The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-09-04
From the Camp.
Correspondence Of the Courier.

From the Camp.
Correspondence Of the Courier.
lIEApouARrERs I'd REor. Iowa voLrNrKKRs,
IKoSroS, Missouri, Aug. 20, 1861.
Mr.. EDITOR The only items of news concerning the
2d Iowa Regiment have 10 send you up to this date,
that viii be OF interest you that we received on
she 3th rather unexpectedly, orders to strike tents
and prepare to move northward to some unknown.
point. On the 10th boarded the "New Uncle SAM ,.
and the fleet, four steamers, having the 9TH and It'll
Illinois Regiments aboard arrived Sulphur Springs
little town the Missouri side some 80 miles south
ofSt Louis, at o'clock A. N. on Saturday the 17th
and imme diately disembarked, ana as soon.as could
be took the for Pilot Knob. The route through
this part Of Missouri is entirely barren Of interest
One Of two little towns, built upin Southern style,
served as stopping places, and furnished convenient
esortnnities for tina siE % villainous whskey
and lagerbeers Ilmow whereof speak, for tried
it Che beer1i The rest of the country only to
fill up space and keep the world together. A few
bridges across muddy creek, guarded by soldiers,
fbw patches of hafgrown corn, that nsver will pay
the expense of planting, few cotton flags, few
hurrahs from a few Union men too cowardly to fght
and the story is told. The importance esthe Road
and the country through which ID passes, lies In its
being a thoroughfare over which passes the maeral
wealth of this vicinity
Let no Iowa man, however dissatisfied he may be
with his farm an'i'crops, think Of changing his
lot for Mt&parkof Missouri. And while the thought
is in my nindlet me express my opinion that no por-
ton cftMissour that have passed over, offers 1.-THE
ofthe Inducements for farmer, or indeed for any
other man Of business, that the Des Moines Valley
does. Neithep In merchantiie, mechanical or an
agricultural view. Don't think of going to Missouri
because land is cheap. 1t ought to be cheap, and
yet It would be a dear bargain to any Iowa farmer
once possessed eiiit.
Pilot Knob is the first sensible looking place saw
This Is the terminus Of the railroad. A very nice
looking village, at the foot OF the mountain from
which II takes its name. Here the manufactures
for converting ore into iron, only In opera
ton The principal one contains the machinery for
running the cars mp the mountain. This track, up
the inclined plane is in full view from the village
Ore is taken out the top and slid down in
One Of our boys thinks this would be nice place to
slide down hill in winter.
At Pilot Knob unloa led ourselves and the cars,
and while late dinner was being cooked we occupied
ourself In sauntering around seeing the sights. The
main features Of the place was great many men in
the streets and stores hotels and Saloons all Of whom
soldiers, in uniform, others in grey shirts
and ragged pants, who seemed intent on destroying
all the lager and whiskey In town, by drinking the
stuff up thought the success most complete, and If
certain Regiments AREAS sucoessfuln charge against
seceshers as they are against decanters and lager
mags athen will victory pirch upon our banners."-
We made our grand round in accordance with the
regulations. and returning cloud Of dust rising
down street. suspecting there was something human
about IT, we approached In time to hear sharp voice
! Mt hapn al forh hall
hour AFTER should not be taken upon my representa-
lions. 1t 10 said that Company F. It'll Regiment,
Capt. Kitredge having just arrived from picket duty
In attempting to bring his company into line was
suddenly attacked by party Of men from wapello
county Nis further said that they were led on by
an individual who shall be nameless and that the in
dividual referred to, performed certain evolutions
not laid down In the school of the soldier the compa
| ny, the battalion nor In the Zouave drill That the
manual Of arms (and hands) was executed in the
most extravagent and moral style that certain eau.
lions and commands were given and received In a
toae Of voice not authorized In Hardee any other
author who has written upon the subject. is fur
tier sat that strong suspicious entertained that
the individual aforesaid might have to be sent to the
saardhouse for conduct not allowed only upon GER
tain occasions when-strong lemOnade-was In, and
wit was out. Personally, have distinct recoiec-
ton ofthe affair, only scas glad to meet the boys
Ifany doubts II let him aits around the country al
haze, among strangers, antathen Unexpectedly meet
Capt. kttredge, Lieut. SAM, and the boys with them
n soas a gay old time, that.
In another hour the I'd Regiment were on their
march for this post Two miles from Pilot Knob is
the charming little town of ronton costly situated
among the hills that one is led to wonder how so
pleasant place should ever have grown up 50 far
away from Ottumwa!
| We passed Pilot Knob on our left and between IL
and another New England locking hill On the right,
following the road, curving to the fef passing thro'
the village Of lronton ami turning sharp 10
the LEFT, at distancs.of half mile We halted and
pitched tents In very level field about
a hundred acres. An among US are cornfelds, or
chards and pastures. few very fine farm houses
aaif cosatry residences indicating country most de-
sirabfe for who loves nature In her most stri-
king and picturesque forms. How we love gaze on
these bold miniature mountains, all around us, these
grand old woods, this quiet little valley, the brook
through the bushes our front, with music So
sweet and the suAdgha so bright, upon every thing
around: Cursed be the hand traitorously raised to
disturb the beauty and quiet of a scene like this.
have notbeen here long enough to learn what reg.
iments stationed here what fsrces are here
expected here. As usual, SUBS kept In ignor-
ance Of prospects, and can only conjecture. THINK
We shall remain here few days. and soon as means
for transportation OF camp equippage can be OBJ.
tanned, We shall move southwark. We have no as.
sarance of staying here day. We have heard moth
ing from home later than the 9th INST Our mail mat
ter has gone to Birds fofnt aad will be forwarded 10
sometime in the future via St. Louis II you should
be interested enough In intellectual emil ghten-
ment to send anything direct till further notice to
Ironton, Mo.
witnessed the dress parade Of the 7th Iowa Regt.
a few evenings ago, Col. Humans, and although
without uniforms they fine looking set of men.
There Ia muscle In the Iowa boys Let the seceshers
beware. Capt. Kittredges company are camped hall
a mile from Ills boys enjoying themselves
sleeping on the ground hugely. Two things Ger.
tain they can do, to-wt: Eat ana. fght. Company X
I'd Iowa ditto. To our friends in wapello we send
greeting PEQuAwKEr Boy,
| IRoSroN, Missouri, Aug. 25, 1861. J.
Sunday evening, 10P.M. {
Ma. EDITOR am sitting in my tent, at this lone
horr Of night beside my rough table, extemporsea es
the occasion by turning up old box and mailing on
pieces Of board for legs have just spread my blan.
night Is cosl woadering II, with all my camp com.
FORTS ought not to be the happiest in the world
Perhaps am, with few drawbacks.
On side Of nv tent is the afor esaid near by
moderate sized travelling trunk nearly full of arti
| ticies Of comfort and conveniences, which usually
stands open. Over 1t on the back tent pole hangs
small lookingglass, sword. belt and SASH Further
to the left my box-tab}e' which night well be CAN