The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1861-11-05
Correspondence of the Guardian.

and the home the homely, might not
be undressing to the readers Of your
excellent paper, embrace the present
opportunity, and will note down a few
items and incidents that are common and
peculiar 10 a soldiers life We left Ben
ton Barracks in the forenoon of the l2th,
and took the cars at St. Louis about 3
o'clock in the afternoon, and started for
Camp Heron, arriving there about 10
o'clock at night. The road was very
rough and uneven, and having probably
the heaviest load the old Iron Horse ever
drew, it travelled at snails pace, and
we were somewhat astonished when we
we're informed that we were only 81
miles from St. Lsuis. Along the line Of
the road the country is very broken and
uneven, with timber in abundance !;
while here and there could be seen farm
houses that betokerod thrift and pros
/ perity, with fruit in abundance, that re
calls scenes that have transpired in youth
among the hills of the old Granite State
Camp Heron is situated between two
bluffs, that rise in spledid magnfcencc,
the tops Of which are enveloped in dense
ague fog while along the sides are huge
rocks, enormous stumps, and a conven-
lent supply Of bushes, probably just
enough to make the double quick from
The base to the summit Of such a nature
rs TO enable those who accomplish it to
diminish his allowance Of rations with
alacrity The boys are enjoying them
selves first rate, passing away the leisure
time in approprialing to themselves ap-
pies, and such things, from those of sus-
pected loyalty, and in scouting by par.
ties of from three or four up to fifty, ac
ccrdlng to the game we are in pursui! Of,
Five Of our companies are stationed along
the Railroad, guarding the bridges to
keep them from being fired by the reb-
els, and III visiting those who are known
TO be enemies to their country. The
Sergeant that guards the bridge mile
from camp arrested two last week, and
took them into camp. had the pleas
ure Of helping capture them. They were
mounted, and we had quite an exciting
chase, but finally they were headed, and
taken into camp for inspection. The
Col. dismissed one Of them after admin
istering to him the oath. The other is a
prisoner now We have seven Of the
critters, and the "pile" is still increas-
ing. would Ike to give description
Of a regular secesh, but tina! is an impos,
sibilty. To do him justice would be out
of the question. One who has been in
the land of secesh any length OF time can
tell one Of them almost to a dead certain
/ y by their downcast, forsakcn, and
sneaking counenances, yellow and iaua-
dice looking, occa8oned probably by
their being in such close proximity to
the Iowa 9th, and knowing. az they
must, that the day Of retribu.on is close
at hand unless they repent. They have
none of that noble manlines5 that can
stand before the world and say as Their
proudest cXpression " am an Amer.
can" | am one Of a party that is going
out tomorrow, and think we shall have
some sport before We return. There are
considerable many Home Guards about
here, and also good many Missouri boys
who are in the service during the war !
conyersed with quite number of them,
and they say we are too easy with those
we take. They say ii any one is wick
ed, degraded and malicious enough to
raise his arm against the best noblest,
hollest and most prosperous government
The world has ever seen--a government
that lifts up the downrodIen and gives to
All however poor, an opportunity Tor no.
Die poslion-they say that death to such
traitors, is far better than they deserve.
The Union men see AMI feel the effects
Of this monstrous rebellion, and great
many have been forced to join tie army
10 save themselves from The cowarlly
rebels, and they say il Is The safest place
man can find. There was an alarm
last night, occasioned by some of the
guards imagining that tAey saw or heard /
some one in the bushes near by where
they were stationed. They discharged /
their pieces at the imaginary something,
gave the alarm, and in a very few min
utes every company was drawn up in
line OF battle ready to meet the enemy
Ii turned out 10 be a false alarm the on
Is spy that could be found was an IN.
fortunate hog that happened 10 be hunI-
ing nuts. Everything went on smooth. .
" again until about o'clock at night. /
when they raised another alarm. The
iaut nf tho rrIir1 took :, nm IN = 80 ~ n, a.