Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1861-09-20
CORRESPONDENTS or THE c&xETTi
From the Third Regiment.

From the Third Regiment.
- HUDses, No., Sept. IA, 1861.
Friend Perkins, Just as did, I didn't
that is, Ihave sat down, pen in hand, head
level, and got a good ready" number Of
times lately to tell you Of the "boys." Would
get as far as the date, perhaps introduce the
subject, when along would come General Or
der, No. -, to move somewhere without
delay, and it has been move, so, propel, for
the last four weeks constantly. 1t is said
that three moves are as bad as a fire: If so
we have been burned OUT frequently
First up the road-then DOZEN the roa,l--then
off the road into the brush. The most to-
dious, unproductive trip We have yet had in
the service, was the expedition to krksville
in Adair County, thirty-fivc miles northfof
this place. Five hundred OF the 81 Iowa I'M
der Lieut. Col Scott s'mosicd'' along up there
to surprise. @ the enemy, and occupy that
country for short period or until the
Home Guards would receive their arms,
which were expected Gaily. Well, we got
there-werc met by, a squadron of Home
Cavalry at the edge of the town-speeches
from Col Scott and Major Stone, and into
the city of kirksville we went to the music
of half dozen drums and lifes, with colors
flying, and on every sides, shouts for the
Union. This shouting for the " Union
by citizens Of Missouri, promiscuously, is
about "played out" Many, very many of
them, are as warm in their affection for the
Stars and Stripes as we can possibly be, but
so many instances have we seen Of men,
noisy for the Union, when it has boenproycn
that their demonstrations. were for the prcser-
walton of liberty and property merely, that
we pause ere we give them credit for an over
plus of patriotism, unless they will connect
themselves with some home organization,
and thus place themselves beyond suspicion.
Arriving in the town we took up quarters in
and around large unfinished church, and
went into corn bread subsistence. Foraging
parties were sent out after -four, potatoes,
&c., with good success for The first week.
after that " fodder was little scarce. Corn
bread got fashionable and the boys were de-
Ilighted--that is they would have been, had
it not been for the corn bread. An cxpedi-
ton with force of two hundred men and two
pieces of artillery, was made to Lancaster,
north, and near the Iowa line, after stock
of goods said to be worth about 50 coo, the
whole under command of our gallant (?) Ma
jor Stone. While getting the goods ready
for transportation, an alarm was given that
the enemy was approaching. The Major
gave orders for instant departure. Every
thing was in confusion. Box after box of
childrcn's shoes, cakes Of fancy soap, innu-
merabe articles of equal value were slowed
away, two ofour men who were writing proc
lama:ions for the Major, were locked up, in
the haste to get away, and such goods as mo-
lasses, -four, &C., of course of no earthly val
ue, or benefit to our worn out, hungry COM
rades, were left on the side walk, for the next
batch of "Scccshers' that might pass that
way. Back to Kirksville came the plumber
of small shoes, etc, the troops and their va
! liant leader The enemy was coming and
that was enough. John Gilpin was "no
whar' and in came the major with his horse
white with foam. q, our Major is a brave
and gallant man. '. -" d"
see by yourissuc of the 9th ult that you
are already posted in regard to ether items
in and about Kirksville. The bows are all
brave enough, but if orders are given they
must be obcyed We left Adair County in
great glce--struck the railroad at Shclbina,
ordered to ,Brookfcd-o ordered back to
Hudson--on to Hunnewel--part of the reg
imcnt to Florida-thc rest to Salt River
bridgc-al back to Hudson, where we now
are, awaiting further orders. Where we will
, 90 next, the Lord only knows While we
were away on our first trip, Col. Williams
with the balance of our regiment and part of
the Kansas I'd were ordered to Paris lie
returned to Shelbina few hours after we
had left there, where he was surrounded by
| n force of Green's numbering from 1000 to
1000 men, and three or four pieces of artill-
:. cry. The Kansas I'd insisted upon leaving
for their homes, - that "they had been
pressed into the trip and it was none of their
fight &c. Their departure would leave the
Col with only about $50 men and no artillery.
Quite an alteration cnsucd, which ended in
the Kansas men going west after the officers
had signed paper stating the Colonel to be
man of undoubtcd GOODNESS and bravery,
and taking the whole blame of the retreat
, upon themselves. Two days after General
, Pope came up from the east with Il large
force. Our regiment met him at Hunnewell.
On our ARRIVAL tnefe Ucn HuflOurt ana Col.
Williams were ordered to report themselves
= under arrest The General for drunkenness
) and general misconduct--the Colonel for his
retreat from Shelbina. 81 y..H.H .a .-fr..
In the month of August list of charges
and specifications We're drawn up against
Col. Williams signed by majority of the
officers of the regiment, charging him with
drunkenness, disordcrly conduct, ETC., ETC.,
in the handwriting and aided and allotted by
one DR.. L. o. Edwards of Dubuque, Iowa.
To start with, will simply say that anyone
who says that Col. Williams has been inca
pacitated from duty, through the effects of
liquor, lies AS to the other charges they
amount to nothing, being wholly untrue
One signature to the paper was affixed with
out the knowledge and in the absence of the
owner. On his return he wrote to the Col
onel denying all completely with the affair.
Three others have already expressed a chc. noe
Of sentiments, having acted heretes' ore ent;r
ly on Misrepresentation made hy DR. Ed
wards and few Office seekiry un9rincipled
, / mol ttaIan y