The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1861-09-17
Correspondence of the Guardian


CANr DEFIANCE, JEFFERSON CRY, Mo.,l
Sept I, 1861.
FRIEND RrcH A copy Of the Guar.
dian. dated Aug. 81, lies before me, and
you may be sure its contents were read
with pleasure. Nothing is sought after
with more avidity by the company, than
a perusal Of its pages, and it becomes al
most necessary, at times, to have guard
stationed over one in order to keep it.
BY it we heard that Capt. Hord had left
with gallant company for the seat OF
war. carrying with him the warmest
wishes and prayers of the numerous
friends left behind. May they ever sus.
tain the high expectations that have been
formed Of them, and nobly yindlcate the
cause Of truth and liberty. We are now
fairly initiated in all the beauties of cam
paigning, with tents, knapsacks and all
the various e. ceteras deemed requisite
tor soldier. A camp life, as we'll as
any other. has lis different places of So
ciety, which may be divided into three
classes. First. there's your sober, seda'e,
peace-loying fellows, who smoke their
pipes. read papers, and spin most interim
Unable yarns Of an evening, by the mess.
fires. They are quite sensitive in regard to
forming new associations, and allow none
but a favored few to come within their
circle. Between meals, the time that is
not consumed in reading and smoking.
is usually devoted to inventing some new
and savory stew. wherewith to tempt
their appetites, and gain the appreciation
Of some ommissioned officer. Glass No.
2 are perfectly contented to take things
as they are, and never trouble themselves
TO 90 beyond the list ofluxuries provided
for them by the commissary general and
sutler. To wash their faces, comb their
hair. and groan for the sight Of an or
chard filled with peaches and apples. is
their principal employment. No. , diff
fers from all of these. Like the grea,
Yiany tese kiany, they pride themselves
upon the pains nature took in providing
for them a lower sphere. 1t is immater-
ial to them whether they eat more than
once day or not, while washing, and
other refining processes. is conceded by
universal consent to be barbarous prac-
tice and never INDUCED in, except when
the Col. foolishly persists in its execu.
tion. Their acme Of human hsppiness is
attained when in possession Of a pack o.
cards. plug Of tobacco, and five cen,
ante. This class is generally styled the
fancy mess, and is le, alone by all those
who wish to got the best end of a joke
But one fact is worthy OF observation
whenever a poor fellow gets into diff
Guilty. and is placed under guard, none
are more ready TO extend to him THEN
sympathies. even 10 parting with tho las
cracker. II one Of the home guards ap
pears destitute Of coat or pants. he il
forthwith supplied, and the decd Of char
ity charged to the fancy mess. To b,
sure the inmates Of sundry hen. .roosts
cry out for vengeance agains. them, bu
the broth Of their companions served Il
invigorate the frame OF many weak
homesick fellow. and it certainly mus
be right in the sight Of all who like L
see forasing done up on the square.
WEDNESDAY,, Aug. %.
-Four companies of our regiment re
ceived orders to march down the I
Usage, eight miles below here, to guar