The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-09-04
! Army Correspondence.
CAMP Fremont, Mo. !
Aug. 22d, 1861.

left Camp Warren on the 9Th inst, two
weeks earlier than we expected-a conclu-
sive proof in my opinion, that prayers are
heard and answered.
am not going to bore you with detail
ed account of orr trip down to st. Louis,
down the river to Jefferson Barracks, back
to st. Louis, and of our restless, sleepless,
hungry, blanketlcss, comfortless, and drca-
ry nights upon the rocky banks Of the big
Muddy" and iu the st. Louis arsenal
grounds. Those were scenes of trial-but
they do to laagh over now.
On the morning of the 14th, we were on
board steamer at the Barracks, and went
up to st. Louis, were marched through the
city to the Railroad depot, bound for Rolla
and Springfield to reinforce Siegcl. Here
we received our arms, and part of the reg-
ment were on the cars ready for move
when our orders were countcrmanded; we
were marched to the Iron Mountain r, r.
depot, and at nine p. NJ. we were of for
Pilot Knob, where we arrived at sunrise the
next morning After breakfast-a gay old
breakfast it was too-we marched three
miles south to Camp Fremont our present
location. This camp, named after the Com
mandcr Of the Western Division, is located
in the village of Ironton, Iron Co., Mo-
Geographically and relatively tits 100 miles
south Of St. Louis, 100 miles from Cairo,
and 100 miles north Of the Arkansas line.
1t is point of much Importance and one
which the rebels have been Fishing after"
for long time. When we came here an
attack was daily expected, as Gen. Hardee
was marching this way, and but few miles
off with an army of twelve thousand men,
But the opportune arrival Of several regi-
ments from st. Louis, changed the pro-
g-amme very suddenly and the scccshcrs
were soon on the move southwark as fast
as their legs could carry them. There is
no prospect Of any fight in this vicinity
soon. The rebel forces wont come to time,
and if they did they would probably get the
greatest flogging an army ever got on this
continent. There are now about twelve
thousand troops here and as many more on
the way. We arc fortified with heavy guns,
several columbiads, thirty-two Founders, a
flying artillery company, and ammunition
enough to blow the secession republic high.
er than Gilderoy's kite ever thought Of 90.
ing. Our troops are all we'll armed, have
plenty Of provisions to eat, and tents and
blankets to cover them. Company B-the
Lincoln Guards-are armed with Spring
field rifles, are all well and hearty and spoil
ing for fight. If the seccshers don't rur
SO fast we can't draw bead on them, VIZ
will try and show the "chivalry" that thu
North Iowa boys can and dare fight trai
tors on their own soil Gen. Prentiss lat
Of Birds Point and Cairo is In com,nant
here, but Fremont and Jessie are tn,
power behind the throne pulling all tn,
wires which control the vast machinery o
war in the Northwest Just at this tim
this point seems to be receiving more atten
ton at headquarters than any other in TIN
west. The intention is to centre sufficen
force here to 'clcan OUT this portion 0
Secessia. Regiments are now being sta
toned at the various points co,nmandin,
the routes to Arkansas and thus finish u,
the work as We 60 along Our regimen
may be ordered off at any moment, but
think VIC shall be here two or three week
yet.
This village Of Irontonis very pleasant,
located, and before the war, contained abou
five hundred people. On the start, til
town was about equally divided between
rebels and union men, but the countr,
around swarms with traitors, and the unio'
men with their families were soon oblge
to fec for their lives, but the arrival of on
troops here changed the face Of affairs a
once, and the heretofore loud mouthed rcL
els fed south with their families, bag an
baggage in double quick time. Only on
or two families remain in town, and in m
perambulations about town have notice,
but two white females, and they were Unio1
women of course. The Ironton F'urnac
was the name Of Republican paper pub
lished here until the rebels dried it up, an,
the 7th regiment boys have taken posessio,
Of the office, forced a secessionist to Civ
them bundle Of printing paper and ther
being several typos in the ranks, they hav
started newspaper OF their own hook, t
be called "LAUMAN's OwN," being calle'
after our Col. y. G. Lauman.
There are several lsaccssionists, prisoner
Of war, confined in the Court House here
The nost.of them look like hard cases.
Their arms consist Of shot guns, rifles, oil
mvsksts, pistols and knives; they wear tn
Uniform of Lazarus, in fact it can be said o
the most Of those I've seen from their III
my,-theysarc ragged, dirty, greasy, lou
sy, lonslcgged, peaked nosed, piratcal ant
reckless looking lot of jail-birtls. In m.
school-boy days heard of Pixies in Mis-
souri,; after returning from visit to tn
prisoners here concluded I've seen the an
imal. Yet, these fellows fight like devils
when they know they number four t
our one; otherwise they run away thi
campaign proves that. At Springfield on
brave boys fought against four times thci
number. Gen. Lyon paid the forfeit witt
his life, our troops stood firm amid show
e, Of leaden hail, until ordered to retire, an
one who was on the field, tells me that ha
they stood another hour, the enemy mus
have broken.