Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1862-12-19

From our Army In NllssiSsippi.
tExtracts from private letter
CAMP OF ELEVENTH Iowa INFANTRY,
Mesa Ia, {

Extracts from private letter
CAMP OF ELEVENTH Iowa INFkNrRY,l
| ABBEYvILLE, MISS, Dec. 8.
We are comfortably encamped within one
mile of the above named place and three miles
from the Tallahatchie river, which we crossed
one week ago to-day, after driving the enemy
away from some of the most formidable and
best constructed Notifications that have been
made by them. We were in the advance of
this column of the army, but through some
misunderstanding are at present in the rear,
and we expect to remain here for eight or ten
days, until the carpenters detailed from our
regiment) rebuild the railroad bridge over
the Tallahatchie, which the enemy burnt =
We have taken many prisoners. Our advance
must by this time be at or near Grenada.
Russell Hare has been detailed to act as
Wagon Master, to take train to Holly Springs
for rations. He left this morning. The place
is distant eighteen miles. 1t is nice little
city of probably $500 inhabitants, and hss
quite business-like appearance. The citi-
zens appeared considerably frightened as we
marched through their town to the tune of
Yankee Doodle. They were on every corner,
in small squads, closely observing us. There
were also groups Of negroes, of every grade
and description, attentively watching us, with
mouth and eyes extended to their utmost ca
pacity. saw one beautiful young southern
lady with the starry emblem tied around her
neck, standing at the gate with her silver
haired father, looking as pleased and appa-
rently as happy as lark, while the old
"Pantaloon looked quite scared. General
Macarthur complimented the 18th by saying
that ours was the only regiment in his divis-
ion that knev Aoso to march through town,
and that we did we'll. We are "some pump
kins," keeping step to Yankee Doodle
Our boys are in coed health, as far as l
know, and are very anxious to push forward
and press the enemy, thinking the sooner we
do so the better it will be for Burnside, as it
would dishearten the eastern rebel troops to
hear of reverses to their western brethren.
The rebel force at the Hatchie was 5000
armed, and 10000 conscripts, unarmed. I
like to march in search of them. We find a
good many curiosities and see great many
" sights"
We send out foraging parties every day,
under commissioned officers, and they bring
in corn for the mules, and hogs and sweet
potatoes for the privates; so we live very
well. We have grist mill, run by water
power, grinding corn for the division. There's
nothing like corn cakes and fresh pork
j. by and hard crackers are as plenty as
ever. Our rice is very gritty, and worms an
inch long may0e found among it. We left
our knapsacks at Grand Junction, and are
without change of clothing. We have our
tents along, and carry our gum and woolen
blankets on our backs. Two gum blankets
put together and stretched over blanket
make quite snug little tent. By sticking
two muskets in the ground, bayonet first,
taking the rammers for pegs, raising the
cocks and letting them down on the blankets,
tieing the ends down to the ground, we have
a good tent, in the shape of wedge, large
enough for two.
The railroad is open to Holly Springs. The
enemy burned the depot and large amount
Of stores, before leaving. also saw large
pile of cartridges and artillery ammunition
destroyed. ...... ......
Ice froze three-eighths of an inch thick last
night. We can do without fire during the
day. The boys are hard up for tobacco, as
the Paymaster has not been around for five
months. They are run clean dry. The SUIT
lers are afraid to follow us up, from the dan
ger of being captured by the rebels.
The rebels left here in great haste. There
is no lack of provisions in the rebel army,
and any report to that effect is hoax. They
have plenty to eat, and plenty of good but
coarse grey clothes. They raise as fine corn
and hogs here as ever saw in my life, corn
in very large quantities Sure enough, Mis-
sissippi is this year one vast corn-feld.
o. N. l.. NJ.