Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1862-01-24
.uuR ARMY CORReSPQNlENCE

QUR- ARMY. .CORRESPQNlENCE
FuLToN, Galloway Co.. NO., Jan. 10.
Dear Journal; As your Spscials are all
with the California half Of our reg
iment, and We are consequently not repre-
sented in your columns, l thought perhaps
a word from this direction would be accepta-
bic. We arrived here in the evening of the
day after Christmas, where we have since been
quartered with the exception of a scout now
and then in the surrounding country. Fulton
is the county seat Of Galloway county; it is
twenty five miles from jefferson City, and
10 miles from St. Louis. 1t contains court
house, a college, deaf and dumb and insane
Asylum; however, they are all deserted,
save when they are used as quarters for Fed
eral soldiers The court house is now occu-
pied by squadron Of the Sd Iowa cavalry;
the deaf and dumb asylum is appropriated to
our use. The furniture has long since been
removed by the secesh, and nothing remains
but the clean oaken floors and naked wallis
As the beholder wsnders through the de-
serted passages he is forcibly reminded OF the
awful storm now sweeping over the country.
And in fact this desolation does not exist
here alone; it is seen everywhere The town,
which must have been thriving place once,
is nearly deserted also, and the business seems
to be carried on principally by darkies in ped
ding apples, eggs, butter, &C., to the soldiers.
The country is the same; for miles during
our marches white face is not to be seen,
but troops of the "Irrepressibles" string along
the fences, and gather at the road corners to
see us pass, their white eyes and glittering
teeth reminding US of Livingston's Africa.
On several occasions have had the curiosity
to address these sable crowds, and have in
variably found them sound on the Union
theme. They all think the war is for their
liberation, and they fondly look for the blow
that may shatter the chains of their bondage.
But that blow fear will never fall; and the
Dinah of q century hence will await her
lover under the same adverse circumstances
that she will tonight. Nor is this idea Of
emancipation confined to the slaves alone
Many of the whites, and large slave owners
at that, harbor the false impression, and moth
ing but time perhaps will teach them better.
Be the policy Of the government what it may
on this great question, there is one thing Of
which you may feel certain, it will never do
to proclaim negro emancipation by force to
the 18th regiment
But to our travels: the whole of Christ
mas was spent in fvrrying the Missouri at
jefferson City. Finally over, the drcary
march of twenty-five miles commenced, over
one Of the worst roads ever Travelled. At
one time the wagons were axle deep in mud,
and perhaps hundred yards farther on they
were rafting over beds of rock. At about
9 o'clock at night we reached church and
school house, where we stopped for the night.
The men, cold, weary, hungry and bespat-
tered with mud, threw themselves upon the
hard floor to gather repose so much needed.
All, what q contrast was this. Christmas
throughout to the one but a year ago! l
know not what were the thoughts of others,
but my own we're rather gloomy. thought
of home, of the warm and cheerful Preside,
and the thousand endearments that cluster
around it to make one happy. I compared
its warm and rudy glow to the cold dark
atmosphere around me and lost by the
comparison; and the wintry wind whistled
through the broken windows above my head
like some devlish spirit laughing at my re-
Elections. wondered where should be that
night hence one year, and Hope tapped her
starry wings, and softly whispered "home"
Ard I went to sleep listening to the bewifch-
ing strains of the beautiful but false hearted
maiden. Early morning found us again on
the move, and crossing twenty miles more
of mud and rock; we reached Fulton just
ia sunset. Here We found good quarters,
and sound sleep followed.
December 27th-A scout ten miles out, re-
sulting in nothing but sore feet, one prisoner
and horse. .'oA.'
2Sth-Nothing. 2-se'e .a
29th- Nothing, az 5.ss
3Oth-Nothing. x.res ~.
S1st-Another scout ten miles beyond
Millersburg; result, seven prisoner and five
horses returned the next day. The whole
distance Travelled, forty miles. 70
On the night Of the I'd, Co. F, Captain
Moore, made dash twelve miles out, return
ing at daylight next morning bringing eight
prisoners and one horse. rI. '.
Since the exploit of Capt. Moore nothing
of interest has transpired in the war line,
consequently we have nothing now to keep
US awake but the every day duties of SOL
der. How long this will last is uncertain,
but all hope it may continue during cold
werther. All seem W ling to make Fulton
the head quarters during the winter, but
they would be much better satisfied to have
the other half of the regiment with US. Our
Colonel has notified General Mexican that
such result would be agreeable.
Now dear JOURNAL, word to the ladies
the Muscatine branch Of the Iowa
Soldiers Aid Society, and | am done; and
first let me say that the hour the Muscatine
ladies joined the State concern proved fatal
hour to the 18th regiment; for SO far. as !
can learn by observation and enquiry not