Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1862-02-28
From the Ninth Iowa Regiment.
CAMP yANDEvER near Lebanon. Laciede Co., Mo /
'' ' Saturday Feb. Sth 1862. 1

From the Ninth Iowa Regiment.
CAMP vAsDEvKs near Lebanon: Lacleae c., No
Saturday. Feb Sth 1862.
Editors cfthe Gazette :-DEAR SIRs. As
you have shown quite an interest in the well
fare Of the volunteers from Black Hawk Co..
I have thought that short sketch from me
Of the recent march Of this command might
be welcome, and being on the sick list which
gives me plenty Of time, have commenced
it to-day. ." g.'" r.4. +.-. H... J"
The Dubuque Battery attached to the
Ninth Regiment Of Iowa volunteers have up
on the mus:er-roll, upwards of seventy young
men whose homes are on the Cedar River but
short distance from the place where your
paper is published. It has been stationed at
Pacific City, the junction Of the Pacific and
Southwestern Railroad. during the whole of
the past winter. On the oath of January in
obedience to orders of Gen. Hallcck, they
proceeded to Rolla by Railroad, and there re-
ported to Gen. Curtiss, commanding the ar
my of Southwestern Missouri. They en-
camped there with the Ninth, under the
frowning guns Of Fort Wyman, and lay in
camp until the morning Of the 2Sth, when
they took up their line Of march for this place,
forming part OF the great Southern expcdi-
ton. Generals Asboth and Sigel with their
divisions followed close behind US, and the
march of this army in the dead Of winter,
over rough, rugged and desolate country,
is one Of the greatest feats Of the present war.
The column occupied nine days in accom-
plishing the distance, one day being expend.
ed in crossing the Gasconade river, which
was so swollen as to be unfordable. Provis
ion was made for the horses and mules, by
foraging parties who were detached in times
Of scarcity, and who generally succeeded ir
making the sccesh bear portion Of the burth
ems Of the war. Although the country wa.
covered with snow the soil was not frozen
and the heavy cannon and wagons sank dowr
to the axle tree at every step. I now fee
competent to manage the biggest OK team ant
heaviest load, over the worst Slough in North
crn Iowa. +'-.
This place, Lebanon, is the County Seat 0
Laclede County, and was once one of tn
prettiest villages in Missouri. 1t is now tn
advanced post of the Federal army, and tn
vicissitudcs of this war has made it the mos
God forsaken and dcsolate places ever saw
Although about as large as Cedar Fails, ther
are but two or three families in town; tn
rest have fled, some north some south, as tn
contending armies have alternately occdpie'
the town. The fences have been all burne,
for fuel; the shrubbery is all broken down
the stores only display their tenantless con
dition and their empty shelves. The tw,
Hotels are occupied by the army, one as
Hospital and the other as Quartcrmaster'
department. The Court House is depot O
Commissary stores; everywhere you see sol
d er's tents, baggage-wagons and mules.
There arc now about twenty thousan,
troops, with about fifty pieces Of artillery, a
this point, and to-day we have received OF
ders to hold ourselves in readiness to marcl
at an hours warning, with six days ratons
half of our tents, and no baggage. This OF
der points Enthusiastically to a forced marcl
upon the redoutablc General Sterling Price
who is supposed to lay with from twenty t
fifty thousand men at Springfield. ..r. a.
Although on the sick list, do not meal
to be left behind, and if there is any fun
shall be on hand to see it, and unless a Sc
cesh bullet leaves me on Missouri hill side
will faithfully chronicle it for the benefit Q
yourselves and readers.
The greatest evil we have yet undergone
is the want of pay; VIC have not been pai'
off sipee October, and now have nearly fou
months pay due u.s. We arc in hopes Z
having this remedicd before long, and it doe
seem to me, that for the sake Of the soldiers
wives and children at home, payments shoul
be more prompt and frequent.
am yours very truly, a
| WM. H. MCCLURE.