Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-09-20

BraD's PorsY. No. Sept. II.

| BnD's Porss, No. Sept. IL.
| FRIEND DICx Here we ore back
again in hot and sandy Birds Point,
after an absence Of little over three
weeks, during which time We have
moved around pretty lively over the
"strict neutrality Stater" and with oil
We have had the experience Of q weeks
marching, which we can hardly recon-
mend as part Of soldering, at any rate
We have no wish for further experience
in that line, which for young man that
never travelled half dozen consecutive
miles in. his life was pretty rough. We
left Irontown August 9th, the Bri-
gade consisting ofthe 18th, 18th, 10th and
cath Illinois regiments,2 I'd and 7th Iowa,
Buel's battery and three or..four cavalry
companies from Illinois. The first day
We marched fourteen miles, the next
eight, the third eight, fourth fourteen
fifth eighteen, and the sixth we made,
Jackson, ten miles, where We eneamped
Sept. the 9Th, which being Sunday Of
course we had to march again. There
seems to be . necessity for our always
being on the move on Sunday,or at least
We are always on the move on that day.
We came on to Cape Girardeau, en-
barked on the steamer Wisconsin, and
arrived here about noon the next day.
Perhaps some of the parlor Tor Homc)
Guards think marching easy work. If
SO let them put on knapsack, weigh
ing from forty to sixty pounds, haver-
sack, with two days rations, canteen Of
water, gun, cartridge box and belt, with
forty rounds of ammunition, and march
six or eight hours over a rough billy
road, and sleep at night on the ground,
without cover, and if that don't convince
them of their mistake | am mistaken.
on the third and fourth days Of our
march. the road led over succession of
steep hills, which Of course made the
IN arching much harder. The portion Of
the State that we marched through was
all we'll timbered, and thing of great
importance, and which We daily appre-
lated, was the abundance OF water small,
clear, and cold, running streams were
found on almost every mile of the route,
and the scenery at places was splendid.
AT the crossing OF the St. Francis river
where the State has erected a fine bridge,
all Of Us involuntarily exclaimed, How
beautiful" The river is about one hum
dred feet wide, with q pebble bottom,
and the sloping banks are lined with fine
large trees, whose branches overhang
the water and meet in the center, FORM
ing an arch that is impervious to the
rays Of the sun, and where at midday it
was almost dark. think it is one of
the prcttiest places l ever saw, and
| would liked to have staid there a day or
two, and enjoyed the beauties OF the
place.
While we were at Jackson a man
named Dowry Bell, of Company ''K,"
was drummed out. He went out in the
country and stole horse, and brought
into camp, and when remonstr ated with
by Maj. Croker, replied that be would
steal another the first chance he got ,and
threatened any one that should attempt
to punish him. The Major, without
waiting for court martial, Immediately
called the regiment out, and had him
drummed out and his hands tied behind
his back, and rope around his neck.
The Maj. made US a short speech, saying
that he had repeatedly called for court
msrtials, and could not get them, and
that he took the entire respo visibility of
the act upon himself, and declared that
the first one in his regiment that was
caught dong anything of that kind
should be served in the same way.
The men of some Of the Regiments
took every horse and mule they came
across on the route. Indeed, nothing
was safe. They took beeves, calves.
sheep, hogs, geese, chickens or anything
they could find, and not satisfied with
taking what they wanted to use, they
destroyed great zeal out of pure
malice.
must, however, exonerate the men
of our Regiment with the exception of
the case mentioned,) also the 18th Hi.
nois Regiment, Col. Ross, and the 7th
Iowa, Col. Lauhmsn, who were both
as strict with their Regiments as Major
Croker was with us. The Colonies of
the other Regiments seem to be proud
OF the Realities of their men. The 9TH
Illinois men 60 by the name of Colonel
Cooks Crampers," and the 10th by the
name Of "Turckin's Seekers, ''those being
their pet names for stealing. We were
caught in bad company on that march,
but hope we shall be more fortunate in
regard to our marching companions
next time.
The troops have been pouring in here
SO fast for the last few days that can
not begin to tell you what Regiments or
how large force there is here. We
have the position of honor, that is sup
porting the battery. The first night we
were here we all slept upon our arms.
expecting to be attacked before morn.
ing, as the rebels were said to be but q
few miles down the river, and rapidly
advancing. But it turned out scare
and we are here safe As yet, but l have
no doubt we shall have work soon. If
IL l.