The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-10-09
Correspendence ~ the Gate CITY.
MUscArINE, Der. 7th, 1862.

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tDEAk GArr.
Muscatine, like every othe
town made the rendezvous of our net
troops, has at this time an unusually live
ly air, and several branches of bushes
are enjoying unprecedented prosperity.
Has it not occurred to many, if not all
that these hard times of which we are al
SO prone to complain, and which the wa
was undoubtedly instrumental in produc
ing are perhaps provideutial, and neces
sary to the prosecution OF the wpr to
successful issue? Yves nearly all kind
of business prostrated, and men who hav,
heretofore been prospsred in the nsmer
Gus professions and avocations of common
life, locking wildly around, inquirine
what they may do for support to them.
selves and families. Everything looks
dark and uninviting but those pursuits
which appertain Immediately to the con-
duct Of the war; and some of necessity,
while others from choice, give themselves
and their services to the Government,
thereby subscribing their private interests
and answering the calls of patriotism
Undoubtedly to my mind, thousands have
entered the ranks of the Union army, who,
had they been favored with their accus-
toned business prosperity. would never
have left the quiet walks of civil life for
the multiplied dangers and uncertain glo-
ries of the camp and field.
A visit to Camp Strong. at this place,
with the polite attentions of Major Ed.
Wright, of the 24th Iowa, formerly a
prominent member of the House Of Rep
resenta,ives, gave me very favorable i'm
pressions of the two regiments quartered
there. The Damp is about two miles from
town, down the river, on fine plat of
level ground adjacent to the County Fair
grounds. The barracks of the cath and
34th regiments, arranged in straight rows,
form with each other right angle at the
vertex of which are the headquarters, suit
tiers establishments, daguerrean rooms,
barber shops, DC, and half inclosing
splendid parade and drill grounds, which
are regularly swept and kept as neat as a
tidy housewives kitchen. They have
quadruple row of hunks on each side and
are airy and oommodious. Back of each
barrack is separate kitchen for stores,
and an extensive bakery on the grounds
renders the men quite independent of the
rest of the world for the wherewithal to
eat " when they once have tire raw ma
terial.
The cath. Col. Byam's regiment, con
tains 9ss men, two companies being from
Cedar County, three from Linn, two from
Jackson, and one each from Johnson, Iowa,
Tama, and Jones Counties. This is known
as the Temperance regiment, to which
honorable and enviable soubriquetit seems
entitled-as ! was informed by Col. By
am that there are not over three in a
company, on an average, addicted to the
use Of ardent spirits. Its Colonel and four
of the Captains are preachers, its members
moral or religious, temperate and order
", and it is altogether regiment Of which
Iowa may be proud, and may look for no.
bic record.
The 35th, Col. Hills regiment, con-
tains 984 men besides the commissioned
and non-commissioned staff, having eight
companies from Muscatine County and
two from Cedar. They are not yet uni
formed. but are fne looking body Of
men, commanded by very worthy officer
and gentleman. Muscatine County has
now turned out % companies; quite
little army of itself, and making her
worthy of honorable mention by all pa
triots.
Last evening large and enthusiastic
audience was addressed in the open air,
BY Governor Kirkwood, Chaplain Evans,
and the gallant and untring patriot citi-
zen and soldier, Harry O'Connor, Major
of the 35th. The Emancipation policy
of the President was fully Endorsed, by
unanswerable arguments, and modern De-
mocracy, With it's semi-secesh pro-slavery-
ism, received sound and deserved casti-
CATION. If space would permit, / would
gladly present an abstract Of some OF the
arguments and ideas advanced. Suffice
it to say they were sound and what is