The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1861-09-26
From the Iowa Second.
CAMP JEFFERSON, Ky.
Sept. Is. 1861.

| AD' uhiL VII udA Ho SOoHet
mailed my last letter to you, from Camp
| Crittenden, than we received orders to
'pull up stakes" and march back again
to Camp Holt.
We had proceeded about two-thirds OF
the distance when a courier overtaking us
brought dispatch countermanding the
previous orders, and requiring US to en-
camp at old Fort Jefferson, distant back
Of US about mile and . half about
face" the Colonel said, and "about face"
we did, and retraced our steps in lively
manner, not grumbling, but joking at this
uncertainty peculiar to our movements.
The departure Of the Illinois Gath and
10Th so weakened our force at Camp Crit
tenden that it was deemed not advisable
for us to remain thus exposed, only II
miles from Columbus, and this probably
accounts for our removal to this place,
where we ore to await reinforcements be-
fore proceeding southwark. / think we
shall remain heIe few days, but as
said before, our movements are so uncer-
tain that opinions On such points are
worthless.
Our camp derives its name from an old
fort erected here in 1880 by Geo. Rodgers
Clarke, the co-laborer or Boone, by order
of Thomas Jefferson, the Governor Of
Virginia, in order to secure the territory
belonging to Virginia, now State of Ken
lucky, in the peaceful and uninterrupted
navigation of the river. Nothing of this
old block house now remains, but its site
Is covered with corn field.
| had the good fortune this morning to
come across one of those curiosities often
heard Of but seldom seen, in the person Of
the coolest inhabitant. He was the
genuine article, and perfect walking en-
cyclopedia Of the country hcreabouts. /
overheard him this morning while in con-
versation with Colonel Rosa say: "Colonel,
/ moved here about forty years ago, and
the first year killed more'n three hun
dred bars and we used to 20 up the Ohio
river forty miles in an old sdug-out' after
corn, and fetched it down and ground it
in hand-mill to make our bread; but
Lor' me, We had lots o meat. | wish I'd
minded what my old uncle told me when
he said, Dave, if you want to get along
well keep away from the settlements;
keep out-keep on the frontiers We
had good times then, Colonel, no laws
but kind of bylaws. If man didn't
treat us right, why We had nothing more
TO do with him" He spoke of blowing
up old muskets, cannon balls, and many
other relics connected with the history of
the old fort
had written thus far when the "long
roll was beaten, and in short notice the
three regiments were in line, and drawn
up in battle array. An alarm was given
that the secessionists were coming in upon
US, and judging from our surroundings,
we really thought that we might have
some game this time, but like all previous
similar occasions We were disappointed
After standing awhile in our assigned po-
sitions on the forks of the road, we re-
tired to our quarters with eyes and ears
open for the next alarm. The cause of
the alarm was doubtless groundless.
In my haste to close my last letter /
forgot to mention the arrival Of our brass
band Of some sixteen performers, which
seems to difTuse new life throughout the
regiment
The health of the regiment is at pres
ent good. True, We have some chronic
cases on hand at the hospitals yet, but
most of them have been discharged from
service, or received furloughs in order to
go home and recruit.
see bya Gate City, received to-day,
that Mr. Thompson, Of Keokuk, is re-
ported to have died in the hospital, but /
am happy to be able to state that such is
not the case. At last accounts he was SO
far recovered as to be employed in waiting
on the sick
/ Uncle Sam has furnished us witha new
blue uniform, but as the boxes have not
been opened l cannot describe it. The
Iowa 7th have also received portion Of
theirs.
| | must not close without mentioning
the good feeling and apparent harmony cx-