The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-12-13
From the Seth Regiment.
BENTON BARRAcKs

Ed. COURIER. Thinking, probably, you
and other citizens of Wapeo would like TO
hear something of the seth, [ improve a
leisure moment in jotting DOWN few dis.
connected, and, perhaps, uninteresting
lines.
The Regiment. or six companies of it, A,
|. ID, F, G, and II, left camp Lincoln on
Monday the oath. at 2 o'clock, and comma.
MES E. X. G. and B left on Tuesday the
25th, and arrived at Benton Barracks on
Thursday at II o'clock.
The regiment will probably remain here
but for few DAYS, just long enough to
complete their outfit in the way of teams
tents, and the necessary traps for field ope-
rations. and then away for Helena Arkan-
sas: FROM there we shall probably fall in
with the immense army there concentrating
and march on Vicksbugh, under Gen. Nc
Clernard. At least such seems 10 be the
programme laid out for us, as near as can
be guessed
Benton Barracks are admirably adapted
to the purpose for which they were built
and both in location Of the ground, and the
completeness of the these arrangements
are not exceleu. if equalled by any other in
the United States. The quarters for men
are roomy well ventilated, and warmed bv
coal stoves. The kitchens have good furua-
ces and tables, to cook and eat upon, The
camp is supplied with water from the ressr-
vor, and drawn from hydrants loca,ed at con.
yenient distances from the,kitohen,.
There is quite village located inside the
grounds, and all branches of trade are repre-
scented in it. great many of the tradesmer
being discharged soldiers. All kinds of good:
are very high here, and especially in the way
of eatables Irish potatoes are 81 25 per
bushel, sweet potatoes, 81, chickens, SIS per
dozen, butter rs to q cents per Id, beef loo,
eggs 25 cents per dozen, and everything else
in proportion.
There seems, notwithst anding the high
prices, to be good business doing in st. Louis
much more SO than l expected to see. The
levee is croweed with produce, a good portion
of which, suppose is government stores and
boats are all busy, so much so, indeed, thai
transportation for the army cannot always be
had as soon as desired.
Our regiment, am sorry to say, left lo(
or more. sick at Keokuk, and at home on fur-
Tough Besides this we have as many more
convalescing men with US, who are still, and
will be for some weeks unfit for duty. This
cuts our effective force down to about zoe
men exclusive of field officers but I'll bet the
oysters that there are not, as far their mum
bers go, more courageous OF orderly set oil
men,in the Union army This may sound like
braggadocio, but l think that time will
prove what say. The SD Regiment, Col
Rice, Is at Schoffield barracks, and at present
are doing Provost duty in the city, and hear
it rumored that they will remain through the
winter. do not think that should fancy
such job, just about as soon be down on the
Potomac, where there is always going to be a
forward movement"-but never is.
Nothing of particular interest occurred on
our trip here. except that at Falmouth we had
an opportunity to 'jayhawk,"a niger, who
said his massa was a secesh, and was always
harboring the guerrilas, notwitbstand ng he
had taken the oath of allegiance He was
very anxious to go with US and said his mas
sa would 'nebber hab let him cum ia town, il
he know de Linkum soldiers was dar, We
concluded not to invest till we got little fur
ther on the road to Dixie. We had one man
fall overheard one night while laying to, but
he luckily got hold on the wheel, and climbed
into the boat. If We had been running he
would undoubtedly been drowned.
Company e would like very much to receive
the COURIER, and hope you will remember
them while striving to maintain thes rights OF
our common country.
All letters for the seth should be directed
to st. Louis, No, and be careful to designate
the number of the regiment and the State from
whence they come. Shonld you desire it;
may drop you line occasionally during our
perigrinations in Dixie. Yours, truly,
TYPO