The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-12-16
Correspondence of the Guardian.

| HEAD QUARTERS 18th REG r, CAMP 81 MlLESl
FROM MEMPHIS, Nov. 29th, 1862. I
FRIEND Rich The Regiment left
Cairo Thursday the 2Olh. All hands
were On board the Emerald, one of I'm
Gle Sam efficient, but somewhat SKATER
ed, boats. For the first time, the bows
had the liberty Of the boat, and right
well did they improve it. We started
about shutdown. Quickly did we sail
the first eighteen miles, which brought
us to Columbus, the famed Gibraltar
of the West. 1t being dark, made no
note of it. In the morning l was ava
kened by the call of Orderlies, AMI found
the boat anchored by the clayey Island
OF No. 8. Immense piles of wood lay by
the river side. The boys were soon on
land, and having cooked quickly, partook
of a warm break fast The hall ran~ -ond
we were away for Memphis. The wealth
Ell was cold, colder than it was thous-
and miles north. The scenery was as
interesting, but not half SO beautiful as
away up there. The water itself is
changed from lively clear coler, to a
muddy poo-llike appearance. There are
fewer and less inviting Islands The
bold and rocky cliffs have dwindled away
into level marshes. The canebrake, the
misletoe, and the cypress, appear in the
place of the stately oak. the graceful
cedar and the lofty pine. So far as eyi.
denoes Of thrift are concerned, it is pre-
cissly as l have always heard. A slave
country cannot compare with free enc.
A land shouldering all the iniquities of
human bondage. cannot keep above the
waves Of the Almighty's decisive dis
pleasure. The towns along the river
side are vastly different from those in
the free States. They are small, and
built without regard to either taste or
economy. The landings, as they are all
called. usually consist Of clay hill, on
which stands an irregular shaped, dilap
idated old building, whose front is half
covered with sign, whose letters are as
varied in size as in shape or number
This morning we passed the famous
island number 10, where so many days
hard fighting told the well earned story,
victory. The island is no, 80 formidable
by nature as l had expected, nor was il
SO large. An old gunboat and several
wrecks lay about it. A little after we
passed New Madrid. little town of no
importance seemingly. but one long to be
rememb ered by the Guar dian and its
friends. As We moved along, and the
air became warmed by southern sun,
the scenery seemed more inviting.
Some places along the river in Tsnnes-
see present naturally a thrifty appear
ancs. Occasionally there is farm
house which resembles some of our
northern ones. The river spreads oul
wide almost like lake. We received
no cheers, with one or two exceptions,
save from the colored people. who swung
their hats aud danced for joy. There
was some fear est We hight be fred al
BY rebels concealed in The thick woods.
but there was no hostile demonstration
A, night we lay under cover Of Fort
Pillow. This is naturally strong de-
fence. There is no fort, but the earth
works are evidences Of military knowl-
edge. They could not have been storm
ID without an immense loss Of blood and
/ great sacrifice Of treasure. Happy for
our army in the southwest that The rsb
lis evacuated il. Next day we moved
slowly down the river. passing nothing
u curious interest. Al one Tina rather