Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-08-30
Charley Schenck was badly wounded in the

lad labored all through the fight, and waited
patiently for the surgeon while he attended to |
many more clamorous with lesslwounds; and |
while the surgeon was.dressing..his hurt, coolly
ook his supper of bread and water, so as to
De ready for the mornings march. Il
might add here my slight. testimonial to
The worth and bravery of the gallant and |
amented Capt. Mason. Next to the daring
Lyon, he exhibited, perhaps, the greatest cool
ness and perseverance which that bloody field
witnessed. He cheered and led on his men
with the most fearless disregard of personal
safety, and with the most animating words,
during that scathing fire which disabled hall
Of the brave and noble Company G. His last
words, when, finally, wounded for the second
time, he fell at his post, were urging his men
forward and directing them not to delay, to
attend to him. He was a true patriot mos
accomplished officer, and brave soldier. His
name shall grow gleener with years in the
hearts of all who knew him. Let Muscatine
devise some honorable testimonial to his men,
DRY, and honor herself in so doing
1t is due to justice to mention here what
the length of my former letter and my own
indisposition prevented me from mentioning in
that, the courageous and gallant bearing of the
brave officer who led the Iowas at Wilson's
Spring, Lieut. COL Merritt. Amidst the storm
of shot and shell which again and again burst
out upon that regiment, thinning their ranks
by scores, Col Merritt, presenting, with his
white coat and white horse a favorite mark
for the enemy, rode up and down the line, as
cool and imperturbable as though it were rain
drops, instead of bullets, which were pelting
every object around him. His manner and
voice inspired his men with confidence, and
kept them steady under that appalling fire,
where even Gen. Lyons GOODNESS gave way be-
fore his admiration Of their heroism, and with
his last words he styled them ''his brave
boys" Col. Merritt's laurels may well be en-
We'd by any officer in this campaign.
A book could be filled with little incidents,
interesting to the fellow citizens of the Musca-
tine boys, and honorable to themselves, and
regret the want of time and space to enume-
rate more of them. What l have told are
only chance Ones recollected out of hundreds
of Others There is no distinction to be made
between the brave boys who fought on the
field. To the last man, they were brave as
veterans and true as steel, and it will be an
honor far above title or Office, to have been a
worthy member of Company A Or c.
must add here, for the sake of his numer-
Gus friends, and not to add anything to his
name for that is lustrous with light that
cannot be increased, that our own gallant
Henry O'Connor stood in the thickest of the
fray, from dawn till noon, blazing away inces-
sanity with his brown musket, as spiritedly
and with as true an aim as he makes an argu-
ment at the bar, or political speech; and then
walked back twelve miles to his bivouac on
the ground as unconcernedly and theoretically
as he ever walked from the Court House, after
winning cause His services to the cause Of
Union in Missouri during the campaign have
been worth a regiment.
Samuel Holiness member of Col. Bates
Staff, and Hospital Steward, moved to and fro
through the thickest of the fight, bravely
and dauntlessly pursuing his mission Of at
tending to the wounded, and ON the long
and wearisome march to Rolla he
was, despite WEAKNESS and sickness of him
self, indcfatigable in his attentions, and won
the praises and thanks Of the whole regiment
James Pratt, who, against his will, had been
detailed to take charge of team, and released
from military duty on the eve of the battle
insisted on giving up his team, and shouldered
his musket, and on the succeeding day fought
like hero till the close of the battle
neA. There is one point upon which the
people ought to come to an immediate under
standing with Judge Mason. The General
Assembly, with the assent of the Governor, at
the late Extra Session, made him Commits
sioner to determine the amount ofState bonds
which should be from time to time issued for
war purposes. He accepted the Office, entered
upon the discharge of its duties, and by such
action assumed that the bonds were legal obi
cations. He, however, accepts the nomination
of party which declares they are illegal, and
is practically committed to their reputation
Can an honorable man voluntarily accept such
a position? If elected can he faithfully dis
charge his Obligations? Can he be true to the
State and National Governments, and yet af-
| filate with the enemies of both? The people
have the right to demand that Judge Mason
will answer these questions, and at once. If
he continues the standard bearer of the anti
, var party of Iowa, he had better Immediately
resign the Loan Commissionership which was
unwisely committed to his hands, so that a
loyal man may be appointed in his stead
Iowa STATE hegsster.
| AN OBSTACLE REMovED.-One great obsta-
Gle in the way OF recruiting for the volunteer
service has been removed by the following
section of an act passed by Congress on the
| 22d Of July last. A great many men have
refused to enlist because they could not leave
their families provided for, but now that
their wives can Draw their pay and also re-
ceive their allowance from the volunteer fund,
this difficulty no longer presents itself.
| That the Secretary of War be, and is here
by authorized and directed to introduce
among the volunteer forces in the service of
the United STATES, the system Of allotment
| tickets now used in the navy, or some eGuiva-
lent system, by which the family of the vol
untcer may draw such portions Of his pay as
he may reQu ST.
This has been sent to the officers of the
United States army in command, among the
general orders recently issued f'om the head
quarters of the army. We hope it will be
extensively published throughout the coun-
try.
W Capt. Cox, of Company I, Iowa I'd
Regiment, publishes letter Genying entire
ly the ''romantic story" Of a lady in uniform
in his company-that is so far as all the ro-
nance is concerned. There was woman
in the Company, and uniform was stolen
for her to wear