Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-11-03
CAMP AT PA RIDGE. AK,
Ors lG l. G..

CANP At PEA RIDGE. AK,
Oct. l6. l. g.
You will see by the date Of this le.te
that We are at last actually poluting th
SACRED soil' Of The c. S. A., JEFF Davis
proclamation TO the contrary notwith
standing, and everything is well with us
That is, those Of us who are not sick, o
whom more anon.
We broke up our camp at Cassvillc
from whence I wrote you last, on yes
terday morning, bidiing eood.bye tt
Mr.. Davies, who lncerd with us, as il
very 10th TO part, and to teltae truth ~
we're all Of US sorry TO lose the sun
shine Of his pleasant smile, and we shall
oil OF US mi,s the kindly grasp oi
his hand. 1t seemed MS If We had with
u palpable liok Of an invisible cEain
connecting MS with home while he re.
manned. He has done us all great
deal of good by coming TO Us. 2
But-to resume We broke up camp
snd took up Il line Of march fer Dixie
eer' y on yesterday morning.
The weather has been dry eyar since
the rain oflast week, and the dav was
hit and the road was dusty We start.
ed out with the idea somehow very gen
orally prevailing that we we're only to
march TO Keitsville, small village some
eight miles from Cassville, and some OF
us bad but little water in their canteeos,
and bes dcs We had been told that wa
tf would be plenty on the road. We
marched full thirty five miles on a sui
try day over dusty road, and found
that water was non .comeatble. Sold
iers should never start on a march with
out full capteens. will tell you thing
which, if generally known, would be OF
immense benefit to our soldiers. All
along the line Of our march there ia a
growth of oak timber. l have a habit
OF pick ng the sprouts of this years
growth and chewing them. The effect
of this is that am rarely thirsty, and
always have water 10 give away. The |
jjaice is somewhat astrinuent 10 its ma
IRE, aud il is 10 this habit that | a,trib.
my escape ON disrrle a complaint
which has placed more than half the
men Of this regiment on the sick list"
But to my story: The country
through which we marched no longer
presented the level and fertile appear
ance which characterized the region in
which we had passed the preceding two
or three weeks. orr line Of march Law
on the bottom lands Of branch OF In
dian Creek, believe. The creek is now
ncariy dry, and where it is not the va
ter is SO s,agnant that sthe horses even
world not drink. Hills Of con.idera-
bic size rise on both sides of the creek,
distance Of halt q mile. 10 The SO
places you will find some really pictur-
esque log honses nesting in an apple or
peach orchard, and the land looks fer
tile aud easy 20 be titled. Just tuch
place as would delight New Euglander
to live In. But alas the houses are
mostly annlhllsied, the orchards almos,
ruined, the fences gone and the fields
Overerown with weeds. Al other places
the bottoms are but few rods in width.
and the ground rocky.
Ketsville is . prcttier town than
Cassvile to my mind, having a: least
three rather good houses in it, but still |
never church nor a school house. As
We marched through the town We saw '
. large force of our troops there, who Q
we're evidently quite at home. judging {
from the Indians who were mingled il
with the whites. This must have been e
Gen. Bunt's command, the same who e
were engage at the ekirmi at New. q
tonia some two weeks ago. Alter pass a
irg through Ksitsville we soon came to '
> narrow pass whcih to my :unmiIitaiy \
eye as seemed we'll adapted fer defer &c, d
Indeed it was 20 plain that some fright b
ened rebel general had attempted to de. 4
fend himself from pur- nit which vas, l q
bclieve.pu'e'y imaginary. A great NUM- b
ber Of large trees had been fallen over G
The road for the purpose Of cbstructing I
bis pursuere, who, as / hear, was not a
Coming at all. Having occasion to re.
trace his steps some little time after, he g
bad the satisfaction Of clearing away o
his own alba,is, and there the trees lie
now. They will make very foe fire. il
Wood when the war is over. With Y
weary steps Ne toiIed up the steep side 4
all Of Pea Ridge, taking time y We !
note the s;gss Of The dread 3
al battle whieA ragged there darir 2 the =
Afss days Of 1assh. The traces ofthe g