Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-08-09
|ouR ARMY CORRESPONDENCE
Hp.nor ARrrRs ARMY OF TIE SOUTHWEST,
"DSo A.. J,,l,y 90 1851 (

SPRINGFIELD, MO-, July ~, looi')
seize n few moments to drop you hast!
line. We are still in camp ten miles from TIM
place. Last night l had the honor OF attend
ing Col. Bates, as one of his staff, on a md
night ride to this place. Yesterday Afternoon
the Cd Kansas regiment lett camp for Green
field, where it was reported that the Unlo'
men were hourly expecting an attack iron
Gen. Rains We have heard nothing as We
from it.
The people of this county were much alarm
ed by report on Saturday, that jackson wa
advancing on this place with 10000 men. l
was doubtless pure fabrication.
There is considerable sickness among our reg
iment. Company A have fifteen sick. Mr.
John Miller had a tolerably severe bilious at
tack, u; nov recovering rapidly. Mr.
Judson Clark, Mr.. Maginnis, Mr.. Sales, Mr.
Richardson, Sergeant Norris, Mr. Kiefer, Mr.
Rupp, Mr.. Orr, Mr.. Willie, Mr.. Geiger, Mr.
Reed, and Mr.. Dority, are all more or less il
none seriously, however, but the two forme1
and Mr.. Kiefer, who have been quite sick
but are, think, now convalescent.
Mr.. Clifford has been appointed corporal ii
our company very merltorious selection
Mr.. Clifford has been one of the best and mos
reliable soldiers in the regiment. Company
C are all WELL The boys have borne them
selves heroically through all their priyations
They have been for some time on half rations
and marching twenty and thirty miles a day
at that, and yet no grumbling is heard ; but
their enthusiasm and courage is as ardent and
unhagging as at the beginning.
Reports are coming thick and fast of more
trouble in North Missouri. I think the Isl
Iowa will have to make another trip through
that unruly country and re-convert them. II
may appeor strange to you, but it is fact,
that the secession element in Missouri is in
the North and center, right in the rich and
intelligent portion of it. This is my state
ment of the cause The people of Missouri
are divided as follows:
SEcEssIoNIsTs.--1st. The rich landowners
and shareholders. I'd. The professional elias s.
es, the educated men, and the gentry general
ly. Sd. The rowdes, DULLES, and despera-
does. 4th. Needy adventures, Yankee rene
gades, and the unsettled portion Of community
generally.
UNION MEN-1st The small farmers who
do their own work. I'd. Mechanics and la
borers. 3d. The Germans and Irish. 4th.
The mercantile population.
This is the natural division according to
their sympathies. But out Of each class, es-
pecially in the Union division, there are a
large number of persons who are governed by
fear and interest, and are Union or secession
as the strong side goes. With these facts you
would naturally expect the case to be just as
we find 1.-THE rich and populous parts Of The
State secession; the poorer and mountainous
regions Union. And it is true also that there
is more spirit, courage and sacrifice on the
part of the seccssonists than of the Union
lists. 1 quite surprised a Union farmer the
other day in the midst Of long statement of
the wrongs and grievances they had suffered
him that had very little sympathy with the
Union mcnin Missouri-that l never saw a
people with so little spunk, and who could be
kicked and cuffed with such IMMUNITY as they,
and hope never to see another He had to ad-
NIT it, but plead the want of arms. That is
poor excuse. The fact is they do not have
the spirit This is applicable more to the
North than the South portion. In Southern
Missouri we have met many brave, daring
Union men, and their number IS increasing.
There are exceptions, Of course, all over the
State In our regiments no Drawer soldiers or
harder fighters can be found than the German
and Irish soldiers from St. Louis and Iowa.
| think that we will start homeward in five
or six days. Tell every one to direct their let
tiers to St. Louis, care of Col. Bates, LIST Iowa
regiment, unless otherwise advised by their
correspondents here We have had no late
news from home and are very anxious to hear
from you. Send several dates Of the Journal.
Its advent is always greeted with eagerness.
And now to horse and back to that tiresome
old camp.
Drum Major Cummins returned last Friday
looking extremely we'll and in good health
and was heartily greeted by his comrades, who
had missed him very much.
Capt Mason informs me that he has the
promise of commission to raise new regi
ment in Iowa. which he will commence to dc
Immediately on his return. He has no doubt
of its being raised and accepted.
II. ]. c.
WGod Almighty himself cannot abolish