The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-10-11
ARMY COn n EsPONDENCR.
SPRINGFIELD, No., Oct. Sd,

SfbiNdflLLD, NJ, Oct Oh, 1907.
Since my last date . brigade has been fitted
out here and dispatched to Mt Vernon, where
there was york for them. The brigade was
composed Of some fighting regiments, two Of
them, the S7th Illinois and 26.h Indiana, having
won laurels at Pea Ridge and the other three,
the lst Iowa cavalry and 18th and Goth Iowa In.
fantry, being ready and able to win laurels OF
any field they are called upon. The brigade
is under the command Of COL Dye, of the goth
Iowa, who, as you are aware, is q regular officer
Of considerable experience and ability, having
been on several expeditions through New Mexico
and Lower California, of military and scientific
character.
General Heron, with bis brigade, in which is
the 10th Iowa, has been assigned the command
at this post, but it is not probable that he will
keep it long, as he is too valuable and eficien:
an officer to be spared from the field. General
Curtis, who fully appreciates his abilities as
fighting man and officer, will not .sonsent to
have him laid on the shelf by the mi ii officials
Of Gov. Gamble. At present, however, we are
engaged in the pleasant and heslthful exercise OF
digging trenches and building the Notifications
which Gen. Totten planned for the defense Of
this post. And you may imagine that it does
not 60 down very we'll to have to build forts
which the worthless militia of this region ought
to build, and upon which the thousand or two
slaves of rebel masters in this county of Greene,
ought to be employed.
1t Is not the work We care about II makes
little difference to the soldier how he is employed
so far as that is concerned; but to be compel
led to rear breastworks and bastions which the
secesh militia and the slaves Of rebels who are
in Hindmsn's army ought to build, isn't one Of
the most pleasant things to contemplate.
Springfield, at present, is the depot from which
all the military supplies for the army of the
is much trade and traffic going on. The mer-
chants here are reaping harvest of successful
trade, and making vast profits. The little, old
fashioned public square, or plaza, which it near
er resembles, is daily crowded with the motliess
Of military and good sprinklins of the yellow
est Of butternuts of both genders. In the even
ing numerous ladies, mostly wives of Federal
officers, may be seen promenading the square,
or dashing about gay on horseback, as If there
we're no threatening army of rebels within
thousand miles and as if success must necessarily
follow our arms-especially with their presence.
The ruins of three or four printing Offices
haunt several parts of town, looking like they
had been Quilted and pied by each army of occu.
patton since the FIRST. From the scraps of one,
however, . paper is printed called the )" Nilsson.
riaD," which is the official paper of head. quarters
that lie, prints notices in bad etymology and
worse punctuation and swamp mud ink, and e1-
ercises paternsl and patronizing care over
Federal interests here generally. The chap tia
runs il will do 70 hang to.
We are greatly in need Of hospital stores here
| and hospital accommodations Our sick list lie
fearfully increasing, and with no adequate build.
ings and almost NO supplies at oil, there must DO
much suffering. Will not our kind Iowa friends
remember rs down. here in the generosity Of
their donations for the sick and wounded SOL
diers! Articles sent to Colonel Crabb, of the
10th Iowa or the Colonel of any other Iowa Reg
iment or to General Heron, viii be applied to
| the very best Of use. 7. H.s.