The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-11-25
CANT OF THE 9th Iowa, HELENA ARK..l
INV Sih 1850

Col. Vandever returned last night.
They went as far as Clarendon on the
White River. 1t did not result as sue
cessful as was anticipated. The rebels
smelt mice, and retreated in good order.
But our veteran and his men went out
to have fight, and on they went, pursu-
ing the flying enemy, until disorder in
place of order was soon scattered throug h
the rebel ranks. They captured IS or
90, and killed eight, the number Of the
wounded was not asertained. Our loss
was eight wounded, and none killed
Five ofthe wounded belonged to the 4th
Iowa Cavalry, two Lieutenants of Co.,
H., and three privates. Capt. Perkins,
formerly of Quasqueton, was in com
mand of the 4th cavalry. The boys all
speak in the highest praise Of his brave
ry. The 4th will yet earn a name, il
they can have men to lead them that will
fight. We have seen enough of military
to satisfy us that all men are not leaders
that wear the leaf and star on their
shoulder straps. We would not be un-
derstood to infer, that any of them are
towards, by no means. But some how
or other, there are some that are oftsnsr
in the rear than 10 front. The men soon
find out who to trust. II is the man, the
hero, that unsheaths his sword, and tells
his men to follow. Those are men that
inspire the rank and file TO deeds of dar-
ing. When this unholy war is ended,
and we all get home again, the military
jackets will all be taken Of and then a
private in the ranks will be at liberty to
tell you what brave officers they fought
under, and how kind and generous they
always were TO their men. Then the
men that are in possession Of that delicate
article, that some men carry in their
boots, heart, that beats and feels for
others woes, will be appreciated. But
woe to that man whose shoulder straps
were SO heavy that they crowded his
little heart into his boots, and the bright
ness thereof blinded his eyes, so that he
has not seen any great men but himself,
since he received the gliltering load. If
there are any such, we will have a port
norton examination Of them before an
impartial people, whose jud smsnt shall
be final. The soldiers will also hold an
inquest over those that stay at home to
creep into Office by finding fault with
everything the administration does 10
put down the rebellion; pretending that
they can restore peace to our distracted
country by extending the constitutional
rights to rebels, that have spurned them,
and call the old government id
Yankee institution. TO such the verdict
will be, died wiM treason on tile heart,
aad Aahony on Tie brain. The Ohio
and Indiana soldiers will give a verdict
against those that have got into office
without their votes. They will say, "let
them stand from under when we get
home" The 3Oth Iowa aud Goth Wis
consin infantry arrived at Helena last
Friday. They encamped on the oppo-
site side of the river in Mississippi
They had just pitched their tents, and
were preparing their suppsrs, when three
hundred rebels rushed in upon them.
1t was dash TO take the pickets that
had been stationed there, but to their
surprise, they found themselves in the
midst Of large federal camp. Their
scouts, it seems, had been there a few
hours before our regiments landed, and
reported only the picksts, 40 in number.
They were SO completely taken aback,
that they about faced and fed in dismay.
| Our men were as much taken by sur.
prise AS the rebels, not man had his
gun loaded. They, however, with the
aid of the picket, whose guns were load
ed, succeeded in capturing thirty Of
them, and killing and wounding or 10
more. They were SO badly scared that
they never fired gun. The men that
were taken three weeks ago as
prisoners, with 80 wagons, came in un.
der flag of truce last Thursday. Some
OF the m were almost in state of nudi-
ty. The rebels had taken from them
most of their clothing, and in return
dressed them in their secesh rags.
came near getting myself into trouble
with one of them. by asking him what
guerrilla band he belonged TO, and when
he was taken. He told me not to think
that he was secesh, he belonged TO the
9th Illinois Cavalry. He said that the
rebels made him take off his clothes, and
told him that he could put on their old
rags or so without, just as he pleased.
OF course / apologised, and left him
swearing that he would strip the first
well dressed rebel that he could take,
and turn him loose in the woods. The
prisoners that came in last night are
tough looking set. One of them told
me that he was conscript, and belonged
! IN Johnson's Ark 19d Rarimant IL.