The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-09-25
Our Army Correspondence.

of my rambling Epistles; in fact, like MI
cawber, I've been "patiently waiting for
something to turn up but things continue
as mixed as ever. Shice my last, no decis-
i've battle has been fought by the Western
Division of the Grand Army, but some
very important moves have been made up
on the great chess board of war, which
will result in taking few Knights from
the enemy. Hardee, the ever restless Har-
dee, has marched and co1ntermarched from
the Arkansas Line to the heart Of Missou-
ri, three several times, and not blow has
been struck yet. He has satisfied himself
with stealing hundred or more mules and
horses, robbi"y the. houses and barns,
stores and warehouses of Union men,
frlghtnlng women and children, and wound
ing few men who failed to raise the ready
hat at the approach Of the Rebel hosa.-,p
Now this omnipotent rebel is reported with
in days march of Ironton again. This
is the third time he has menaced that
point and it is generally hoped that he will
show his hand this time and give the fede-
raj troops chance to show the gentlemen
that they know something about "Hardce's
Tactics" which the author himself, seems
to have forgotten. Ironton and Pilot Knob
are points of great importance as has been
explained to you in former letter. We
have now about three thousand troops
there, and ample supplies of artillery and
all the means necessary to vigorous and
successful defence, and twenty thousand
more troops at st. Louis, all of whom
could be safely landed there in six to ten
hours. Hardee is reported to have eight
to ten thousand men, and if he marches
them up among the tall bluffs of the Iron
Mountains, he is bound to be trapped. OF
the march Of the brigade Of 5000, under
Gen. Prentiss from Ironton to Cape Girar-
deau, Of the unfortunate misunderstand-
ing between Grant and Prentiss, you have
seen full particulars before now. Our regi-
mcnt was part of that brigade. We, that is
companies B and H of the Seventh Iowa
had been previously sent to Potosi by Gen.
Prcntiss to guard this portion Of Pukedom
and wipe out any stray secesh who might
be foolhardy enough to venture within
range of our guns. Since the early dawn
of the morning of the 25th ult., We have
acted the faithful guardian" over Potosi
and the country Immediately surrounding.
AS yet not shot have we had at the enc
my, and ours boys are something in the
mood Of the Paddy at Donnybrook Fair
"och shurc, and wont some gintleman be
kind enough to tread on the tail Of me
coat!" Some two weeks age, we got
news that a band Of rebels were quartered
at Webster, with lot Of army stores in
charge, so party of fifty of us started one
dark rainy night and marched seventeen
miles over one of the toughest, crookedest
and meanest roads that even Missouri can
boast of, arriving at our place of dsstina.
ton, at break Of day; we soon had pick,
ct of bayonets completely around the town
and marched in just in time to learn thai
the rebels had been absent for day OF
more. We took possession of the capaci
Gus dwelling of noted rebel, and his mig.
gers, he has plenty Of them, soon got up
a bountiful breakfast which we enjoyed
with much eclat in the large and airy rooms
Of Mr.. Secesh. OF course we regretted that
he was not at home so that we could thank
him in person, but as it was we left ou,
compliments" Our crowd was compos
ed entirely Of christian and civil young
men, or there would have been some tai
swearing done, on learning that the rebels
had all left home, when we had come sc
far just to get a sight at them. We found
the comm'ssary department of the enemy
in a somewhat plethoric state. We seizeG
upon about five thousand pounds of goot
bacon, fifty sacks of wheat and forty eacf
of corn, -four and meal. The town was
deserted Of almost everything Of human
kind but negroes. Contrabrands are thick
er in this country than kisses at wedding
and Of as many different varieties. There
was the fat, thick-lipped fellows, measuring
equally in height and circumference, grey
headed sres with "no teeth to eat the hot
cake WITH and so on down through all tn,
ages from the centurion down to the nest
ling of 1861. I've read book somewhere
sometime, when was a man, up north
which told Of the horrors of slavery. Now
a soldier, down south, am viewing the
laughables of slavery. But I must ge
back to Webstcr,--these darkics nearly
got ne off the subject-well We marched
back over that same road-rve just hiret
good man" to swear straight week
about that road-arriving at Potosi at sun
down, having done up the thirty five miles
on foot since ten p. NJ. the night before
and only one meal "thrown in.' We were
not in strictly christian humor you may
depend and if ever a lot Of men felt saw
age, we did. 1t was true the rebels die
not "save their bacon" but they got of
with whole hides and that's what beat us
We were in humor to skin and eat any
thing that come in our way but were ob
ligcd to resign ourselves to rest, without /
show for gratifying our hankering for sc
sesh.
The Good Book says that in those latte
days there shall be wars and rumors Of war
Here we have plenty Of the rumors bu
precious little Of wars. For the past weel
we have been expecting a fight here, bu
not bit Of it yet. On Tuesday last W
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