The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1862-09-17
Army correspondence.


Near Helena, Ark, Aug. goth.
EDIroRs TINES -
| have seated myself for the purpose of
sending you short communication from
the Iowa Grey Hounds" and l guess it
will be very brief, for the dull monotony of
camp life is now upon US; consequently
there is not anything scarcely worth writ.
ing, or writing about; i: is one thing to-day
and the same tomorrow.
AT half-past O'Clock in the morning rev.
ellie sounds, when we all have to go out on
battalion drill for one hour. by the way of
giving us keen appetite to relish our
grub After the morning drill is over
there is nothing to busy ourselves with till
the afternoon drill, which takes place at
four o'clock, and is company drill which
lasts one hour, when the command is given
ito quarters march, when We all retire to
our respective places, cat our supper and
prepare for dress parade at six o'clock. -
Immediately after dress parade, retreat is
sounded when the "Soger boys' amuse
themselves IN various ways the rest Of the
evening, in the manner Of playing euchre,
scven-up, checkers, dominocs, g.; and to
change the programme they occasionally
get a dozen contrabands or more, (male
and female,) and form large ring for the
dancing hall. Into this place the "culled
pusons' are ushered where they "hoe il,
down. till they raise such pleasant smell,
ing order that the white spectators are
obliged to beat retreat, sometimes in con-
fusion. so great is the stencil. But must
be careful how write, or some of my ab
clifton friends up north may doubt the
veracity of.my statement but if they do,
think one evening a: ''nigger hoe down.
would convince them that your correspond.
ent did not exaggerate in the least These
dances are kept up till the taps" arc
sounded, when the darkies have got to re
tire to their quarters and keep civil the res,
of the nj hit.
Several gunboats and mortars have lef
Helena in the last few days, for some point
down the river, probably Vicksburgh.- -
The rest Of the feet, it is reported, viii
follow in few days.
There are great many reports brought
in camp. Yesterday darkey from Tren
ton, brought in the report that there was Q
guerrilla band of 600 men at that place
with three pieces of artillery; bat littl,
confidence, however, was placed in what
the negro said.
There are great many c,njectures he,e
about the destination Of the forces now
concentrated at and near Helena Som.
suppose The whole force will co operate
with the feet, while others are of the opin
ion that Gen. Steel's division will invest
Little Rock, and the other forces act ir
conjunction with the feet; the last think
to be the most probable. However, tn,
whole thing rests with the ''powcrs tha
be-" and little time will tell who is right
Capt. Towner, Of West Union, has beer
recommended to the Governor Of Iowa 70,
the appointment Of 1t. Colonel of the 9tt
Iowa, and will undoubtedly get the ap
pointment, notwithstanding the intrigues
that may be used against him. He is Ger
tainly as much entitled to it as any.
Several of our offic,rs have lef
for Iowa, to recruit for the regiment, in the
last few days. Among them are Lieut.
Tisdal of Co. IF" Capt. Moore Of Co. III,
and Serg't Flanagan Of Co. "E,"
But must stop writing, lest l wear,
your patience. Yonrs,
A. G. SMITH, Co. "F," 9th Iowa.