The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-12-11
Army Correspondence.
BENTON BARRACKS, ST.. LOUIS, }

81
Dec. Sd, 1861. I
Dear 7snses NO doubt you are frown.
ing at the appearance Of my letter, not be-
cause it is my letter, for my selfesteem is
too large to let ME think that; but because
| have delayed writing so long. You must
remember that ! belong to thu army Of the
U. S., and consequently must move slow.
What ] mean by this is that every thing
connected with the army dfags. 1t is evil
dent to my mind that a majority of our
head officers are doing their very best to
put down, and keep down the brakes, in
order that they may amass fortunes by
their great salaries. But Of the 18th Reg.
iment.
After holding ourselves in readiness to
march for some three days, We at last got
away from Camp Union, which, on account
of the cold, came very near being camp
dis-union. The day before leaving, the
cold became so intense that our field and
company officers began to tremblc for other
reasons than the cold. The boys began to
''break guard" by squads and strike for
warmer quarters. Seeing this, the orders
were issued, and the regiment was marched
to the city, where we were quartered for
eighteen hours in the city halls. Here we
were warm, and the good friends of Dubu-
que supplied US with coffee as warm as
their hearts. 1t was none of your bitter
coffee, but nearly as sweet as the ROSY
Tipped lasses who so often furnished u.
with sweet cakes, pies, nuts apples, and
other things too sweet to mention. ..a
The Canada and City Belle wsre engaged
to take us to St. Louis, but just when we
were ready to start, they were seized with
a hatred at drift ice ut the same time took
shine to Dubuque and wouldn't go. AL.
most desperate our field officers charged
upon the telegraph Office at Dunleith--sent
order on lightning quick for cars, and on
the evening Of Thursday, Nov 2sih. twen-
ty-four cars came laundering into Dunleith
on double quick" Before getting into the
cars the whole regiment, led by ComstocA,
of the University Recruits, sang the Star
Spangled Banner, to the memory of our
friends in Iowa. Oh, friends, I wish you
could have heard your sons aud husbands
sing. never heard such stirring music.
The night was cold and dark, but we were
suffering, and were going to suffer together.
We seemed to feel this, 1t made US as one,
and ten hundred strong voices joined in
one song that made the heavens and earth
tremble. After singing, We gave three
rousing cheers for the Union, and Jumped
aboard the cars. Here we found good stoves
doing their duty. With singing. Joking,
and story telling, and without any accident
we arrived Mt St. Louis on Saturday morn
ing. The battalion was formed and we
started through the city for Benton Bar
racks. While marching through the city
kept my eyes and ears open to learn the
general feeling Of the people. heard al.
most continually such marks as, "Iowa
sends out noble soldiers" those are Iowa
boys, III bet" The hurrahins was pretty
equally divided between Iowa, the Union,
and Fremont, but if any difference Iowa
had it. | frequently noticed mothers hold
ing their little ones up and telling them
eagerly to hurrah for Iowa and the Union
Although many in St. Louis were glad to
see W. coming. noticed many VIII.
irowned fiercely at our approach, and who
evidently wished US safely on the other SID,
OF Jordon. No doubt many Of your r,a
ders think AS did that there are grea,
many negroes in ST. Louis; but did not
see but eighteen while passing through tn
city, and we marched through it distance
of four and half miles. Arrived ut Cam,
Benton We had to run the gauntlet through.
several regiments Of Iowa volunteers VIII
greeted Us with ringing shouts of welcome.
shouting ''we'r" all ers now!' Did you
leave any at homer &c.
1t is useless to describe Camp Benton a>
that has been done Ivy previous corrr.p"n
dents. Last Sunday Gen. Hall,ck wa,
here and grand re.ie of the sol iiers took
place. 1t is said to have been exc-Iei ONLY
by the grand review Of Gen Mcclellan.
Twenty thousand soldiers were on revi ".
They were composed Of TWO sections OF ar
t'llcry, several r,gin ms &c cavalry, aud
battalion after battalion OF well armed IL
| fantry. 1t is said that in the city, Is n'on
Barracks, and out i.ickel>, there are II 900
men. The troops are from Iowa, Missouri,
Illinois aud Mich gan.
Accidents occur frequently in the Bar
racks. Two men and one woman have beer,
shot since We came here. The first MAS
fooling with his gun in company with an
old acquaintance, when his friend dIscharg
ed his piece, the ball passing Through the
topof the head, and tearing off the top OF
the skull He died Instantly. The woman,
was shot while trying to break guard. 1,
II