Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1862-07-18
OUR ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.
CAMP SPRING RIVER, KANSAS, !
lime 0fth 1890 {


just as far advanced in the Indian Expedition
as we were three weeks ago Two weeks
since we were encamped at the same place we
now are, and within that time we have
first to Fort Scott, then to Usage
Mission, then to Humboldt, then back to
Spring river, distance in all of 215 miles,
We were ordered to the Mission to meet the
Indian regiment, and proceed with them down
the Neosho valley; but before reaching that
point were ordered to Humboldt, where they
then were, 2smiles up the river, to be present
at their great war-dance, and to have the
privilege of marching right back past the
Mission again in their company.
All things considered this has been the Sc
verest work we have encountered. Good
water was not to be had, and very little of any
kind, in fact The streams were dried up
until nothing but green Shiny mud holes were
left of them, and though our road led US
parallel with the Neosho, it was always too
far away to be available. The weather was
very hot and the dust flew in clouds Eight or
ten miles ofprairie seems an interminable dis
lance when man is loaded down with forty
rounds of cartridge, ten pound gun and
other trap, with mary drop" of water to
cool his parched lips. We have endured all
this however, better than our Indian Allies
have. Several of them have died fromthe ef
fects of the march, though they have, by some
bodys acknowledgement or inhumaninty, been
obliged to carry knapsacks that would kill a
mule. One of the Indian regiments is infant
ry, the other mounted, but both are expected
to fight on foot The I'd regiment has some
800 Osages in its ranks. These are the only
wild indians we have. They stick to their
national costume, which is nothing but a
blanket and breech cloth, with string OF
beads around their necks, and bunch OF
feathers in their hair. The Creeks, Chero-
KEGS and Seminoles are considered the most
warlike, and are the most numerous. They
are armed with the Lancaster rife, a common
sporting piece Of large bore. was present
when Capt. Jim Neas company of Ke.cAies
were marched up tc' receive their guns. They
seemed highly delighted with them, would
sight them long and carefully at some distant
!, object, and would chuckle and grin with
kind of savage delight and say big Ingun
| kill heap secesh Their field officers arr
, white men, the Captains and Lieutenants arr
the native Chiefs, and some half Breeds thu
non-commssioned officers are from anon.
the half breed Indian and negro class, whs
generally understand the languages bette
, than the full hoods A molly crew, surely
The Osagcs occupy the country through
which We have just passed From the Mis-
sion to this place, SO miles, there is not
trace ola white iphabitant. We passed on
or two Usage villages, and several of thei
burying grounds.
| went up to one near where we stopped fo
few minutes rest The dead were burie<
on top of the ground, instead of under it
were generally in sitting posture, kind o
: pen build UP around them, and their robes
feathers and other trinkets lying by them.
At one grave saw two skulls outside tn
enclosure, in one of which venturesom,
mouse had built "a nest of leaves, and one o
our enterprising drummer boys was pulling
out the leaves with his drumsticks, and won
dering if all Indians had that kind of brains
, One that seemed of later date and of bette,
workmanship than others, attracted my atten
ton. Pulling away stone and looking in
found myself face to face with grinnins
, skull, the long black top-knot yet hanging
over the shoulders. Satisfied | bid him Goo
speed, rc-buried him, and left him alone ii
his glory.
Many squaws and pappocses accompany
the warriors. The Indian Princess, as de
scribed by imaginative writer's, is not here; Al
least have not seen her but there are many
OF them, old and young, clad in red toggins, g
long gown like skirt Of very uncertain color
over which is mans shirt. They use the
same kind of saddle that our cavalry bows do
and when they mount their ponies, they put
one foot in the stirrups, and throw the other
over the head of the little Ingua: that invaria.
bly, sits behind the saddle. Now that we are
as far advanced we are ready for something to
turn up. Some think that something in the
shape of $1,000 secesh, are waiting for US at
or near Fort Smith; others scout the idea.
Whatever will be in store for us in that OF
any other shape, we are willing to encounter.
Ten thousand rebels are less to be dreaded
than squad of Kansas wire pu!lers. The
rebels when you find them are lawful game,
and our duty is to shoot them, but the other
thing is held as something sacred and must
be respected, whether we respect them or
not.
We suppose, however, that their machina-
tons are now at an end, as it was proclaimed
by general order a few days ago, that all
maneuvers looking to the promotion of any
one must now cease, and the aspirant must
only expect such promotion as the reward of
real merit upon the battle field. Bully
Wonder if the disappointed ones will view
the matter with as much complaisancv as
those who now ride uppermost.
Let us wait and see,
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