The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-10-31
From the Engineers.
ST. LOUIS, October 25th. 1855


Fort Augustine, and was the head
quarters of Gen. Sigel, during his stay
in St. Louis. We had some first rate
Union neighbors, who showed us all
the attention in their power. - !
After remaining in the Fort nine
days, we received marching orders for
Upton, 157 miles west from ST. Louis,
and 40 miles beyond Jefferson City.
We left St. Louis on Sunday, October
goth, at $50 A. NJ, stopping to give
three cheers to our kind neighbors as
we passed their residences, and arrived
in Upton at $50 P. NJ, over the Pacific
Railroad, which passes through very
rough country. There are a great
many very fine Bridges on the road,
the one over the Usage river, costing
about SIS, 900, has been partially burned
by the secessionists, at three different
times. The road is now in good running
order, all the bridges being securely
guarded by detachment of soldiers,
stationed at each bridge for that pur-
pose. This was very expensive road
to build, costing $50 have been in.
formed,) not less than $50, 900 per mile,
between st. Louis and Jefferson City,
-, hot 1.cfa
tunnels dug through the solid rock, of
an average length of 800 yards each.
There are but few stations on the road
of any Importance, in regard to size,
Jefferson City being the largest, it has
a population of about 1000, and is
situated on the banks of the Missouri
river, being the Capitol of the State, it
has the State Capitol building, which
is quite large structure, built Of gray
stone, in the shape of cross, surmoun-
ted by an immense dome, and being
placed upon quite high bluff, one can
there get quite an extensive view of
the surrounding country and of the
muddy Missouri river. All of the
water in Missouri, SO far as l have
seen, is muddy, icayiag deposit after
standing in tumbler fifteen minutes,
of not less than half inch jim depth,
and to drink it with any degree of
satisfaction as the natives do here,
argues to me, depth of depravity,
physically speaking, which hope never
to reach.
On our arrival at Upton, we marched
out on the prairie, selected our ground
and pitched our tents (Which were
shipped on the same train from St.
Louis) in thirty minutes; we thought
that quick work, considering it was our
first attempt. We have eight tents of
the Sibley Patent, with a stove in each
one, and they are large enough to ae
commodate twenty men to one tent.
The ground was quite wet, thus giving
us a good opportunity to try our rubber
blankets, which proved to be first-rate,
keeping us as dry as though sleeping
on dry board instead of wet prairie,
and nice little fire in our stoves made
things quite as comfortable as could he
expected.
The first regiment of the Douglas
Brigade, was encamped three miles
from Upton but left on the morning
after our arrival, together with four
other regiments commanded by Gen.
Hunter, for Warsaw, on the Usage
river, about fifty miles to the southwest
from Upton, where Gen. Fremont now
is with the main division of the army.
Of course I cannot giue you any IN
formation aohich might be made use Of
By the enemy to has comfort. ] did
not see any of the Dowagiac boys in
the Douglas Brigade, but l heard that
they were all we'll and anxious for
brush with the seceshers.
Upton is a station on the Pacific
Railroad, and is situated in the centre
of large prairie as fertile as any of
the prairies Of Illinois, and to my taste
much more beautiful. 1t has popula-
ton of about 800, although at present,
owing to the war troubles, about one
half of the inhabitants, principally
secesh have vamosed the ranch"
All the cities and villages that have
seen in Missouri appear to lack that
spirit of enterprise and energy that
characterizes the cities and villages of
Michigan. zr-
/ was detailed for special duty at ST.
Louis, for the purpose of constructing
some engineering apparatus connected
with our corps, under the direction of
Lieut. E. A. Preston, which will ac-
count for this letter being mailed at St.
Louis instead of Upton. 1 expect to
leave St. Louis in about week to join
the corps, wherever they may be at