Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-12-27
OUR ARMY CORRESPONDENCE
CAMP McKEAN, |
Jefferson City, Dec. 10, 1861. !

10 Wen, VIC went and came again, "'iNn''
. here about noon to-day.
wrote to you in the evening, Saturda.
e last, after We had got on board the beats, ant
!. will now give you the events of our tr'p-th'
first practical experience of the Eleventh II
chasing the rebels. The trip was quite
pleasant one, and attended with no bloodshcd
Except cnicken blood) or serious mishaps
We left Jefferson City little before mid
night, on Saturday, and steamed away up the
river. After leaving the wharf the Colonel
opened the sealed orders and found we were
to 60 as scouting party, to- break up rebel
camps, intercept any rebel recruits that might
be going from the Northern part of this State
to join Prices army, spy out such articles as
are contraband, &c. Our orders werc to
land at the town of Providence, % miles from
here, on the north side of the river, and
march out to Columbia, the county seat of
Boon county, to destroy rebel camp which
was reported to be in the neighborhood.
We landed at Providence just before sun
rise on Sunday morning, and after few
hours delay, during which time few real
'Secssh friends were placed under the protec
ton of the stars and stripes, we started for
Columbia, distant 10 or IL miles. A body of
cavalry kept busy spying through the woods
on either side and in front of us, to see that
there was no concealed foe to waylay us
When we got within two and half miles of
town the cavalry reported that there was no
body of rebels in the place, and then a halt
was ordered for the cavalry to feed their
horses, and the boys to eat their suppers-
Our supper was pltin one, consisting of
hard crackers and raw bacon. The boys eat
their supper, and had general symyathizing-
time over their not finding any rebels to
thrash, when Col. Hare ordered attention,
Battalion-left, tace," and a forward march"
back to the river.
We reached the boats about 10 o'clock at
night, and was soon under way for Boonville,
where we arrived early the next morning, and
lay to for few hours to make coffee and pass
off time.
In the afternoon we crossed to the opposite
side of the river from Boonville, and waited
until nearly sunset, when Companies A, E,
and & were ordered on shore under arms,
aud with two days rations in their havresacks.
About 30 of the cavalry were also ordered
off, and the whole put under command of our
Major, Abercombie. When we had formed
in column we were informed that we were
gong on surprise expedition, and that we
must observe y strict silence during the |
march. Our tin cups were fastened SO they
would not jingle against our other straps
and make mise.
just at dus we started for the little town |
of Boonsboro, - miles from the river, in
Howard county. We slipped along silly, and
about midnight came to the edge of the viii
lage. a halt was whispered at the head of
the column, and all silently stopped The
Major called for 20 men from Company A,
and as SON as called for the number jump
ped forward, willing to be leaders. Your cor
surprising the 20 were TO open
on the rebels and stir them up, and also be-
ing anxious to see the beginning of the fun,
so as to be able to give you the 'earliest par
ticulars from an eyewitness" piled into the
squad. We "primed," and were then put
under Lieut.. Madden, ard ordered to sur
round the south side of the place and allow
no one to lave unless followed by one of our
musket pills" which We were to send after
any straying or fleeing Secesher who refused
to halt
In less time than it takes me to mention it,
the village was in the hands of Union men !;
but Oh what disappointment! Tho rebels
had
"-snufed the battle afar off,"
and taken to themselves travelling resolves,
leaving but little in the place but old men
and the women. The women, almost with
out an exception, were widows-their men
having gone off to war, we guessed. The
houses were all searched and made to yield |
up all contraband articles, among which was
variety Of guns and pistols, and a consider
able quantity Ct POWDER, few suits Of clo-
thing for Prices men, &c. We arrested
some rebels, among whom was the Postmas
ter. Some of the men were released on ia
king the oath, and the others we brought
here with US, and they are now lodged in the
State House.
After the fun was over and the regular line
of guards put out, the boys unrolled their
blankets and turned n for nap, appropria-
ting for bedroom the garden of one of our
secesh charges. AS soon as the chickens !
began to crow, the boys knew it was time to |
be up to see after our breakfast, having re
solved the evening before that the people |
should furnish the material therefor, even
though we had to cook it. Unjust say, in re-
spect to the citizens Of Boonsboro, that they
seemed willing to let our boys have what they |
wanted to make out our breakfast.
After dinner we packed up and left the re-
bcl town, our band playing Yankee Doodle |
for them as we left.
In the evening, after we returned to the
boats, the cavalry found a lot of powder con-
cealed under hay stack.
The result of the expedition is quite good,
having secured over two tons of powder, sew
eral horses large quantity of musket caps,a
lot of clothing, &C., besides bringing in some
six or eight prisoners.
| Several cases of small pox have occurred in
the regiment, but none in company A, as yet.
A few of the boys have been down with the
measles, but are all doing well now.
A serious accident happened to one Of our
men this evening. James johnson, Of Fair
mort. went to cut some poles to hang our