The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1862-01-15
nJ5@ From private letter written by q

~ From private letter written by q
member of Co. X, 1st Iowa Cavalry, We
extract the following which will be found to
be Of interest:
BENTON BARRAcKs,l
st. Louis, Mo-, Jan. 9th, 1852.
FRIEND TENNEY:-I gladly avail myself
of short respite from the irksome duties
Of drill" to pen you few lines respect.
ing the lst Iowa Cavalry. You are doubt.
less aware that but one battalion of our
regiment is now stationed at this canton
ment-the balance being out in active ser.
vice west and southwest of St. Louis
We occasionally hear from the rest of the
regiment, and from the accounts received OF
their sk!rmishing there is no room to ques.
ton the fighting qualities of the Iowa LIST.
The Sd battalion, now quartered here, is in
fine condition though the men are bccom-
ing very disconnected on account of the
dullness and monotony Of camp life They
are anxious to meet the enemy and strike a
blow for their country, if anything is to be
done. This "masterly inactivity" annoys
them, inasmuch as they enlisted to fight
instead of whiting away their lives in camp
so near the enemy's territory. "Patience
is stale, and they are weary of it," Nor
is this dissatisfaction confined to the men
referred to; other sol,liers express like
anxiety to be in the field and contribute
their share toward bringing this war to a
speedy and successful issue.
The federal soldiery are, in the main, in
telligent men who avail themselves Of all
the facilities presented for acquiring infor-
nation relative to the progress of the war,
and the majority of them arc strongly i'm
pressed with the idea that the numerous
army contractors, sutsrs and high officers
are doing their utmost to prolong the war to
its greatest possible extent. They are
reaping golden harvest, and while such
cormorants and vampires retain their lucra-
tive positions we need not reasonably ex-
pect vigorous prosecution of this cam
paign. There is too much money involved
to let this opportunity slip without making
the best Of it. These remarks may reflect
somewhat upon the patriotism of those
whose province it is to engineer this mat.
ter, yet they are as true as gospel inspira-
ton. How much longer such state of
affairs will continue, the future alone must
determine. hope the recent developments
made by the fraud investigating committee
may have salutary effect and prevent SIM
liar frauds being perpetratcd upon our gov
eminent.
Company 'K' is doing well, consider
ing the restrictions placed upon us by mill
tary law, or, as we are taught to say, the
"regulations." Our company are in good
health-much better than when confined
in the close rooms of the barracks. Living
in tents reminds us of the pastoral life of
the ancients; and have often wondered if
old Abraham, Lot, and Jacob, and all those
good old men lived in tents like the Sibley
or Fremont tents which our troops occupy
If they did, it occurs to me that they would
have needed constant guard to keep the
sheep and goats from getting cntangled in
the guy ropes!
Our boys were paid off the other day,
consequently they are now pretty flush.-
The "rations' are insufficient while money
is plenty. 1t requires more money to pay
this regiment than any other in the u S.
service, from the fact that nearly all the
horses belong to the soldiers instead of the
government, and every horse draws twelve
dollars per month. The LIST Iowa Cavalry
has been pronounced, by many military
men from Washington, to be the finest
body of men and horses in the whole SER
vice. We are all proud to hail from the
Iowa LIST; we hope to make it "shib-
boleth' that will pass US anywhere through
scccssia. am unable to say when we shall
leave here, but hope it will not be long,
at all events; meanwhile shall try and
answer to reveille, roll call, tattoo and taps
as philosopbically as possible.
Yours truly,
FRANK.