The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-10-04
ARMY CORRESPONDENCE


] irksome as ennui, even under the most nit
igating circumstances, but in such place
! as this, it is absolutely insupportable. This
lassitude of mind is not peculiar to the inn
moderately rich, and incurably inGolent.-
Those whose minds have for years been ac-
tuated by an Unsuitable spirit of enquiry,
but who are placed by circumstances where
almost all sources Of information are cut
off, experience this distemper in its fullest
! force. Books and newspapers are seldom
seen here. reading rooms are unknown, and
therefore for mental employment or pleas
ures, the veriest and most groundless ru-
mors are seized upon with aVidity, discuss
ed threadbare, and only relinquished when
they have ceased to afford the least pabu-
lum for empty and idle speculation. The
weather, too, that inconstant element, has
leagued itself with the general enemy, and
now black clouds, nipping cold winds, and
occasional showers, have taken the place of
the clear warm days we have hitherto ex-
perieneed.
During the last two or three days there
has been considerable activity on the wharf,
and at the Railroad depot Troops and.
ammunitions, and army stores. have been
shipped and sent forward in large numbers
and quantities. The Steamers " hite Cloud,
Star Eagle, Emma, and Iatan, have been
kept constantly going, and the capacity of
this end of the Pacific Railroad has been
tested to the uttermost Yesterday the
Northwestern Rifles arrived by river, from
St. Louis, and temporarily encamped in
the Capitol. The Regiment is composed of
men accustomed to the use of the rifle, and
three companies are armed with Colts re-
volving firearms. There was a difficulty
while they were at the st. Louis Arsenal,
concerning the manner of their equipment.
They had been promised rifles for every
: company, but as has been the case in most
instances where such hasty promises have
been made, compliance was found impos-
sible, hence they manifested mutinous
spirit, and had to be eoerced into accepting
whatever arms could be procured. Austri-
= an muskets were served out to seven com
panies, and all that they can now talk
D about is to denounce their officers and all
in authority for the poverty of their arms,
which to say the least are poor affairs, and
, not near so effective as common U. S. mus
kets. The 18th, i4th and 10Th Illinois are
i to be sent here and forwarded to George
. town The two latter are at Raleigh. The
I, | I'd Missouri and 35th Illinois went forward
yesterday Klaus battery and Carlin's
Ohio battery also proceeded west. David
e sons Peoria battery went last Sunday
The Era gun boat, is also to co-operatewith
the land forces against Lexington. l made
q mistake, | think, in my last in designating
J the Cavalry Regiment which arrived here
e on the CATO. 1t is Ellis and not Marshalls
1 which latter was surrendered at Lexington
Ellis Regiment was to have goney yesterday
but did not; it will proceed forward to-day.
Kelton's and BANDS were to come from ST
g Louis, and presume have, and have passed
e up during the night to their destination
a When all these forces are concentrated, and
have formed q Junction with Lanes Sturgis
Q and the forces from St. Joseph, there will
d be an army sufficient to cope with Price
It and make the captor captive. Prices force
q is estimated ysriously, from IS, 600 to IS
, 600 and is mostly well mounted, and well
armed with double barreled stub and twist
= shot guns, very strong and of large bore
: IL is reported by those who have seen them,
!, that they are very effective at IS yards
and that they carry five slugs and ball
/ Their artillery is inefficient and their am
unition deficient Tt is hardly expected thai
Price will continue at Lexington, but will
pass down south with his marauding horde
d through the fertile counties in the western
: part of the State, and effect junction with
= that myth, Mccullough, and with Thomp-
son and Pillow Although Jackson ha;
declared that he wants Lexington to use il
: as a bogus capital, in which to convene hi:
|. rump parliament he will, no doubt, soon
: perceive the expedieney of hasty retreat
, As it is, considering the position and mum
Der of our troops, it will be extremely diff
. cult for Price to effect his escape George
,. town is in Pettis county, about % miles
[: south Of Boonville, and q from Sedalia, and
a days forced march will be quite sufficient
to cut off his retreat south. Lane, on the
: West assisted by Sturgis who has left has
position before Lexington, and moved down
to Glasgow, (Which is between Boonville
q and Lexington, on the river,) where he can
either cross to the assistance of the force
. at Georgetown, or move forward and pre-
: vent Price from crossing the Missouri to re-
o treat north, is quite able to keep him In
: check, until the main body can reinforce
him. Price is said to have no commissa-
i riat, but subsists by. plumber. The country
around Lexington is pretty well impoyer-
t ished, and therefore, the very difficulty of
; subsistence will compel him to a change of
situation. The western counties through
/ WHICH u6 uAS uGEGbOIOT6 HldECuSQ are rep
: resented to be very fertile, and the crops
abundant. Besides he has many sympathiz-
ers in that region, bnt how they have rel
ished and will relish his devastations one
: can easily conceive. If the State could
once be cleared of the vagabonds now I'M
der arms, there is no doubt but it would be
entirely paci6ed, and the home guards
> would be amply strong to keep the insur-
!. gents in subsection. From all can ascer-
/ tain people are leaving their homes in num-
+. bers, abandoning their stock and crops and
: taking only sufficient to subaist them until
: they reach safer and more genial quarters.
! / I have seen many families cross the ferry
here on their way to Illinois; and no in
E ducement could be offered to get them to
: return to their forsaken homes They gave
. me a most narrowing description of the
villainy Of the secessionists in the neigh
borhoods from which they emigrated. They
censured the authorities for liberating dis
7 affected persons after they had merely TAX
A. I, g IL