The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1861-12-28
FROM BENTON RARRACKs.
CAMP BENTON, ST. Louis,
December 24th. 1861.

why inspections happen so frequently, nor
allowed to question their usefulness; a
saff eient fact for him is that they do hap
pen; consequently, last week we had two.
On Thursday the Sd Iowa Cavalry were
oil trotted out, bag and baggage, and IN
spectcd by Gen Strong, commander of
this post. He WAS accompanied by his
staff, Capt, II. z. Curtis and Adjutant
Mckenny--his right and left bowers
and went through the ceremony of in
spection in manner most satisfactory to
himself and to the regiment. General
Strong, | am sorry to say, don appear to
the best advantage on horseback He is
about FIVE feet four one way, and four feet
five the other, and never having belonged
to cavalry regiment he is quite limo.
cent Of certain little rules laid down in
the I'd volume of Cavalry Tactics. page
II, paragraph go, as to the regulation of
ones arms and legs. TO lie sure, il was
not written for Generals arms and legs.
but if they will hop about so promiscu-
ously, ii wouldn't hurt even General TO
read the article referred to. In his pres.
ent style, il Gen, Strong would only wear
spurs on his .oes and elbows he d be the
must unapproachabie6eneral in the field,
But there's one thing he can do, this
Gen. Strong; he can make speech, as
all We boys who heard him Oh Thursday
last Will testify. After We were inspect
ed TO his satisfaction, We formed hollow
square with the General and staff and the
regimental field officers in its center, and
then the Old General opened Hp with enc
oi his mast patriotic, enthusiastic, COM
phmeutary speeches. lie is remarkably
happy in tins respect, and could make
every man in the Grand Western feel on
good terms with himself for whole week.
His remarks OH Thursday last were no
exception 70 his usual Practice. lie
"a Iowa Cavalry, sir, is big things
il was the beginning, miIdl4 and tHd ct
his harangue.
Who's going 10 give The Rebeish-t
cause The siars and stripes from sumter fell
The Third Iowa Cavalrt:
Bless us if we could have pitched IN
then, somebody would have been hurt
sure That speech oughtto be published
IN the Gate, and as wcpassed resolution
to that effect, ! hope the thing will be nc.
eompished.
But the most interesting feature of last
Thursday was the 'scrnb-ruce. as we
boys dubbed IT, Col. Bussey has been
untlrlng in his endeavors to inspire the
men with a sense Of order and cleanliness
about barracks, and SO the other day. for
the sake of exciting some emulation in
the matter, eur worthy Colonel promised
to the company that could show the clean
est quarters load Of apples. You d bet
ter believe there was some fancy stub.
bIng done in this row of barracks. for Mt
II We all went, with brooms and brushes.
soap and suds---a regular attack Of house.
cleaning, which every mothers son OF u.
mnst haze experienced some -,iiae-e
other The result was truly marvellous
and the poor committee appointed to ex
anime the quarters, after nosing up art
down, IN and out, eyes right aud eyes left
through our whole line Of barracks, wer,
Obliged TO return verdict of mot dirty.
Then The question naturally rz, "Who'
going to have the apples Things wcr
getting rather mixed, for, of course, if w
Were all IN the same state Of sublimate,
scrubbedncss, approval OF any Iarticula
case was dubious, and apples dubiouscr
Al this critical moment the Colonel sci
tied the matter BY giving 20 every com
pany liberal supply of apples and to CO
7 The additional favor of a special eoppl
ment.
The inspection on Saturday, conducte
b, Lieut.. Col st-en, "a Dragons. 4. !
A, and Commander.in.C Chief Of the Cav
airy nj this post. was tie most sensibl,
ostensifde inspection we ever had. Gu
sleen has hecn in he Cavalry service fQ
tie lat twenty years. and the few CON
nonsense, practicable suggestions h
made, were worth more 10 US than all III
rey.e"s aud Inspections We have vel ca
aared lie ssened sell pleased with on
horses anu equipments. but our quarter
he objected 70, very unresersedly, as b
ING too crowded and ba,}h, ,1,n.a