The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1861-12-03

while silver threads mingled with hair
once Of raven blackness. The whiskers
with which most Of his portraits repre-
sent him, had been cut off, with the ex-
ception Of a slight moustache His eyes
are keen, bright, piercing, almost look
ing through you. He salued US all in
the kindest manner, and with such fa-
miliarity, gentleness, and solicitude of
expression, that all felt like rushing for
ward and seizing him by the hand Many
of the soldiers wept like infants, and all
was solemn, silent, and sad as a funeral.
Last of all came the wagons loaded with
baggage, followed by the rear guard.
Great indignation is manifested by the
soldiery, in some places amounting to
almost mutiny, and it Will, l fear. re
suit in the most disastrous consequences
to our cause.
You have heard Of the fight which
took place here a week ago to-day, be-
tween Fremont's body guard and fifteen
hundred secesh, posted in and about the
town. The action com menced four miles
north, on the road from Boyd's, and after
the first fire and charge, was "A running
fight the whole distance. After the af-
fray was over, the bodies of $50 rebels
were found in the road and bushes, while
the guard lost but II killed. 1t was a
brave exploit, but rather premature. Had
the Major but followed out his instruc-
tions, and waited for the reserve force,
under Gen. Fremont, to have come up,
the town could have been surrounded.
and the whole nest captured. AS it is,
they lost large amount of clothing mil
itarv stores, and ordinance, which they
can lily afford to spare. If the numer-
Gus reports can be credited, Prices ar
my is now in sad condition, disorgan
lied, and destitute of all resources The
general opinion among military men is
that the war in this section cannot last
much longer, but will be confined main
ly 10 Kentucky and the Eastern States
Gems. SiegeI, Sturgis, Lane, Montgom.
cry, Mrkinstry, Pope and kelton are all
here, with their respective divisions
Lane appears to be the most honored by
the majority OF citizens and soldiers. He
is about as us y a looking man as you
will often see, OF a thin and wiry form,
and shaggy eyebrows. lie is a strict
isciplinarian. but at the same time uses
every means conducive to the health and
comfort Of his men As to the others,
there is nothing more than ordinary
about their general appearance. Pope
has too much of a rowdyish air and
swaggcr TO impress one very iayorably.
kcllon is quiet and unobtrusiyc in de
pertinent, retieent, and master Of his own
thoughts and movements. Our regi
meni is now assigned to his brigade.
which consists of the Iowa Fifth, Mis-.
souri, Ninth, anl Illinois thirty. seventh
The other two regiments, by priority,
would be the Indiana 18Th and e2i, but
SO much hatred is eyinced toward the
paw paw fighters that its doubtful wheth,
er they will be worked in. Our camp is
half mile north of the town. in field
once used as a meadow. Around are
scattered few trees aud brush, some
half dozen houses, tensntless. long low
COW she'd TO The LEFT, with pig-sty fill
ing up tho vista between. Directly in
front OF the encampment stands a tavern,
with creaklng sign. windows smashed in.
and the doors streaked and colored with
the accumulation of twenty years dirt
and filth. A few rheumatic chairs stand
out on the porch, inviting to a deceilful
repose the weary limbs of the pedestrian
Such are the characteristics of the inn
bearing the name of Pleasant Retreat" :"
The weather is mild and beautiful, and we
have some splendid moonlight evenings.
On such occasions the lovers Of the Ter.
spichorean art are apt to congresate 10.
gether for social dance, on the grassy
turf in font of The tents. A barrel is
hastily imProvised for a platform, and a
darkey. with cracked and broken fiddle,
placed thereon. To be sure there is a
total lack of female partners. cream,
and bon bons. but what of that The
waists that are clutched in conyulsi,e
embrace are not SO fair and taper in pro-
portions as those Of the damsels that
glide over the floor of Morse S Hall, nor
do eyes look love 10 eyes, OF lips whisper
fond devotion IN secret corners, but the
dance passes off right merrily. The set
finished, partners are seated. pipes aHd
to- acco handed round, and the prob
abilities Of eur ever having fight or See
ing home again discussed in cloud of