The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1861-10-17
OUR TRIP.

OUR TRIP.
Arrived At Davenport in due season,
we marched TO the river margin, when
we were placed in rank and file, guards
being detailed to guard the ground and
procure the indispens;bles in the shape
of cooking utensils and food. Our din
ner did not consist OF "Four and twenty
Black birds baked in pie" but of that
household sa,actatie called Pork, in con-
nection with bakers bread, and capped
by draught If River water half boiled
by the sun, and rendered delicious by
the number Of horses which drank at
its edge, in addition to the barefooted
Urchins who stood knee deep in the
fluid, catching minnows that sported
near the surface. However we ate
hearty, drank and felt satisfied.
Everything being ready we boarded
the "Clara IIine" a. small boat, but OF
tolerable speed, having two barges in
tow, and amidst loud cheering sought
the middle Of the stream and faced
towards Dixie The Barges were
intended for the men, hay being placed
~ tie floor; each one sought his par
ticular place and secured it in sunlight
as well as in darkness. The first even
ing was pleasant one; nothing tran.
spircl to disturb the heavy slumbcr Of
our men, except twice during the night,
two s'Gay birds fell overheard but
were brought out all right, to the IN
finite amusement of the lockers on.
EARLY the next morning the clouds
were filed with mist, and as the day
advanced rain began to fall, making orr
situation rather disasreeablc. We
passed several towns during the night
which were familiar but worthy of note,
and the centre Of attraction was men,nr-
able Nuuroo 50 CONSPICUOUS i'll the his
tory Of our sister State. The situation
is a beautiful one, but her public bull
diags are not very attractive. The
ruins Of the Temple still stand, ana may
be seen from the river, more Of i cur
iosity on account its history, than from
is display of architecture. l leyelcd
glass that was handed me by Gentle
man by my side and could see the two
main pillars loom up over all the other
buildings, chiscled and worn by time,
and as we receded from it, thought
Of 'Iryings" description of"A lhambra'
minus the moonliyht." Shortly after
wards we came in sight of Keoknk,
situated inst above the mouth Of the
Desmoine River. It is the head Of ma
v;gation for the largest class OF Steam
Boats, and Contains the Medical de-
partment Of the State University. The
town is principally built on a high bluff
commanding a full view of the river
\ regiment Of Cavalry was quartered
there, as we passed down, they had
some very fine horses, and were prin-
cipally "Iowa Boys.
We again made a turn and in few
hours passed Quincy, a fine looking
place, and of q considerable Importance.
It is situated loo miles west Of Spring
field the Capital and has considerable
commerce. On the south side Of the
city was quartcred large body of
troops, which afterwards proved to be
"Mulligan's Boys" on their way home.
As We came directly opposite they
cheered and waved the glorious old
Stars and Stripes. while some exnltant
in victory run out an old "Seccssion
Flag" riddlcd with bullets and torn by
close encounter. A short distance be-
low we came to Hannibal the eastern
terminus of the Hannibal and st. Joseph
r. X. Gradually slopeing to the waters
edge, with regular laid out streets, bor
dered with ornamental and shade trees,
and beautiful private residences, it has
the appearance Of thriving town, and
compares favorably with any second
rate town that we passed. As the
shades ofnight deepened, we landed on
the Missouri side to prepase our even
ing meal, during which time fuel was
procured for the boat, when all being