The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-08-28
Correspondence Of the Gate City.
The First aud sixth Regiments
at 80. LOuis.
A DAY CAMP JESSIE.

Saturday evening (l7th,) found me at the
Arsenal. The "big guns were being haul.
ed during the day to the suburbs of,he city.
The 9Th iowa Regiment, Col. John A. Nc
Dowell, commandment, were defiling through
the gates, with a cheerful, quick step, glad
to get away from place which continually
reminded them Of Colcridge's description Of
the noisome smells of Cologne With bag
and baggage, and to the sound of martial
music, they were vending their way to. La
fayette Park, one Of the greenest spots and.
most pleasant resorts in and about ST. Louis.
As the creaking Of the baggage wagons and
the tread Of the regiment died away, another
regiment Of diminished numbers, but whose
deeds are to illuminate one of the pages of
their country's history. marched with
jaunty air-with colors Rying-to the tap Of
the drum, into the quarters just made VA
cant. PASS
To stronger, the motley crowd might
have been source of merriment--to the pa.
.triot the sight was full of pleasure aud pain
Ragged, gaping shoes graced every foot the
pantaloons of some were minus leg, some
wore only tattered drawers hats, crownless
and brimless, and all ragged and dirty. And
yet the most careless observer would have
marked it as no ordinary crowd Such was
the "Iowa First" after march of GAO miles,
much Of which was over the rugged hills of
the Ozark, and an encounter with the enc.
my's forces of six times their numbers AL
bail to the Iowa First ! Among them I rec
ognized many faces of quindam friends, who
had come out unframed from the bloody
fray: Col. Merritt, Maj Porter, Capt Her.
ron, Satterlee, Beech, Dewey, Porter, and
others ofthc "boys." Their three months
work was done-we might add, well done
They had "fought good fight" and were
now being marched into the most miserable
quarters in ST. Louis preparatory to their
discharge. A few hours subsequently. each
had dotted his old clothes for the uniforms
which had failed to follow them in their RAPID
march. a
Leaving the arsenal. I followed on after
the Iowa Sixth, whom found handsomely
quartered in Lafayette Park, with it's shady
avenues and grassy campus, fit places for
company drill, or regimental parade para
disc when contrasted with the quarters just
vacated Maddern's band, in full force, to
a lively air, were marching down the lines.
"Order No. twas read, that Gen. Fremont,
in consideration Of their exposures, had as
signed them quarters in what was. consider
ed the most beautiful park Of the city and it
was expected that every man would careful
ly abstain from any damage to the grounds
and shrubbery, when, to the word Of CON-
mand, the companies severally fled to the
right or the left to their respective quarters
to supper.
cal'el to see Col. Mcdowell and enjoyed
the Inequalities of his markee. The bright
light of the full moon and the summer air
tempted to a lounge on the grass, and to q
late hour we talked of trade. politics and re-
lgion-o of treason and railroads Maddern's
band "practiced'' and discoursed most ex-
cellent music" "taps" and the "rattle" of
the drum followed lights were extinguished,
and the only sounds heard were the hum of
he distant city. and the tread { the sentinel
as he traverscd his beat The sound o. the
bu lie and the reveil usher d in the Sundav.
To the Sixth" it was the first day of rest !;
but Camp Je-sie, outside of the lines, was
scene of noise and apparent confusion. The
18th, 22d 23d and 24:h Regiments Indiana
Volunteers, we'll accoutered, with drums
beating and banners flying and loud huzzas,
marched through the broad gateway into
the shady park, and were soon busy in the
dates of the camp. Long rows of white
tents sprang up like magic some were busy
in preparing their meals many were stand
ing in the water knee deep, washing their
soiled garments, and others lounging at ease
or dealing out the greasy cards.
At four the bugle called the Sixth fr, m
their quarters The band struck up the old
familiar tune, the Portuguese Hymn-"Oh I
come and let us worship" Company after
company defiled along the avenues and
formed a solid square in the open space,
where, at rest, they, with hundreds of citi
zens and soldiers ofother regiments, listened
to an earnest and able discourse from the
Chaplain Of the regiment, the Rev. Mr.. Uf-
ford, on the weakness and strength of the
Christian. The services being closed, the
companies again "to the right, forward"
marched to their respective quarters, to fin.
ish the duties Of the day.
All that can be done to supply this regi-
ment with superb outfit. is being rapidly
done, and they are consequently looking for
an early order to march, and confidently
expect when the battle cloud shall have pass.
ed away, the Sixth will not have dimmed
the illustrious annals of the First EEL.
LOUISVILLE, KY, Aug. pa special dis
patch to the Courier from Nashville SAYS
Davis has approved the Act appointing two
Commissioners to Europe. Also the Act
for aid to Missouri in repclling invasion and
authorizing her admission into the Confede.
racy. aa
McCulloch was complimented for the
splendid victory Of his brave army in the
battle Of Oak Hill.
Congress is considering the bill for the Sc.
questratlon of the property Of alien enemies.
The Confederate Congress is reported to