The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-01-01
a letter from Camp Esenton
pExTos BAeRacKs. St. Louis. !

BENTON BARRACKS. St Louis.
3.# tn.i i.@ han aa Dec. %, 1881. f'
MR EpirnR - Circumstances over which
I have no control have prevented me from
dropping vo,, a line before this present mo
ment, and now, amid the duties and excite
ncnts. the 'noiSe and confusion of camp
life, 7 cannot promise to entertain you or
vnur readers with any thing Of consequence.
The sequel will show ~. ""@ even
The usual duties, together with other
matters pertaining 20 camp, are familiar to
Won, having been described and rccited for
the thonsanlth time Enough for the Cd Iowa
and Co. X, that we still have our share OF
them. Our purpose in removing to this
post was to recruit the health as we'll rs the
numbers of our Regiment Our numbers in
The aggregate are about the same. We have
recruited perhaps as many as we have had
discharged and died The sick list numbers
about goo. Perhaps ofthis number, " we
had prospect of any scrimmage. a good
portion would go in The general health,
however, has improved since we came up to
this post lido not know but we arc an
average regiment fer health Of those now at
this camp 81 'et's "aE "4 ...
MANY of our friends are ANXIOUS to know
what disposition is to he male ofus; wheth-
er we are to take the field for actire that is.
fighting operations whether we are to be
kept in this camp or vicinity for special du-
ties or, as some are anxious to have dore,
whether we are to be disbanle On these
points, I an not advised do not believe
we shall be disbanicd. l hardly think we
will take the field for fighting purposes. That
we may be detailed for police duty aronnd
the city, is probable. Ispeak very guard
cdly, as am no sensation writer. Our dcs.
tination is so uncertain that, to make the
matter short I may a well at once confess
that don't know any thing about it. For
practical purposes We are about two thirds
ola Regiment.
The Otamwa Co. ("K'c at present num-
bers 80. aggregate. We have di :chargcd @.
disab lily ten. Two have been tronsfarrei
to other Regiments. Two have deserted,
Six have died, to wit : Ansel w. Brown,
David G.. Bosworth, Shelton F. Harrison,
Abraham r. Noel and David Y. Enslow.-
Ofthesc, know bit little of their former
history, except Bosworth's. Since my con-
nection with them know them to Rave
been men Of correct habits and Of moral
Character, ahovs rcproach. Is 12E's a
The position of Captain is peculiar in
many respects. His relation to men who
have taken their lives in their hands, who
have left home and mutual friends. and have
resolved to stand or fall together, is unlike
any other, and is one of sincere attachments
as well rs Of espqnsibili.y. To sec them
drod of, oneat 2 time, Ito find the ranks
thinped and melt away, to look upon their
cold and s;itienei forms just ready for burr.
al, to knaw that those you relied upon when
the diy of trial should come will no longer
bcby your 81 le,. are experiences in "a soldiers
life full ofthoughtful suggestions. How the
mind recars to the day we left Ottumwa,
full Of health and strength, with the blessing
Of many grey headed Father and Mother,
upon them, and many a charge to me that
should watch over them and stand by them
when the conflict came. How have known
all their joys and sorrows, their hopes and
fears, their heart longings for home, their
want Of family sympathy. their bitterness Of
spirit rs life wasted a'ay. How have | felt
interested in, and attached to them, endeav
oring to discharge all my duties towards
them. and how conscious am oc my f,ilur".
Let those who would b. severe in their
judgment, remember that have my own
cares and self denial and seifSacrifce, nv
own thoughts of home and friends far away.
my own heart loneliness and bitterness of
spirit, but amid it all cherish profound
respect for the memory of those boys, and
readily confess that have not had strength
enough 10 have prevented the tribute Of
tear, when have realised that they have
gone. ....
Lest | might be tedious viii turn short
corner, and talk about sometl ling else. You
might he interested to know that my journey
from Ottumwa lasted just nine days. Three
days in Keokuk waiting for Packet. at
last vcnturing on ferry boat to Q iincy. At
Keokuk I visited Capt. KitTedse several
times. What learned of him, about him
self, is probably by this time known to you.
understand he has ar lived home. have
II last seen nan who has been in Baltic.
What thought as ] SIT BY his bedside lapdi
ookod into his pale facs. you will uevsr