The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1862-02-27
FROM OUR BoYs.
Ress llenry Cerrsspenaence.
Fl. Henry, Tenn, Feb. 10.

u Fl. Henry, Tenr., Feb. 10. .
Nj. Editor. v M
So fine day and fair an opportunity,
fer writing l cannot let pass, and As my
health is good enough q the present, to
allow me again to give you an item OF
two, relative to our present position
and recent movements, although the
noise and confusion Of SO large camp
- this il not the best place for compost
ton, and to-day there is unusual noise
As new regiments are continually ar
irving. as ASA saltlI
But to begin at the beginning on
the 4th day Of February, while we were
!, laying at Benton Barracks Mo-, thinking
taht our stay would there be still Of four or
Eve weeks duratien, ve received orders
to be ready to march in "a hours, the
news creating considerable stir; the
sick were removed to the hospital, and
all got in readiness. February 81 at
o'clock A. NJ We started from the
Barracks, and at ? o'clock P. N. We all
were safely slowed on board the Gov
ernment boat Empress, and soon there
after We showed out into the river, steam
ing away for Cairo. We were compel
led to leave two of our men in the hos
pital, one subsequently receiving dis
charge.
The ice ran rapidly in the river until
noon, when warm sun aiding 4 warm
climate, succeeded in clearing it all
away, and from hence forward We had
but little ice to combat with, thus
giving our good boat chance to in
crease her speed.
Our first night out we tied mp in con-
sequence Of a cold rain Which rendered
travelling very disagreeabls. Started
early the next morning ran into sand
bar which took us some time 10 Olsen
gage ourselves from, as we had very
heavy freight on board, the river being
low and boats had TO run slow. The
banks Of the river for 50 or 40 miles
below st. Louis are low, and covered
with poor quality OF bottom timber.
Passed Cape Girardeau Feb. 9th at 5
O'Clock. This town il situated on the
Missouri side Of the Mississippi river,
on . high point Of the river bluffs, yet
how It received the name of Cape, 1
cannot say, for tho resemblance to.a
Cape is not very striking. It appears to
be healthy locality, abounding in mud
Of tho most sticky kind, an article BY
the way that abounds in all the country
down in this direction.
There is stationed at Girardcau about
5000 troops. The sentiment. ofthe place
10 strongly Union
At the next wooding place some Is
or 20 Of the boys otashore and ere the
officers were aware Of what they were
at, they had fired m old Cabin inhabited
by q contraband and burnt it to the
ground, whether this had anything to
do with our leaving the shore, / cam
not positively say, only l understood,
that we were to remain at that place
until morn, and I know about II O'clock
We pushed OF passing Commerce, the
l II FN NN *E -
station Of JEFF Thompson in the night,
and the next morning at 8 o'clock, we
quietly steamed our way up to the land :
ing at Cairo. As to the looks Of this
place we cannot speak very favorably,
only that. that disgusting feature Of all
Southern cities, sticky mud is here nm
usually abundant. | saw mule team
forcing its way through the streets in
mud nearly knee deep, while you folks
in lows, are plunging through snow Is
or 20 inches deep your moro fortunate
Southern Brethren are wading the mud
nearly Of the same depth. ..a
Cairo was orr point Of destination,
but like everything else, military move
ments are subject to changes, and here
we were changed, or at least our desti.
nation was. While laying 4. Cairo ex-
pecting to land, Or 2 gun boats came
in from TT. Henry with the news that
the Fort had surrendered, and as we
were already on Board it was determined
that We should 90 there. will just
state here, that we were honored with
the presence Of Capt. Stoddard, T.rS.
Free and several others of tho Iowa
10th. The Capt. and Mr.. Free look
fresh and hearty and appear TO stand
tho rough and tni6ble Of camp life very
well, several Of Com. G are sick, I waa
informed. 5 ! - s.t. 60
The gunboats have proved success