The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1861-08-30
From the Iowa sevsnsh Regiment.
CAMP FarxoNT, lRoHfoH, Mo-,
August 26th. 1861.

ton, sont to Company E, reminds me Of the
non .fulflment Of a promise made to drop
you line once in while, and let the read
ers of the Gate hear OF our whereabouts
We are enoamped in front Of the Court
House, IN this beautiful place, in very com
Portable quarters, having plenty Of grass and
shade, with good water, abundant and con.
venient. To prevent confusion OF names Of
the various localities, you must understand
that Pilot Knob, lronton and Iron Mountain
are pretty much the same thing. The vii
lage Of Pilot Knob 10 tho terminus Of the
Iron Mountain Railroad. 1ronton, whore
ws are, 10 about two miles south OF Pilot
Knob village, and 10 the county scat Of Iron
county. The term Iron Mountain, think is
used to designate this entire locality in gen.
eral, although there 10 point some miles
from here that elaims the name 10 particular.
This Iron Mountain Railroad 10 ore OF the
best, il not tho very best, in the west. II
cost - much - some Of the eastern rail-
roads, and in every respect looks like them.
The numerous deep cuts through rock, iron
bridges, heavy fills, - we'll ~ tho general
appearance Of the country between here and
St. Louie, reminds me Of New York or New
England scenery. Leaving the mineral ont
Of count, the entire counsry through which
she railroad passes, does not seem TO Do
worth the cost Of the construction Of . rail-
road. But the value Of tho iron ore, pro-
sumo, 10 beyond computation. Il seems 10
BE- exhaustless in quantity and excellent 10
quality, being, l learn, nearer pure metal
than any other iron ore found in any con-
siderable quantity.
Az notice your correspondence In the
Second Regiment gives . general dsscrip-
tion Of the region, viii add nothing on that
subject. There il one Of bic s.ssensnss,
however, that oannos be proved BY me, and
that 10 what be says 10 regard TO tho Union
mon here. Thore are some, presume, but |
think they are not numerous enough to merit
particular notice. The fact 10, that before
the Union forces came here, the rebels had
driysn of or SCARED on the ont and ont Union
men, and since Our advent, the straight oot
"sseesh" have sloped, consequently those
remaining are OF kind that cannot we'll be
olassed with either. II seems strange the
almost entire absence Of women and child
ron. There are bat few to be seen, and they
are shy. The same remark will apply to
other things, such A. dsrkies, cattle, chick
ems and oil such things, always excepting
pigs, they seem numerous ~ we'll ~ soei.
sble from the way they visit " .. I'll hours
Of the day. Fully tvo-.hirds Of the houses
are vacant, and they are generally good and
new once. We have new church for hos
pital, court house for guard house, and some
8or 10 dwellings for officers and meme quar-
tors.
The health OF the men has suffered some
what since We have been here, probably 10
consequences Of the change Of temperature.
The nights, since We have been here, are
gate cold, and the days hot. Still, none are
seriously sick, and none - yet will remain
in the hospital over night. Tho boys 81 sns
Gate City Guards are we'll, with three OF
four exceptions, and they are oil recovering.
Considerable latitude 10 usually sl-
lowed, or at least taken, BY army cores
pondsnts, 10 tho use OF "soft SOLDER" and
iodiscriminats praiss Of stan, Geld, and CON
pany of6esrs, and pet companies. ! shall
not now, nor hereafter attempt TO nee much
space in "your snf4esttol, vaisabis and
widslvr circulating joMym0p 10 thst styls Of
sonposi.ion-th that not being my "forts. p
Justice end truth, however, require ne 10
say he s.Gallaos Seventh" are quite veil
sssisded with ourselves, knowing that thia
regiment 10 inferior to mono 10 10 volossssi
service. The company and sta1 oaiosrs seen
70 be and are justly entitled TO the respsss
end senA lsDee Of shs entire command
OololoDs Lauman 10 ~ popular, both = I
nan and 90 officer, ~ any oAioer 10 the ssr.
woe, and I An fally impressed With tie ~
lief that it 10 that kind Of popslarity ms
viii last.
10 regard TO future movensats can a4or(
you no Intelligence. 4 sepposs u ! knew
anything on that subject worth soonuoisat
INK, shoald brsak ruls By % doing, ID,
necessity Of which must bs apparent. II
car regiment ever gsss fully o1csred ant
organised, ! will send yoa correct list o.
the ssaf, asld, and sonpsny o6eers, - vol
- lies Of the nsnss Of tho Gate OFT,
0uards.
The loenl enemy have. to ell appearance
vanosea tho ranche. The southsrn invader
q The "saorsd soil" 81 Missoari, are said Il
Be soms SO TO 60 miles south Of 10, 10 forc'
varlously estimated iron 6,O0O, 50 ssn tins,
that humber. When We move Sossh from
this caop, our friends u home must under