The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-01-11

sumo, as well posted Gas any other man 7"
The greatest trouble we have to contend
with here at present is the discomfort of
some of the boys at having nothing to do,
and being unable to get furloughs to go
and see their friends. They don see how
the interest of the service is promoted by
inaction either here or elsewhere, unless,
as they say, it is to give the officers time
to learn their duties and qualify them
/ selves to lead the mer into action in q
proper manner As | am telling what
ssthe boys say" | might add another re-
mark of theirs, aud that is to the effect
be charged to the priyates, butare charg-
able to political, inefficient and traitorous
commanders, and that the habit of blaming
"undisciplined volunteer troops" with the
blunders of unqualified officers is, or should
be, "about played out"
The eighteen thousand volunteers in
these barracks would undoubtedly present
more solderly appearance and could al
so execute many new manGuvres In drill
| if kept here under constant Instruction
for year, but that they would fight any
better is question with two sides to il,
and am free to confess that six months s
experience in the service has changed my
views on this as on many other points
Our Iowa volunteers have done as good
fighting as any regulars could do whenever
tried, and will continue to do so, and they
don't want to spend their time in being
taught what they already know They
want to fight the tting cut now and 60
home, or else know that they have no
h ONE to 60 to and give all up to the Sc
cesh and the sniggers Either we can
whip the Rebels or they can whip us,
and it is almost time one or the other
event had iranspired.
The usual number Of camp rumors are
aaoat here now, but none seem to attract
much attention except the one to the eff
feet that Gen. Halteck is to be assigned
command on the Potomac. Many are in
ciined to credit the report from the fact
that changes have been so frequent in this
department aud about the time COM
manding General gets things working to
his notion he is displaced. General HIS
removal at this time would be very
much regretted, as he is held in high es-
TEEN and is undoubtedly the best man
that has been here since General Lyon
was in command, notwithstanding his very
singular and, / think, imperative order
in relation to fugitive slaves being kept
out of the lines of the army. The men
who care fighting for their native land
and for the Union toe" will never trouble
themselves to scare oil runaway darkie.
If they take any action in the matter it
will be in more humane direction.
| had thought of giving you some time
list of Keokukians in this vicinity hav-
ing places in the army and in the service,
but ! find the list Of too formidable a
length for me to write or you to print. /
scarcely ever take turn in any new direc-
ton but | meet some one Of our citizens
that had not seen before, engaged in
some Government employment, and every
day or two adds to their number | think
the EXODUS should be stopped soon or
there will DO nobody left to tend the
"Gate.''
tn he general court martial, of which
your correspondent "Kap" spoke, is get
ting along splendidly, having been twenty
one days in session deciding one ease. As
there are some forty or City cases before
the court and new ones being added every
day, the friends of the members of the
court from Keohuk (Lieutenant Colonel
Moss, Captains Conn and Huston and
Adjutant Noblc) must be prepared to see
! very venerable looking individuals when
the court is dissolved.
, I commenced with the intention of say
ing something about the 7th Regiment
but like the man who undertook to re
peat Prof. Bush's pun, ! have kept get
ting off the point, and will have to defer
finishing until another time.
FRANK