Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-10-12
War Corrsspondsncs Regiment.
Carr LrrTLER, No., Oct. 4.

ClnCc WIiItDR NY '0cs 'CsScs, 'aesS loo
,ranspired with us to interest or induce
recital. But, fearing that you would
lose sight Of the Scott county boys,
propose to give you q brief account Of
our whereabouts at present.
Oflate, we have been the instruments
OF considerable maneuvering, Of "big
moves" of "mastcr Strokes" &c, in
military science, Of which you are well
instructed through a popular source.
But, the toilsome march into the inte-
rior through the Iron Mountains and
back, the rather dangerous trip down
the river to reconnoitre the enemy's
stronghold, and divers other enterprises,
arc all eclipsed by the scenes of our
present mission. You will perhaps not
be surprised to know that we are en-
gagged in our old business; guarding
bridges. We are on the Cairo d Full
ten Railroad, twcnty-six miles in length.
The road is laid out the entire distance
to Galveston, but by the way the Texans
are tearing up the lower, and the Mis-
sourians burning the bridges Of this end
of it, there will not probably be a
"through train" for some time. On
Tuesday last, companies b and + we're
detailed for service on the road, and
Capt. Litter being senior captain, was
in command of the detachment. Leav-
ing the latter company at place SIX
miles from Birds Point, where bridge
was burned last Sunday night, and was
then being repaired, Capt. Littler, with
ffty-two Of his men, marched five miles
farther down the track to this point,
where there is trcstle work nearly a
mile in length the same was burned
down some time ago. The spot and
surrounding country IS low and thickly
timbcrcd. Capt. Bob styles it Speech
tree swamp 1t is at present toleratle
dry, but an Iowa shower would literally
swamp the institution. Yet in the face
of obstacles, among which may be noted
lizards, coppcrheads, mosquitoes, blood
thirsty and numerous, and other scour-
ccs of mankind, we have made a
great improvement in the appearance
and comfort of the place. Bowers have
been erected, 1--WE have no tents with us)
and an eccentric and jolly member OF
the company, whom the boys term the
"Adjntant,' has felled some trees into a
huge shape, which ne calls q "iort,
and asserts it will "resist cavalry" though
cacalry cannot operate within gunshot
OF the s'fort,' on account of the timbeIs.
AS to the actual dangers OF the posi-
ton, it is the popular opinion from all
quarters, that it is in danger Of an at.
tack at any moment, and, if as reported
the enemy is marching on Birds Point
arW soon be assaulted. However cri.l
cal our situation may appear, the fact
even tenor of their way" They con.
,inue to hunt squirrels, with which the
timber abonnds, and which have afforded
US many fine meals. SO expert have
The boys become in this species Of sharp.
shooting, that each may be seen with a
squirrel tail bedecking his cap. Ada.
cent orchards, too. or rather the owners
of them, are visited, and fruit plenty
and good, is honorabIy obtained. Even
now, scouting party has returned with
a good supply of such ''trash," also lot
OF premium sweet potatoes. And well
it is that food is to be obtained here, for
We brought nothing with us except some
hard bread and little "old ham fat
which our Quartermaster, magnanlmous
soul, generously supplied US with.
The idea of our Captain, on the pros
pect OF a fight, cannot be mistaken. On
the evening of our ARRIVAL here, he called
the company into hnc, and in lively
manner spoke of the estate OF affairs -
He would not have it said that Compa-
ny i would turn its back to the enemy,
and adding that this was as good a
place as he knew of to die. The senti-
ment was endorsed by the boys, and
when company the next day came out
to relieve US, the Captain declined re-
turning, and we were again left alone.
To-day the scouts were told by neigh
boring citizens to 'kccp their bayonets
fixed" and the Captain is now resolved
to remain as long as permission is grant
ed. You may think that the boys are
"spilin'" for fight; well, "that's what's
the NATTER" at least let the "shot-eun
chivalry" Eight i'm on us some fine
morning. and | think they'd hear some
thing drop.
The scenes Of camp life are often sad
dened by accidents, though We have
been very fortunate in that respect.
You have doubtless heard of the death OF
young Blanchard, of Company c. OF
the individual, CIR the circumstances OF
his death, | can say little, except that he
was an amiable young man, well respect
ed and much lamcnted by those who
knew him.
A member Of our company, while ex-
ercising on gymnasium erected in
Company BIS street, at Birds Point,
fell and broke his arm. Another mem
Der OF our company, an er-steam6oat
captain, is laboring under peculiar in.
I,cpos1f,op <bo,rl, -.