The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-12-02
From the 9th.


We were favored with the following private
letter from Col. LAKE, last week, and in the
absence ola letter from our correspondents with
that regiment make free to publish it j
On STEAMER EMERALD, BETWEEN FoRr)
Pillow AND MEMPHIS, Nov. 22d, 1862.
FRIEND Rich
We left Cairo, Ill.,, on the even
ing of Wednesday, Nov. Goth, with d.
rectlons to report at Columbus, to Brig.
Gen. I. 0. Davis, commandant OF that
post. We arrived there about 8 P. NJ,
Of the same day, ard Immediately report
ed at Head Quarters. The General had
retired, but his Adjutnnt gave US orders
to report Immediately TO Gen. Sherman,
at Al -mphis; We had been warned by
ueh. Auttie, Deiore leaving Cairo, that
we would be sent to Memphis, without
doubt, SO our orders were not unlocked
for, besides they were what We wanted
The boat Immediately started out, and
run down near the famous Island No. 10.
where we lay till morning There our
boys went ashore and cooked breakfast,
and were ready to start at daylight. The
boat passed Island No. 10, where a gun
boat lay at anchor, but we were allowed
to pass without being brought to, or ask
ed to give any account yourselves the
boat ran all day without landing, meeting
several steamers going up, loaded with
conhscated cotton, contrabands, mules,
and other arrivals, including few Rebel
prisoners. AT night we stopped under
the protection Of the guns Of TT. Pillow,
now known on the maps as Fort Wright.
The SD Indiana Regiment is encamp ped
here. They cost government nothing
for substance. They take horses, cat
lie, corn and cotton enough to pay all
eypences. Just az we left there this
morning, several loads of cotton came in
for sale. There is man stationed here
to purchase that article. He has per.
nit from the Provost Marshall to buy,
but has 10 take bill of sale in writing of
such men of whom he buys, and must
be sure that the man has taken the oath
of allegiance. Here are several gunboats
stationed along in the river, TO pre-
vent guerilla parties from firing into
boats as they pass.
We see but few plantations as we pass.
The river scenery from Cairo, thus far,
is very monotonous and dull. 1t con-
sists principally Of cotton wood trees and
sand banks.
Fort Pillow affords an exception. This
is situated on bluff that rises about 100
feet above the river. The Fort consists
of earthworks, near the banks of tie Riv-
err, made with great amor 1t of labor.
They were built in manner that COM
ple,ely controlled the navigation Of the
river at this point. The guns were so
situated that they could range up or
down the stream. They are built on
what engineers call scientific principles
The guns that were loft here. are all in
jured in some way, go as not to be used
again. One GA FOUNDER, that was noun.
ted on top Of the bluff, and in such a
manner AS 10 command the road leading
up The bluff, was blown up, by first driv-
ing in long ball, then a charge of pow
der, then another long ball. and then
heating it by building fire under the
sun. till the powder ignited. This took
1 piece some 2 feet long out Of the gun,
which was abont 10 inches ;hick around
he bore. The slugs can now be seen in
he gun. | saw one IS inch mortar
here that was halyed one half lay on
he ground near lis carriage, did not
see the other.