The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-05-20
Correspondence of the Guardian.


FRI, ND Rrcu Yesterday our former
camp near Piitsburg was broken up, and
the whole division moved six miles in a
southwest direction, being now on the
extreme left, and five miles from the west
bank OF the Tennessee. The pickets Of
the opposing forces are but four miles
apart. and sharp artillery duel came
off list night, resulting in the capture Of
one OF the rebels batteries. Small scout
ing parties are taken daily, who repre-
sent the greater mass of Beauregard's
army as being in very demoralized
condition, especially is this the case with
Tennessee and Kentucky troops, many OF
whom have been impressed into the
service. 1t is currently reported, and
believed in camp, that Beauregard, desir-
ing to reciprocate our wish for an early
engagement, has made an advance of
six miles, and is now engaged in throw
ing up intrenchments. A battle must
come off soon, perhaps to-day OF to-mor-
row. Sunday appears to be the fight
ing day, and our regiment is now under
orders to move at half past nine, with
three days rations in their hayersacks.
Discipline is very strict, and every pre-
caution taken TO guard against surprise.
Roll is called five times day, the men
being required to fall out twice at Rev
ellie and tattoo on tie color line under
arms, where the number of men and
guards of each company are reported TO
the Adiutant. Besides this there is an
inspection Of arms and cartridge boxes
after every meal, and woe 10 the
luckless wight who hath not his
forty rounds. The life of the soldier
is far from being one of inactivity, and
he is perpetually performing some little
office that is suggestive of bloodshed
For instance, he is addressed by his off
Ger in this wise "Soldiers you are
soon TO enter upon a great battle-cool
ness and deliberation is Indispensable
under all circumstances don't get excit
ed-shake the powder down well, and
fire low. One wounded man is worth {
dozen killed." Think Of men hearing
such language as that, who, nine months
ago, We're in the quiet wheat fields o
Iowa, with thoughts intent upon The
raising Of crops, and furnishing com
Portable home. 1t has been said tina
one severe battle destroys all the poetry
of a soldiers life, and | am inclined tc
believe it. After the fiery ordeal is
passed, and he has received his baptism
of fire, flame and saber stroke, he
grows callous, Indifferent, and hardened
His heart no longer beats responsive tc
the finer sensbilities of nature; he grow
distruslul, no longer courts a battle
but stands ready TO enter one at the cal
of duty, and in summing up the chance:
of success, is disposed to consider thu
prowcss Of his antagonist. Northern
soldiers have been disposed TO underrate
the courage of The confeds in too grea
a degree, not without sufficient reason
in many cases, yet il led TO feeling oil
contempt and carelesness on our part
productive Of disaster. Stuug TO mad
ness by their recent rcverses, and the
fact that the fairest portion of their sol
is occupied by federal troops, they will
fight with fierce determination. Shades
of departed heroes of Surrey Borodinc
and Vattel, conspire 10 lend your influ
ence, and infuse share of the glory
which made those fields famous, into the
sons of the North, so that flesher laurels
may be placed upon the chariot of Mars
Our camp is now placed near the line
Of the two states, and twenty yards from
the log on which your correspondent
sits, takes you into Mississippi. Away
down in Dixie, among tangled under.
brush and cane brakes, with patches of
cotton fields and outrageous woods,
where mosquitoes, frogs. and lizards
abound, rendering night hideous with
their dismal croakings-away down in
The land Of chiyary, poetry, and
romance, where The winds blow soft
laden with the perfume Of flowers, and
earIh's richest productions grow sponta.
neous. What a land, what associations, y
and what tremendous lizards. A couple
VI them are gamboling near my seat,
turning, twisting and doubling over each
other with CELEBRITY that would surprise
a mounlebank. They are very afec-
iionaie, and consider it their especial
privilege to esconce themselves between
the sleeping soldiers blanket, 10 crawl
over his face, and bestow friendly cares
SEES. Rome has her flea, which, from
long aequain'anceship, has begun 10 be