Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1861-08-23
\ l'aioa Co., Pa, Soldier in Missouri
CAMp FRElInNv. Avg. Q.

until last Spring, aud also n reader OF
your valuable faDcr, and now being on
the tented fields Of the West, | will (Sy
q9csD eudeavor to give you an account
of what is doing in this part of Missouri
in the great aul uoble struggle for the
maia,ainance Of our Government.
The Regiment Of which lave The
honor Of being member, is called the
American X,uavcs,. Ssh Missouri No!uu-
teers, commanded by Col Morgan il.
Suith. While yc, at the Arsenal in s..
Louis, the Regiment being full, but no'
fully cq1iped, the several Companies were
sent out, tLrough different parts Of tie
S,a;c, on scouting expeditions. Several
of the Companies wcyc cussgel il pretty
sharp skirmishing, killing quite number
Of the Rooels, with loss Of oaly ono Of
our men, and several wounded. Return
ing to the Arsenal, aud bojlg fully equip
cd, the Regiment was, on the 21tl July,
reviewed by Gen. John e. Fremont, who
expressed high aYfrob4;iou Of the appear
auoa, behavior aul military discipline dis
played by the soldiers for the !eugiL Of
time drilled. After promising US the best
arms that could be atTor led, aud saying he
would soon meet Us on the field Of battle,
we were marched back to our quarters.
. Tha, evening, we took the steamer Nes
Moiues, aud arrived the next morning a:
Cape Girarieau, which is Que hIulrcd
aud fifty miles south Of st. Louis, being
three icur,hs the distance between the
latter place and Giro Cape GiraI leaI
is Il town Of some three thousand iuhabi-
,au;s. in Missouri State, situated On the
! west brauoh Of the Mississippi river. la.
IucIiately above the town is a L.gb, rug
scd bluff, having full command Of the
river, the town, ani Of the country for
miles around Upon this is Camp Ere
mont. For the last week, tie men have
been engaged, both by day aud night, IN
en,reneLipg, Gen. Fremout's Staff Off
cer5 superiuio niiug the work. 1t is now
nearly completed, aud will be 10 such i
! position that our small force Of two thou.
I sand can resist four times that number
! There are six G Founders aud the same
number Of ~ pounders, all mounted and
} 1,,y So ! Of ta Ill,
are SO steep and rugged as to make it very
! difficult in ascending, while the other side
slopes of gradually, and can be SO well
commanded with cannon 40 do great
havoc on an approaching column.
1, is generally thought, here, that it is
the intention Of the Rebels to endeayor to
take this point, concentrate large force,
then cross the river, march down through
llliDoi, aud attack Cairo by land. If such
/ be their intention, it is now too late, for
if they get this place they will have to
: fsh, for it, and that severely. For the
last two weeks, an attack was expected ev-
cry night. Picket guards are stationed
around for distances of fre miles. Last
night, about twelve o'clock, the alarm was
/ sounded In few moments, every man
was a; his post The firing Of pickets was
( heard in all directions; lights were extin-
guished; the enemy was said TO be rapid
ly approaching, within few miles; now
ready for the fuss-all anxious to show
their bravery, but were disappointed, as
morning came and no enemy appeared.
All this hubbub was occasioned by the
rashness of a few men. A company of
the Illinois 9th was sent out to reconnoi-
tre Coming up to two pickets, they,
without order from their Captain, fired on
them Both fell, when one, not satisfied
with this, ran up and struck them several
times in the face with his musket. Upon
examination, they discovered they we're
men Of their own Regiment. Both arc
yet living, but are in critical condition.
Notwithstanding the intense heat, the
health Of the camp is good Thermometer
indicates l05 deg in the shade. 1t has
been very dry mixing it very unpleasant in
drilling, on account of the dust, but yes
terday we were visited by quite refresh
ing shower The citizens have nearly all
left town, on account of the medita.cd at
tack, and it new indeed presents solitary
aspect.
Home Guards are forming in every
distric. and village, and doing good service
in putting down rebellion. Among them
We frequently see old grey haired men,
with rifles on their shoulders, in defense Of
their homes When we see cid men like
these ready to fight, where is the young
man who would refuse to do the same!
Men with whom have congersed, that
have come here for assistance, say that the
Rebels have taken their horses from them
while at work with them in the field, and .
haven driven their cattle from them to feed
their soldiers that are lurking ir the
swamps, leaving them destitute, with lami- /
lies depending ou them for support. But
we think their best day is past--tha. retri- .