The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-08-07
From the Camp.
Correspondence of the Couriei

4 Correspondence Of the Courier.
CAMP LYON, ST. Joseph Mo-, July 25. 1861.
Mr.. EDITOR: 1t has been suggested to me
that no suitable acknowledgment has been
made to the ladies of Ottumwa for the have
locks furnished by them to our Company
I regret that some one who has tested their
use III long days march under a scorching
sun has not been thoughtful enough for this
duty. At the risk of being very late in the
day, and of saying what must be apparent
to every one, venture the opinion that no
gift was ever more needed and none ever
received by the boys more thankfully. 1
know we are not ungrAtcful, and for this and
many other tokens Of favor and interest
from the good people Of Ottumwa, IN behalf
Of the company make most profound ac-
acknowledgements. Con BLESS THE LADIES.
Anything ike news is very scarce ih'caisi p
Col. Curtis is absent in Washington. The
command now devolves upon Lieut. Col.
Tnttle, who is straining every nerve to bring
the regiment into condition for active service
In this matter he is seconded by our gallant
Maj Crocker, and by every. officer in the
regiment t.ah a
The uniforms for the regiment were fur
nished on the 4th Of July. Every officer and
soldier and attachee of the regiment are now
in full suit Of grey. The coats are Of frock
pattern, single breasted, row of seven but
tons in front, cuffs and collars trimmed with
deep blue; pants of the same material, with
blue welt in the outer seam; cap of grey,
the Zouave style, closely fitting the head,
altogether making very fine appearance.
In addition, each man was supplied with
two flannel shirts, two pair drawers, two
pair woolen socks, and one pair shoes. The
outfit is of good quality, and came just in
time, for more ragged set of-patriots-I
never saw. Our evening dress parades are
very fine, attended by many visitors from the
city. On this occasion every officer aud SOL
dier comes on parade in his best bib and
tucker When the men are all dressed alike
you cannot tell which company looks best
Our particular pride is that the whole regi.
ment cannot be beat. The officers come
out in full dress of dark army blue, and
there is no longer any question but that we,
the officers, can stake the socks.' ..
In making use Of the pronoun zee, above, I
except from the list man about my size,
who, poor dsril, have been in hospital now
nearly two weeks. The main facts however
are as stated above. That a man is expect
ed to live for any considerable length of time
in hot climate with bakers bread and ham
as the substantials, and one night in four
sleep on the ground during rain storm,
and semi occasionally take tramp into the
country on search Of few cowardly seces-
sionists, who are better prepared to run than
| fight, and keep out of the hospital, is to ex-
pect more than human nature can bear. /
am happy to say that have found the hos
pital as conducted under Drs. Marsh and
Nassau very desirable place for man sun
der the weather" There was always some
thing in the idea of going to hospital exceed
ingly repulsive to my feelings. The neces-
sity being upon me, submitted with every
possible grace, and find that the extra care
and attention of our surgeons, and especially
''mine ancient friend" Dr. Nassau is work
ing wonders is dispensing my prejudice as
well as my disease You don't know the
Doctor, perhaps? You ought to; he is a
prince of good fellows, and is treating his
patients with great success. Long may he
be assistant in the I'd Regiment
| intimated above that news was scarce in
camp. We are jogging along waiting Ma
cawber like for something to turn up We
are not however without our alarms and ru-
mors. Every day some one comes into camp
with a report that the Philistines are upon
us just this afternoon report is rife that
Gen. Slack is or 10 miles from u.s. and
threatens to destroy us. He is reported to
have 1900 men with him. Many of us are
tired Of being scared to death, so we don't
believe word ofit The Colonel however
makes the men sleep on their arms in readi-
ness. Sardines abound in camp Stoughton
heads are multiplying, and the military rep.
utation of many man will be built upon
less than ''the baseless fabric of drum
and when secessia shall knock under and
have given up the ghost, and quiet men re.
turned to their farms and merchandise and
the world again prosper, then will small
clump Of willows, nodding in the night winds
like warriors plumcs. and struggling herds
Of cattle grazing leisurely on the commons
and troops of horses roaming DER the hills
nnconsciouslv fighting the wits out of sen.
tinels and timid officers Of the day haunt the
disturbed imaginations Of many one who
had the bubble reputation just within his
grasp, though he had not caught it at the
cannon's mouth, but rather at he hands Of
some newspaper scribbler, and all because
/ cattle would not be armed hosts, and willow
trees be.seen like men walking. Great is
bubblery! The world loves t.! Let it have
| its fill!
| Nothing definite known about our destin
alton. Since the news of the affair at Ma
nassas, it has been surmiscd that the I'd
regiment may so on to Washington All il
uncert ain. will endeayor to keep you All
vised of our movements asT may have op
portunity.
/