The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-07-03
McGREGOR IOWA, WEDNESDAY, JULY g. 1861.
Our ARMY Correpondence.

Our Army Correpondence.
Letter from the "bloody 7hird."-7ht
parting oi:h ,friends.- Gutenberg "goak."
-7sutonic Suearing.-Economy in cup
boardUare. Gebby on meats .Xr. Shroe.
der. r.-Lieutsnants Le6ing,oeu and CaN.-
The "Color' Regiment. Oficers.-
Reokuk dull and afraid Of attaek. THE
Times among the boys, &c., dc.
KEoKUK, June 2lst, 1861.
Dear Col Though had intended writ
ing sooner, permit me now to send you a
few lines to let you know how your Clayton
Co. boys have been getting along since their
exodus from the Pocket City. will not
speak of the big hearts that swclled with
saddened emotions as the Canada bore us
from the levee; Of relatives and friends left
behind-of the pressure Of hands, of the
God speed d,-of the ''takc care of yourselves,
old boy" all Of this. and the affecting
scenes incident to the parting tear, and of
the going to the war, have, time before and
after, been written and rewritten, and so
much better described than I can do it,
that you will please allow me, as Capt.
Sherwin says, to "stop her." TO come to
IIecuba and be brief, the pangs Of parting
over, the boys resumed their usual happy
spirits, and eyes that a short time before
were dimmed with tears, now sparkled with
joy and hope for a brilliant future. AS the
steamer moved along cheers greeted US
from either shore-ladics rushing from
houses to the river bank waving banker
chiefs and exhibiting strongest demonstra-
tionslo lof enthusiasm which were heartily
responded to on board-drums beating
flies playing and flags flying Many a
pleasing incident occurred on our voyage,
but will mention only one. At Gutten-
berg the patriotism Of some of the citizens
found vent in a barrel of Lager, which was
rolled on board, but to the chagrin Of a
portion of our boys however it was not
passed around at the moment, but was
taken in immediate possession by the Ger.
mans of the company, who slowed it away
for exclusive and future reference. On the
next morning the Dutchmen tapped it, and
found to their horror and very great dissa
tisfaction, that the caskct contained not the
liquid and amber jewel, the Lager. bat on
the contrary was filled with the altogethe,
too common for any extra occasion, fiat
Mississippi water, and all bunged up in the
original style. The invectives then and
there poured forth We're altogether too nu
merous to be remembered in the original
dialect. One of the boys who carly in the
morning had tiled it with straw solemnly
av, erred that it wasn't even good drinking
water. The foul goak was of course attri
buted to the deck hands on the boat.
Arriving at Keokuk We were conducted
to our quarters, and partook Of our frs
meal from of tin plates, out Of tin platters
from tin basins, with tin cups, accompanied
with tin knives and forks, tin pepper boxes
tin vinegar cruets, etc. This first meal ant
the itinerant style of the plate caused ;
strange thrill to run over our anatomy al
as being precursor of what is a soger'
life and what we were coming to. low lie
me digress half minute, and say that afte
a day or two the grub of this establishment
became very queer, and corned beef woult
appear upon the table which should ina
gne had done service in the war of 1912
salt, vinegar or mustard wouldn't disgus,
the too palpable fact. This is testified t,
by Sergeant Gebby, who you must know i!
a judge of any kind of truck, from sheep
meat up to "meet me by Moonlight alone,
and "more be token," the same beef woult
appear on the boards for several meals il
succession, and for experiment l tied
string round one particular tough piece
(some of the boys called it '.jerked mule"
and was gratified in identifying the sam
two days after, serced up IN a ster! Thi
is reliable. The boys wouldn't stand thi
kind of fare, and intimated their dissatis
faction pretty strongly by carrying the tabl
out of doors and emptying its contents int
the street! We are at another boardin,
house now, everything clean, plenty o
vegetables, good cooking, and this make
the boys feel in better humor ..
We are under good discipline, so far
rise early, bathe in the river-double quicl
to breakfast, then morning drill-two hours
rest after which march to dinner. In tn,
afternoon put through the the manual o
arms, in squads, by the drill Sergeant Mr.
SHRoEDER, who, let me say, is inferior te
no man in the Third Regiment for correct
knowledge of military tactics. lie was tn,
late Captain of the Gutenberg company
recently disbanded; is German, has seer
service in the fatherland, and is well liked
by the boys. We 60 to bed at 9 O'Clock
p. m., each one provided with pair o
blankets, and stretched upon the floor In
elegant platoons. We gradually break into
sections and undouble file into the refresh.
ing arms of camp Morpheus. The daily
routine may be sometimes varied, but the
sentiment is always and nevertheless there
There have been some changes of officers
in our company. Mr.. Letingwell is now
our lst Lieut. whose promotion gives great
satisfaction, and Mr.. JAS. Call I'd Lieut.. who
is ali immense favorite among the boys
The sergeants and corporals of course took
a step up, according to grade.
Clayton County Volunteers occupy tn.
post Of honor in the Regiment, being ir
charge Of the colors, asd you and youl
friends may bet your bottom dollar they
will take good care Of them. We are anx
iously awaiting the arrival of our arms
which are expected hourly; they are to b.
rifles with sword bayonets. We will ther