Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1862-12-12

ySsn r. R,e carter rs /" "4l."
J. n. Smith F" Post :.
Blair WOLF "a I"
Jas. Mahin ... " +"
b. r. Melton &c"
John aan e7s .e" I"
The boys are in good spirits, but very anx-
ious TO be sent for BY Gen. McClernand, or
Grant, or any other General that has plenty
to do in our line further south. From the
anxiety manifested to go, I conclude this must
be fighting regiment. IL .rW
The health is good here except among the
"contrabands. DR.. VIM. Reynolds, ST., CT
Iowa City, is their chief surgeon. Many Of
them are dying with the smallpox. They
are buried in the sand without anything to
mark the spot. Crowded together--where
there is not room for large one they put in
smaller one. Eight hundred or more are
already thus temporarily buried. was in
formed by one of the grave-diggers, that
that they now average eight graves daily. I
asked them if the high water did not over
flow that place. II spec it'll brush 'em out"
was the reply. Rough boxes containing
bodies were unloaded from drays and left to
wait their turn. Scores Of unburied, starved,
government horses are lying closely. Many
of the negroes are very much degraded, but
not all. Several are employed by the officers
of this regiment. The Colonel Is quite proud
of his contraband. "Steve" is bright lad
of sixteen, color that of new saddle, speaks
very good English, although his early educa-
ton has been somewhat neglected. Under
his present tutor (Kirkpatrick) he is making
fine progress. He has already learned his
alphabet. He is delighted with his new stu
alton.
We have now about 300 rebel prisoners
under guard. They sleep out doors since
they burned their "corelle. They had
preaching among themselves, yesterday.
Twenty-four wounded of their number were
lying on the levee few days ago, only three
able to walk. They have been shipped
south. Paroled rebel officers may be seen on
the street any day. s.........
Among the open letters handed to the
guards for examination and mailing, was one
for COL R. R. Lawther, St. Louis.
A. L. Jennison passed here on his way to
the 18th regiment few days ago. Mrs. J.
W. Mitchell was here, she has gone to Grants
army to join her husband, who has command
of a battery there. ....-
We were alarmed the other night by the
frequent discharge of fire arms, but soon dis
covered it was our Chaplain shooting rats for
amusement.
The weather is delightful, no over-coats
needed during the day. It does not feel like
Iowa winter yet. 1t seems surprising to us
to read Of skating and sleighing in Iowa now.
Our mail, especially the papers, are very
irregular
The Cairo Post Oficeis quite an institution in
its way. During the last week the number of
soldiers letters forwarded, amounted to over
10000. The number received from soldiers
was over 12S,OO0, and other letters received,
$4,000, sent, 22,ooO-making total oflet-
tiers passed through this Office in one week,
over 298, 900. All soldiers letters are assert
ed here and sent to their regiments without
reference to other directions.
Steamboat arrivals average about $50 per
week. Some days as high as "a arrivals
The 'rams" Monarch and Lancaster arrived
last week. They are being fitted to carry a
company Of Sharp-shooters on each one, who
will be entirely shielded and hidden from
view. They look as though they might do
good service aside from their butting pro-
pensities. There are % Mortar boats here
They are fiat boats, enclosed with boiler iron,
six and a half feet high. The mortars are
feet long, IL inch bore, Is inches in rim, and
each weighs over II, 100 pounds.
The gunboat "Little Rebel" captured at
Memphis, is guarding our magazine boats
The "Red Rover" is being fitted up for one
of the completest hospital boats afoat. Sep
arate apartments for every thing needed, and
beds for three hundred and fifty patients. 4
The Admiral's ship, with Admiral Porter
aboard, is at the levce, receiving improvements.
W. II. Sells stays on board. -.g
On Thursday we borrowed several fine
"Confscated Grays," (now used by our
and had horseback ride to Mound
City. The US. General Hospital and Boat |
yard are about the only things that attract
attention here. The Ozark, a Monitor-style !
of gunboat is building here, over two hundred
feet long-the iron alone over five hundred
tons, covered with wrought Iron, each piece
weighing 10000 pounds.
Returning we found, in the woods,
refugee family from Arkansas, without wagon
or tent. Three were digging a grave for the
sons wife. The rest of the distressed family
we're seated under large tree, head bowed,
and little way off was an open coffin con-
tanning the remains of her that was daughter,
sister and wife. 'A R .'.'- a"
Through this entire country the trees show
nigh water mark from 10 to 10 feet above
The ground, and the return of Spring will
forever hide the spot where she is now laid.
In reply to my questions the father said ut
S hard, but what can we do ~ ia
We all feel confident that the Mississippi {
liver will be open by January LIST, 1868 to |
New Orleans. @ tzf.fss
We are looking for the "Grey- Boards"
lowp, and / hope they will come, there is q .
,ood opening here for garrison duty. I,
But my letter is already too long. .ffn !
-. $780,. HENRY. :
-----SD<- .
- We find the following article, in re-
alton to paroled prisoners, in the Davenport il
Gazette; which, rs it is of interest to some q
f the boys now in this city, we republish it: T