The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1861-10-31
ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.
CAMP PorE, Mo, Oct. 10

Having few minutes leisure before
battalion drill, l take the opportunity of
writing to you. We left Camp Cameron
(Booneville) on the morning Of the 14th.
The roads were very muddy, but the boys
trsmped off in good spirits for they had
been paid for six weeks service, amount
ing:toSls.50 apiece. They received but
little specie, being paid in treasury notes
The notes are beautiful; little larger
than Iowa bank notes. What coin they
received is all new, being struck in 1861.
The notes are not very current here and
the men grumble good deal about Un.
Gle Sam having cheated them. But
enough of this. Now for our march.
The first day We made about thirteen
miles. At noon we stopped a. Bellair-
regular Missouri town-containing one
dwelling house, one doctor shop, black.
smith shop, and two groceries or as they
are called here, goggeries "a name
certainly moro expressive than elegant.
All liquor saloons here are called dogger-
les, and as all groceries sell whiskey,
which is their chief business, they are all
doggeries. Here We cat cracker, took
drink Of water, and started again. At
night We camped in an old clearing on a
small creek. Here we made some coffee,
eat another cracker, and turned in.
The next day was repetition Of the
first until late in the afternoon, when we
came in sight Of Syracuse-a small town
on the Pacific Railroad. Here we saw
the first prairie We have seen in Missouri,
aud the sight was hailed with general
cheer The sight of the prairie made
the boys think of home and it did them
good. Instead Of going through town
we turned eff to the LIFT and clmped in
an old meadow. We had scarcely time
to pitch our tents before the rain was
pouring down in torrents. At s clock
We were called out and received two days
ratious of fresh beef, which we were
ordered to cook immediately and be ready
to march at o'clock in the morning. -
The rain was still pouring down but the
boys went to work seized lot of fence
rails, or to use the camp expression,
''confscat, l. them" these they split
up and tried to cook their meals. As
the rain, which never ceased, pu. out
their fires as fast as they were built, they
had to give it up. At 1 clock all hands
were up and trying to get something to
eat, which we succeeded in doing after
getting wet to the skin. This was try
ing time on some Of the new recruits,
who heartily repented having enlisted
At . o'clock We struck tents and start.
cd for Otterville, distant ten miles, fol-
lowed by the Missouri 9th and Illinois
31th. 1t had quit raining before we
started, but the roads were very muddy.
We soon passed the prairie aud got into
the timber, which made it still worse --
At noon VIC halted for an hour, got 9
cracker apiece and a cantecn of water
and started again. Numbers of the mer
now gave out, but our regiment stood i,
better than either of the other two
About 3 o'clock we crossed the Lemine
river on the railroad bridge. After We
crossed We were halted, stacked arms, and
rested. Here We found camp of sap
pers and miners. 1t now commenced
raining again, and for about an hour we
had regular old fashioned rain storm,
with the usual accompaniment of thunder
and lightning. The other regiments
having vcr-coats, bad decidedly the ad.
vantage Of US, for while they were dry
We were wet through. After the rain we
again started, the Missourians taking the
lead, for Col kelton said. 'it would kill
the devil to keep up with tie Iowans." "
Our march from here to Ottcrville, two
miles, was horrible.
The country from here to Boonville is
very rough and broken-heavily timber.
ed and very rocky. The soil is q stiff
yellow clay, which sticks to everything
it touches. In wet time the roads arc
miserable. We have found it necessary
every time We have moved with wagons,
to send strong force armed with picks
and shovels, who 60 ahead and mend the
roads. The men detailed for this pur.
pose are those who are under guard for
some misdemeauor. This company is
known in the regiment as Company O.
Company Q sometimes does a great dca
of hard labor.
At sundown We passed Otterville, q
town of perhaps 800 inhabitants in time
of peace. 1t is now nearly deserted
There are % houses in town now occu
pied, of which % are doggeries. As tho
different camps around it contain nea,
10000 troops, the doggeries are doing .
thriving business. We marched mile
aud half beyond town and halted 70,
the night on the edge of the prairie. Oul