
company in the regiment, notwith-
standing the poor chance they have
had. There are two Missouri Regi-
ments here, they are mostly Dutch;
but I guess they will make pretty good
soldiers. The Third Iowa Regiment
| is at Benton Barracks yet, also the re-
naming portion of the Iowa Seventh,
which is but about 200 men that are
fit for service.
The request of the New Oregon boys
is, that their friends correspond with
them often, as it makes time pass away
so much faster and pleasanter ITO hear