The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-11-12
MEMPHIS, TENN, Oct. 27, 1852.


Mr. EDrToR-A trip to Dixie in these
times is full of compound interest, from
the incidents themselves, and the exceed
ing novelty of their occurring in this, our
boosted land of liberty.
| left St. Louis on Tuesday evening
last, Oct. 2lst, bound for Memphis, in
company with s. II. Emery Of Quincy, H.
linois, representing the g Army Commit
tee 80 of the Young Mems Christian Az
ISOLATION of St. Louis, to effect arrange
ments for the distributions of the publ
cation of the American Tract Society, and
others, among the soldiers and hospitals of
the armies Of the Southwest.
Arriving at Cairo we laid up over night,
waiting for the escort of a gunboat, our
Captain having on board heavy cargo
of Government stores, including sup
ply of ammunition for the fort and army
at Helena. During the night the ]. H.
Dickey arrived, pierced through and
through twice by what appeared to be
"a pound cannon shot, received on her
way up from Memphis. In the morning
the Carondolet fired up, promising to ac-
company us, and we set sail. In two or
three hours we were at Columbus, and no
gunboat coming up we had time to view
the encampment and Notifications there.
No wonder our boys were terribly
slaughtered and beaten at Belmont, with
the awful hail of SO and l0O-pounder
shells hurled upon them from those bat
teries. followed up by 5000 men, in battle
array, falling upon them in their disorder,
to which they gave themselves up in their
greed to plumber the encampment of the
enemy they had routed. A dreadful les
son has been learned.
We found the town in commotion, un-
der the rumor of disturbances at Island
No. 10, and apprehended attack upon Gen.
Hickman. A battery and multitudes of
men were hurrying down to transports,
and were soon steaming down the river to
their destination. We followed in their
wake, and soon found ourselves lying at
the leyee al Hickman Here | met the
first man, who coolly said "This is mo-
my fight; let those who have begun i
fight it out" Living under the protec
ton of the Federal Government, and en-
joying peace and immunity from danger
from enemies all around him, and making
money out of the Government, and ye
no dime of money, or word for the OLE
, flag, and the world honored Government
: could not restrain my Indignation, ant
$ though in dark ware house, lighted onl,
: by. a dim lantern, my spirit found utter
. ance IN telling the poor sinner, You ar
Q not worthy, sir, of the protection of tn
y Government whose immunities you en-
% Joy" 1t was the rashness of spirit VI
- accustomed to danger, and was subs'
- quently informed came near costing II
= dearly. Oh, my Country when sha
n thou be free from the Harpies that gina,
9 at thy vitals while fawning around the
: as fiends God deliver US from ou
n fiends
Q Leaving Hickman, still unprotected. "
! approached the dreaded precinct of Islsn
:. No. 10. Our whistle sounded out j
lie shrill scream upon the isolemn stillnes
ot rending the darkness and the night like
N fend. It's echoes died away in the di
lance, We rounded to and sought Ian,
. ing; but no glimmer of light or sound
I, mortal indicated that an army or Twin
fe soul was there, or ever had been Whe
Oh were the armies OF friend and foe, su
ie posed to be lying there in hostile ARA
on either side of the channel
On we passed, soon finding New Ma
: rid, where the presence Of u. S. troo
!, - enabled us to make safe landing, b
~ when we could get no tidings of the sta
ar of the country save that all was well the,
VI Passing on, We found ourselves ne
is day approaching the spot where t
CHI channel forces passing boats within +,
Ly, feet of the shore, and where the Dick
To- was fred into Anxious eyes watch
- every spot as the trembling steamer
led her way along the doubtful and dang
by GUS pathway. "Mark twain, "-"Quar
M less twain broke upon the hsteni
en- y, crowd and brought the signal requiri