The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-07-21

loaded down with the choicest fruit. The
fields arc mostly cultivated in corn, the
raising A. cotton having bsen prohibited
by the Confederate government. All the
cotton i4thK eoaatry has been barncd By
either the planters, or the soldiers. The
"carkios say4the most of i. was burned
by the soldiers. The country, at tho
present time, seems to be inhabited only
BY women and negroes. The whole male
population, from fifteen years old and up
wards, have gone to butcher the Yankees,
and fight for the dangerous and precari-
GUS human property, which, at the pres
ent time. seems to be troubling the civil
zed world. How unjust, and ungcnorous
it would be for us to take the property
away from them while they arc gone
from home to crush the light and liberty
beneath which their ancient and divine
Institution is fast melting away. How it
would shock the noble editor of the Con-
stitution, should we clear the country of
slavery as we 60. The dear masters then
would have no one to take care Of their
property md their families, while they
are gone to destroy the Unicn and our
Government. Many Of them would be
compelled to return to their families, and
the war might close the sooner, and slave
ry perhaps would be crushed, and what
would Uncle Sam do then, poor fellow!
How singular it is that the whole army
should still want to sweep slavery from
existence. while Uncle Sam sets in his
Office bleeding, and grooming, aud dying
for his country.
we we're mustered for pay on the 3Oth
of June. We were then encamped about
three miles beyond the little town Of
Ripley. which is forty five miles west of
Camp Clear Spring. The following morn
ing, instead of continuing on the route to
Holly Springs, as it Was expected we
would, We about faced, and took the back
track, in the direction of our old camp.
About nine O'Clock we passed through
Ripley. which, by tho way. is ro-
manted little place situated upon slight
eminence. In the suburbs, were some of
the most beautiful residences have ever
seen. They were almost hid among the
shade trees and the yards and gardens
beau tifully adorned with shrubbery and
flowers.
On the third Of July we moved about
three miles east of Rienzs. On the morn
ing Of the fourth We were awakened by
the thunder of artillery. The batteries in
the different divisions were firing a Ma
tional salute; their thunder fairly shook
the earth. At noon another salute was
fred. / presume it would have been quite
exciting At Keokuk, but the thunder Of a
cannon sounds dull and fat to soldier,
without it is ON the battle field, where he
is facing the balls and whistling bnllets.
On the evening of the fourth VIC moved
again about two miles aud half to the
south. We remained here about five
days, receiving marching orders as often
as three times day, which were counter
manded rs often; by this time we had
got rather rough ragged, and, ] might say
saucy. We were out of rations. had no
tents, and took nothing with US but what
we had on our backs. For Two weeks.
cold damp ground had been our bed, a
knapsack our pillow. and the broad sky our
covering. Finally, on the morning of the
tenth we received marching orders for the
old Camp Clear Springs, and arrived here
yesterday, q little past noon, having been
just two weeks in accomplishing the grand
rounds. The old camp seemed quite like
home. It is beautiful situation, about
three miles south of Corinth, in one Of
the most beautiful pine forests that
adorns the face Of the broad fair, world.
Springs Of sparkling water are danciug all
around us. and pretty little stream,
called Clear Creek, nearly oncircles the
camp.
The health Of the Regiment is generally
good. Col Rankin has been too unwell
for duty for sometime. Lieut.. Edwards
has been promoted to Captain Of Com
pany in place Of Capt. Moore, resigned.
G. w. WOODROW.
Col. TUrChxn.