The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1862-01-01
Army correspondence.
BENTON BARRACKS, st. Louis, !
Mo-. Dec 9th 1851

BENTON BARRACKS, st. Louis,
No., Dec. 18th, 1861.
Dear Times :-Christmas eve in Camp
Benton, and what glorious times We SOL
diers are (not) having. Some of tho pref.
ty girls In our boarding house told me last
night ID hang up my stockings and sec
what I would get. or course I Thought
they would coinc and FIJI them. You smile
perhaps, Mcssrs. Editors, and put on We
ry virtuous look, but let me tell you stran-
ger things than that happen in Benton
Barracks. Well at any rate up went my
stockings, into bed went my body, sound
nights sleep braccd inc for the joyous sur.
prise that awaited me. While the Chief
Bugler was laughing to think how his
blasts would bring 10000 soldiers from
their pleasant dreams. jumped out Of
bed, seized my stockings, and to my sur
prise full Of holes. didn't damn them,
bat from the bottom Of my cole wished
mother was their to "darn" them. Such
was my experience, and soldier can say
-dit-toc. But don't think you civilians
had all the Christmas fun no, not by pot.
full, for'wc, that is Co. G, ''thrcw in" and
the result was, VIC, that is Go. G had a
GLORIOUS oyster up" that is . great many
oysters wont down. These explanatory
phrases would be unnecessary il you un-
derstood military terms. Yesterday more
than half the boys were on tho sick list,
and the "Roll Calr' only brought out twen.
~ three files but the oyster call, brought
in forty files, all declaring that they were
able for long drill. A drill it was, for
squads of oysters were brought to ''close
ordcr," on "double quick" Tho Cap.
vows he'll have forty filcs At company drill
to morrow on 'doublo duty"
Affairs at this place begin to look more
like doing than they have for some time
General Strong is said to have taken the
field and General Sherman has been put in
command here. He took command yester
day. Last night the Sd Iowa Regiment
were ordered to supply themselves with
forty rounds of cartridge, and to hold
themselves in readiness to march at mo-
mcnts notice. Every thing is packed up
teams are ready, and they expect to star
tonight or to morrow. They do not know
were they will DO sent to. Our Regiment
tho 18th, Is not yet armed, but arc expect
ing to be every day. We will, no doubt
be ordered into the field ss soon a. armed
Yesterday 1900 prisoners were brought
into st. Louis. They arc mostly young
boys, but old Williams. They are fearless
profane, and saucy in the extreme. As
soon as got into tho city they gave three
rousing cheers for JEFF Davis. The scound
rcls should have been BADLY borcd."-
200 more are expected tonight or o.mor.
row. They arc from Milford and othe,
points.
The only enemy that We fear at present
is sickness. The measles are raging terri
bly,, two men having already died in on,
Regiment. One in Co. A named John II
Brown, from Hardin county Iowa, the
other in Co. B named Miner, FROM ALBANIA.
kee county, Iowa. The sick have good
care taken of them. The Hospitals arc
warm, and kept very clean. The sick have
good comfortable lounges, the bedding is
kept clean and we'll aired The cause OIL
so much sickness is putting two companies
into one barrack, when there should only
be one, as Fremont intended.
By-theby many Of your readers may
desire to know why our Camp is named
Benton Barracks. It was called so by
Fremont in honor Of Old Tom. Benton, his
father. in.law.
Hoping that our Regiment will be in the
field when write again.
| Remain,
WILL-o'-rnn- wIsp.