The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1862-05-01
ARMY CORRESPONDENTS.

OsCEoLA, ARK, April, 16 '62.
CAMP NEAR PLUM POINT BEND.
Mr.. EDITOR
Well, here We are at last, right in the
heart of Dixie" the land of many prom.
ises and few performances but I'll stop
and tell you how We got here.
We left our camp near New Madrid on
the 18th. We marched down to the riv-
er below Fort Thomson (the lower fort)
where VIC halted and aited for orders to
90 on board the boats that were lying
there. We stood there until twelve
o'clock at n ght, when the order came,
and We went on board the Chouteau. A
large number of wagons, mules and hors-
es were on board, and another regiment
tho 59th Indiana
1t was very much crowded, but we
contrived to pass the nj ght. The next
morning we started down the river -
The day was warm and pleasant, and the
tri p very agreeable, The river is very
high ; and the farms, where there are no
lev,es, are overfowed
After we left the States of Missouri
and Kentucky, and entered those of Ten
nessee and Arkansas, we were greeted
with cheers and waving handkerchiefs
La the last two States, as far as we have
gone, there appears to be strong union
sentiment
We arrived at Plum Point about four
o'clock in the afternoon of the 18th. 1880
Here we found 26 steamboats,, besides a
large number of gun and mortar boats.
The steamboats, were all loaded with SOL
dicrs. Gen Pope must have, at least,
$4,000 effective men here, with plenty
of artillery.
As we crossed the river the rebel works
came in sight on the bluffs below; they
look quite formidable with the secesh
flag waving detiantly over them. On the
18th we crossed tbs river aud landed
about two miles below Osceola, on the
Arkansas shore, where We are at present
We are camped in an old pasture just
back of the levee, but sleep on boats at
night.
The weather is very warm but as the
trees are all in full leaf, we have plenty
of shade. There is upwards of thirty
boats now lying here. They present
beautisul and busy scene, with their flags
and streamers flying in the wind. We
have nothing to do but to fight musqui-
taes, aud they are just as thick as-as-
well, just as thick as-musquitoes
The 59th Indiana has been paid off
since we landed, many of the men draw
ing as high as hi gh as sS5. We were
paid off the night we left New Madrid,
drawing $40 to the man. Gambling is
now the order Of the day. All kinds of
banking games are in full blast Look
which way you will, groups are to be seen
engaged IN the all absorbing games of
"poker," "honest john "chuckerluck'
"euchre,' &c Many men who ought to
send their money to their families, are
now engaged in squandering it away
without thought for the future.
Our gunboats first opened fire on the
rebels at two o'clock on the l4th. AS
the booming sound of the cannon reach
ed the camp, the men, with one accord,
burst forth in cheers. They are all anx-
ious for fight, and must and will have
one. The cannonadng was resumed
again yesterday.
We planted a battery Of heavy guns
below the fort on the Arkansas side
They opened fire this morning for the
first time on some rebel boats that were
coming up the river, making them hustle
back faster than they came. All COM
munication by the river is now cut off,
both above and below the fort and
when the time comes we will cross and
take it. no matter what the cost is Fort
Pillow must and shall be taken, and we
are lust the men to do it.
Yours &C., Coon CREEK.
Since writing the above, Col. Worth
ington has issued orders to arrest persons
playing cards for money. This will stop
gambling. Hurrah for the Colonel.
CHRISTIANITY AND ToBACCO.-Last