The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1861-09-17

Of the boys who had stuffed their knaT
sacks full of every conceivable thing ths
they would ever need, and went stag
gering along under tho enormous weigh
Doctor NJ, in particular, had his knap
sack swelled to Aldermanic proportion
and at sight Of tho bulky mass the swes
started from every pore, but he though
that he would get used to 1t. The seque
will show wether he did or not. OWN,
to the lateness Of the day when we reach
ed camp, the numerous Offices that w
had TO do, and insupportablo heat, it wa
p. m., before we left the grounds 70
tho boats, two miles distant, and our or
ders were to be ready at eight. | should
have stated before, that we were to en-
bark in the steamers Iatan and War Ea
gle for some point up the Missouri.
Tho night was of pitchy blackness
the roads rough, and the knapsacks tire.
mendous heavy, rendering our march tc
the boats anything but agreeable, reach
ed them about 1915 p. M, and filed on
board, five companies on each. A heavy
thunder shower arising, and the rain
pouring down in torrents, we made fast
to the shore, and remained till morning,
catching what sleep we could in the in
terim, by bunking down on the deck,
and into every corner, and cubby hole
that was free Of access. So tired were
the boys, that once in couchont posture,
all human threats and pursuasions were
unavailing in getting them up again.
Once, a troop Of cavalry horses was ac-
tually led over squad of eight. who
slept OH, regardless OF all hoo(s, threats
and expastula!ions. The day dawncd at
last. and W ith shrek from the whistle,
and roar of steam, we started. The trip
was as pleasant as could be expected.
but the scenery rather monotonous, moth
ing but the low, level banks, on either
side, covered with brush, with now and
then rocky bluff. Arrived at the town
Of Rockford, a small place situated be.
low Boonyille, at five p. m,. and after a
little DELAY ~">otinp n Ian.
uing Ins latan had stopped Dafom Il ior
the purpose of intercepting all communi-
cations III that direction and sent part Of
her troops ashore, who surrounded the
town, while we were to march straight
through, take whatever we saw of sus-
picious character, and reloin the rest of
the companies, who were to so by diff
ferent road to Columbia, the county seat
Of Boone County, thirteen miles distant.
The Col. here impressed number Of hor-
ses and wagons into the baggage service.
and believe took one or two prisoners.
No hostile demonstrations of any kind
were made, but the inhabitants, particu-
larly the ladies, looked daggcrs. They
evidently considered us as belonging to
another race, and our unoeremonious ad-
vent into their very midst, was not cal
culated TO gain their warmest love. 1t
was repeated that strong body of reb
els were stationed at Columbia, and
would probably cause us little trouble.
Our division, consisting Of Eve compan-
les, was commanded by Lieut.. Col. Ma
thes, and took the main road, while Col.
Worthington, with the rest Of his CON-
mand, took another to the right, with the
view of surrounding the enemy, should
there be ono. aud falling upon the town
of Columbia as the common center. By
eight, p. m, we commenced filing out
from the town Of Rocheford, and took up
the liue Of march. The recent rains that
had fallen had swollen the streams and
rendered the mud Of almost fabulous
depth BY some means, the other COM
panies had nearly mile the start of US,
and we had to make up time by taking
little double quick. Up one hill. and
down another. through bogs. holes, ruts
and ravines, we stumbled. without even
the faint glimmer Of a star to light our
path or sound to cheer us, except now
and then bray from the weak lungs oi
some antiquated mule. Knapsacks, that
had been filed with varieties sufficient
TO set Dutca peddler up in business.
began to grow intolcrably heavy, and
hayersacks loaded with crackers and
meat were voted nuisance-before We
had praceeded two miles. The baggage
wagons were crowded with soldiers VIII,
were too tired to walk farther. and had
thrown themselves upon the tender mer,
cies Of the surgeon. AS for your hum
bio correspondent, he was mentally re-
volving over in his mind the diiferenc,
between the real, and ideal Of soldier.
life, envying tho folks at home thei
warm beds, and heaping any amount o
auathemas upon Missouri roads. | wa