Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-08-14
LATEST NEWS
BY THE NAILS.
LETTER FROM THE SIXTEENTH.
CAAP nEAR BoIIvAR, TExN.,


CAAP nEAR BeuvAR. TExx.,
August, 9th, 1852.
ED1Toas DnocRAT The Sd Brigade, after
having toilsome march from Corinth to Boil.
var, 10 now eampsd on beautiful spot % the
left bank Of the Ha.chss river. Water 10 in
abundance; NO such vile stuff % ~ we're fore.
ed to use at Corinth, but clear. cold spring
water, such as was never before so well appre.
ciatsd. The Hstches river is hardly 90 vide
rs Second street, 10 Davenport 10 Of the same
moddy appearance 40 the Tennessee; has .
very svtt esrrsnt. ead st the present stage Of
water it depth ranges from elk 10 ten fsss-
Nevertheless Il 10 considered . remarkable
etrse0 BY the volunteers. Who have been So
ocsto0sd for several 0eaths to 10 streams vid.
er thsn ysrd stiek, and at sundown. huadrsds
Of them eongregate on its banks to bathe. o.
account OF the intense heat no one 10 allowed
TO baths in the day time. Our camp ID situat-
ed about mile from Bolivar, to the North
West, and is at the front of line Of fortifica-
tions which are being thrown up by an "Afrio
an Brigade" under the care of Uncle SAM
Ihese negroes, about three hundred In number,
were taken from their masters by . military
patrol. and set to work, inspired by the prom
iss Of their freedom. The writer has often
heard how lazy negroes are when they have
no one to whip them to their toll. but he has
never yet seen band Of workmen without an
ovsrsser work more faithfully than these same
blacks do. Trey are marched 10 and from
their meals TO the music Of The drum and fifs.
10 the hands Of dusky musicians and receive
very much the same rations - the soldisrs.-
They cherish the hope of their freedom With
angular fondness. and are always aeking
strangsrs II their emancipation is settled fact.
None are received by the govssnment agente
under fifteen or over fifty, although many OF
the prescribed ones offer themselves.
BoIivar 10 situated on . high ridge Of land,
6as residences. 1t is about fif.y miles fron
shiloh, yet the thunders Of that conflict we're
plainly heard here By the Inhabitants. lts
streets are veil graded and shaosd By long
ROVE Of trees. On the north Of the town, on
verge Of corporation linss. reefs . redoubt Of
cotton baiss erected before the arrival Of our
brigade, to defend the Union forces against
threatened attack Of rebel horde which had
been moving about in the vicinity. The cot
ton Was hauled to the town by the planters
residing hersabouts, to prevent the villainous
guerrillas from burning 1t, and the Federal
commander concluded to try Gen. Jacksons
plan on the skuikers in erecting cotton fortif-
cations. It proved success and the town was
saved. Last Christmas the rebel Gen. Bsaure-
gard passed through town, and, according to
the tales of the people, addressed . large
crowd Of citizens at the depot encouraging
them to resist "Northern aggression'' to the
last. God granting. it will be . long time be
fore the traitor will walk Bolivars streets
again.
Perhaps some Of your staid readers imagine
We are having hard times over our rough gov
ernment rations, in this hot weather. but such
is not the case. Green corn, all manner Of
vegetables, fruit, and fresh meat are at our dis.
posal without money and without price,
Each General, as be assumes command of his
respective brigade or division, iseuss fierce
order thrsatening death and destruction to oil
who commit depredations on the property of
"ci.zene," but be talks &c the air. II bend
ing tree waves its branches in the air. loaded
with luscious peaches, do you suppose all the
orders of al! the Generals in christendom will
prevent wandering soldier from filling his
haverssck IT rambling porker inyades the
vicinity Of a Union camp, do you suppose a
soldier thinks OF ''conciliating his Southern
bre,hern" " hen he happens to have q musket
If u garden Of fine vegetables
lies in the vicinity of camp, do you think the
memory of hard crackers, or the sight Of big
bulldogs, or the edicts of officers, or the
stines Of conscience can restrain the excited
soldier if he once gets sight OF il? Indeed we
live like kings. if yslty CONSISTS IN fesstiDg.
Battalion drill 10 dispensed with for the
present 40 the weather has reached that point
which prevents oil severe drilling except 10
the early morning hours. Indeed. while the
writer was on the Provost guard at Bolivar .
few days ago, he saw two O mrades fall eun-
struck, while going the rounds to relieve the
old guard. This happened At about ten o'clock,
when the severe heat had not eliminated
The evenings are. however, very cool, though
the air is not so damp and chilling as in June
By recent arrangement OF the "powers
that be-" two commissioned officers and ten
eargesnts are to be sent from each regiment
now in the field to recruit from the States.-
Those wishing to volunteer would do we'll to
Join regiments now 10 the field ss they will
thereby be placed under officers who have
learned the details OF their business, and they
will be associated with comrades who have
learned the duties Of soldiers. It would be
a much better policy for the government to fill
up the old regiments nov In the field, than to
orRs nize new ones. Yours,
CLINTON PARKHuasT.