Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-05-31


for us all a noble government, and all the
blessings which we hold dear. Long before
he arrived at this point the contagion of the
speakers own feelings had communicated it.
self to all the audience, and scarcely dry eye
was left in the crowded house. But when he
pointed with his hand to the shrouded colors
as they hung sadly and darkly over the audi
ence, and in low, suppressed tone, full of re-
strained feeling and pathos, alluded to the
murder of that gallant young hero, Col. Ellis
worth, the deep passion of his hearers, hith-
erto kept back, burst forth like pent-up flood,
and sobs arose from all parts of the building,
and tears rained down the cheeks of men as
well as women. The speaker went on to
speak of the pure and brilliant future which
appeared for our country when it should
emerge from the baptism of blood, renewed
and elevated in it's moral tone; its truth and
its courage purified from its shameful devotion
to gold, and made freer, nobler, and more glo-
rious than ever. He exhorted the volunteers
to be brave and faithful, and when they went
to Memphis, where it was rumored they were
soon to be ordered, he asked them to find the
spot where the traitors had buried our nation
al flag, and to dig it up, and after planting it
again on the most public spot in Memphis, to
take it before them and bring it back with them
to the free soil of Iowa. This is but very
imperfect sketch of this truly able discourse,
but l am induced to give it to your readers as
it was exceedingly interesting to the volun-
teers, and thoughtitmight be to their friends.
l never appreciated the value of stirring words
before. Words are quite as good as deeds in
their place. After that sermon we could have
stormed battery.
The news from Missouri renders it improb-
able that any troops from this quarter will be
needed in that State, unless it might be to re-
place others ordered elsewhere 1t is not i'm
probable that Tennessee may be the scene Of
our summers operations. We call anxious
ly hoping that it may be so.
We learn that the State uniforms for this
regiment are already ordered and will be here
soon We also expect that the State will fur
nish us with new arms. If this regiment OF
brigade takes the field, they should also have
cavalry and artillery piece.
One of the most experienced and skillful Of
ficers in this regiment, is Capt. Mathies, Of
Burlington. He has seen much active service
in Germany, and his well-known abilities
soldier-like bearing and frank good. humor-
have won for him hosts of friends in the first
Iowa regiment, and among the citizens of Ke-
okuk.
Col. Bates is very popular with isrcgiment
His manners are kind but decided He is fast
winning the confidence and affections of his
| men.
By-the-way, let me recommend the fine boat
Sucker State to all persons who travel on the
river. The gentlemanly officers, Capt. I. b
Rhodes and B. A. Cougar, the most polite and
urbane of clerks, contribute everything in their
power to the comfort and convenience of their
passengers The table is excellent indeed, and
to crown all, the fare is very cheap.
And now, as night draws her sable curtain
and silence settles down on all the world, and
the quiet stars look down as calmly and i'm
movably as they did long times ago when we
were children, just as if there were no such
thing as war and strife in the little world un
derneath them, it seems almost as though il
were all dream of far back times, that we
read and dreamed over in childhood The
Gathering musket, and the steady tread Of
trained soldiers, have faded from sight and
from hearing. The watch-light burns dimly
The quarters, the arms, the town dissolves in
misty rcverie, and you are back with friends
dear ones, and familiar scenes. You forget
everything but these, and are lost in happiness
and dreams. Good night. H.J.c.