The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-10-28

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on the I'asca, and two on the Flora
Lieut.. Col. Lake, Major Howard. Surgeon
Sanborn, and Quartermasier Langworthy,
were on the Itasca, which was the bet
ter boat of the two. Before leaving, Col
Lake, in behalf Of the commissioned
officers of the 9th, presented Colonel
Brodtbeck snug little sum of money
| for his labor and kindness while instruct
ing them. Col. Brodtbeck, though not
a speaker, made few remarks compli-
mentry to both officers and soldiers of
the regiment As we stepped upon the
boat and sailed away, we cast look up
the bluffs, and there soldiers of the 32d
and 38th were looking down upon us
We are now fairly under way, ploughing
the waves of the Fathers Of Waters. |
promised to give you some Of the Geo
iogy OF the upper Mississippi, but from
mere casual observance of rock on
either hand I am unable to write scien-
tifically on the subject. AS l passed
along | saw rich geological fields, rock
stratifed, unstratified, Illuminated and
striated. | shall attempt only descrlp.
ton of The scenrey. There is no rougber
or wilder spot than that just about Eagle
Point. The bluffs are not SO high as 10
make them especially worthy Of notice
but they are holder and much more
picturesque. For miles the banks are
steep and high, and are covered with
trees Of various sizes and kinds AT this
season Of the year the aspect is exceed
ingly beautiful The Frost has changed
the color of the leaves Of some of the
trees, while others retain their early
bloom. The river is quite different from
what | had anticipated. 1t is not one
unobstructed channel, butts filled with
small Islands. There are number Of
little towns scattered along the river
Cassville is the first. 1t is situated
among the bluffs. and has very pleas.
ant little grove at the east. Guttenburg
is the next, is pleasantly situated at the
foot of high bluff. We arrived here
just at twilight. After the steamer had
unloaded and | had seen all of interest,
| took my seat upon the hurricane deck
The Itasca is steaming along at the rate
Of ten miles per hour. The last linger-
ing, golden rays Of the setting sun are
clustering in the lovely little trees upon
the gray summit Of yonder mound shap-
ed cliff At dark we arrived at Clayton
City, town much smaller than | had
anticipated. Early in the evening | lay
down on the hurricane deck, between two
huge smoke stacks. The rolling volume
Of smoke filled with great sparks Of fire
is ascending from each OF them.
Surely ifJove ever had more sublime
spectacle than this, willie forging his
thunderbolts, he must have been in one
of the most desirable places of the infer
nal regions. 1t was some time before |
could accustom myself to this fiery bed,
but at last old Morpheus gains the yicto
ry, and / am transported 10 the land of
dreams Monday morning | awoke Just
as the boat was nearing Brownsville.
This little town is situated right under
an immense bluff on the Minnesota side.
Its population is about three hundred
Nc Gregor, Prairie du Chen, Lansing,
and number Of little towns were passed
during the night. A little after sunrise
we passed La Crosse. This is The most
pleasantly situated of any town we had
yet passed. Tho situation resembles
that of Cedar Rapids in Linn County.
iowa, and il is about the same SIZE.
The bluffs rise TO their full heighlh but
are III the distance. The east side OF the
river, along and above here, is more level
and timbered The west side is high
bold and bluliy. About nine O'Clock
we passed Barren Peak. This is a high
point, with bold, perpendicular front
1t slopes gradually back from the river
to the southwark, and is naked aud
dreary.
MoHpAY AFTERxooy. 1t is cold and
cloudy. Frompaleau is little town OF
two hundred inhabitants, situated on the
east side of the river. The next town
was Winona, the county town of Winona
County. This is very pretty and quite
a large busy town. | could live here,
but beg to be excused from most Of
these up-riyer towns. AS we approach
ed this place large number Of children,
apparently whole school, came running
down 10 cheer us A large number OF
citizens came out TO welcome us. Il is
a place Of three or four thousand inhab /