The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-03-04

on the udnlp moor, PFC. W consuming
hunger, anxious care, and the rats, and
you will have some idea Of the delights
experienced by the Iowa Fifth.
AS we descended, it became evident
that we were getting into warmer lau-
tude ; the ice in the river gradually be-
gan to disappear, while on the shores
could be seen may vines, still green.
The scenery is quite monotonou5. On
the Illinois side the country is rougher,
and occasionally bold bluff comes up
to the waters edge, presenting formld-
able front OF serrated rocks, III the crew.
ces of which are few stunted pines
struggling for life and nouri5hment. At
one place, water, in pouring over the
rocks, has become congealed and froz-
EN-, and there it was, with its glacis of
shining pinnacles, descending to the
waters edge. We met two boat.loads of
the Fort Donelson prisoners, who were
en- route for ST. Louis. The poor fellows
were huddled together on the Storage
deck, dressed in the most fantastic style
imaginable, presenting an appearance
calculated to excite compassion and a
certain degree Of contempt. We soon
reached Cape Girardeau This is a
small place on the Missouri side, mostly
occupied by troops, and business of no
kind is going on, except the transporIa-
ton Of military stores. On a high en-
inence in the center of the town are plac-
ed the Notifications, consisting of a series
of breastworks with salient angles, and
mounting six guns. 1t is well prepared
10 resist any force that jeff. Thompson
can bring against it. The 7th, Illinois
cavalry, and 42d, regiment Of infantry,
are stationed here.
Well, time passed off. The mighty
engines turned the ponderous wheels
with a jar. The heterogeneous mass of
beings read, wrote, smoked, played
cards. The low sandy shores swept by,
and everything passed off as unconcern-
ed as though We were on some HOLIDAY
adventure Towards evening went up
on deck and beheld for the first time
Cairo. Cairo the ultima thule Of all
our wanderings, the place that for the
! last six months has been rendered famous
in newspaper history, where thousands OF
| brave sons from the north aud west have
gone to consecrate themselves to the
cause Of liberty. As the Lieut.. Col. re-
marked, the town is stuck right in the
mud, and standing on the deck of a
steamer you appear to be floating VERT.
The long embankments, that stretch
away as far as the eye can reach on eth
er side are its only safeguards against in
undalion. All at once, a clear blue curl
of smoke issued from one of the bastioGs
OF breastwork to our left and then the
laundering report of a cannon came
booming over the waters. This was
merely a gentle hint for us to show
something As TO our character, and was
promptly responded to by giving the
,ehistte signal. We now came into the
Ohio river, tie waters of which are
plainly discernible from the Mississippi
BY having more reddish cast Cairo
is situated Al the direct confluence Of the
rivers, and the location is admirably
chosen 50 far as mud is concerned The
principal building is the ST. Charles
Hotel, and there is nothing very strk-
ing about that. One street runs along
the waters edge, up tie Ohio, aad that
| is all. But shall not stop 10 particular
ize but pass on. The most interesting
objects to me were The gunboals, five in
number, lying on the Illinois side, the
Cincinnati and Conestoga undergoing
repairs for injuries received at the late
battle of Fort Henry. Through III,
smoke stack Of the Conestoga were fave
holes made by the enemy's balls, larg'
enough for fellow TO stuck his head in
The boats looked as though they had seei
some service. Aft, on the It ,r5oart
side, We're two enormous dents, made b,
a 1913 FOUNDER, bending the thick ilol
plates and then glancing off. One sho
went through the pilot house, ant
another, more saucy still, entered tn
port hole of one Of the bow guns, knock
ed the fang off from huge Columbiad
dismounting it. parted the steam escap'
pipes, and then ricochetted through tht
roof of the wheel house, doing rigi
smart of damage. Every place wher
il had been struck by shot was distinctl
visible. Each boat mounts from ten I
eleven guns of the largest calibre, ant
they look as though they were capable O
doing mischief.
After some consultation among tn
officers, the Iowa Fifth was marched
ashore and quartered in long low woodel
barracks. 1t is impossible for me I,
give you any idea of the number o
troops here now; suffice il to say tina
they are pouring in from all parts Of thu
Union every day by thousands. That i,
great movement is to be made in few
days up the Cumberland river, there can
be no doubt. To-day five thousand
more prisoners arrived from Fort Donel
son. They are to be sent in every di
reclion, some TO Alton, Chicago and St
Louis. Five hundred nurses came dowr
on the Northerner last night from st
Louis, to minister to the sick and wound
ed soldiers. The mail is going. SO goot
bye.
G. J. II.
r Ety- The followinr letter from tba w E