The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1862-02-05
Army COrrespOn dencc.


MONTGOMERY Cry, n. NJ. r. RI
Jan. 26th, 1862.
Eds. Times 1T is coming very close
upon the ridiculous to entertain symptoms
Of a thought that while in this hour Of
"stcrn alarms and forward movements,
the immaculate Third could, as an individ.
ual, stand unfeelingly rooted in fact
stagnant spectator; and it is in perfect
unison with the fond and enthusiastic spirit
O. the times to note that we have, not to bc
behind our fellows, experienced "forard"
move. Here, then, at present yon may
find US on the North Missouri Railroad
about eighty miles from St. Louis busily
engaged in the grave and innocent intrica-
cies of guarding bridges, water tanks, tele-
graph wires, ctcetcra; and though it is a
dull hole Of very meagre population, and
situated upon Il very bleak and breezy
prairie, yet it is several times paradise
compared with the close pcnt-up barracks
in which We wcr! lately cooped; for here,
snugly quar,ered in houses, and with not
too many to the dozen, one may breathe
more freely and grow fa,ter.
There have been no man;f. stations Of
mischief by secesh since the appearance of
our regiment, and all the citizens are of
course proftssedly for the Union, with the
exception, perhaps, Of a few casual females,
who occasionally express their attachment
to the confederacy by sweetly hurrahing
for their devoted Jefferson Davis as our
soldiers pass their houses; and such a
naughty expression coming from pair of
pretty pouting lips, is always highly sug-
ges:ive Of the mournful reflection that
"such is life," their husbands off to the
wars, and by no means correct On the
goose with regard to Uncle Samuel.
Some days ago our sentries were taken
by surprise by the appearance Of huge
darkey mounted upon splendid horse and
dAsh;ng forward at furious speed. When
he approached the guard-linc one Of the
guards who had sufficiently recovered his
presenc: Of mind somewhat damaged by
the spectacle, brought the apparition to a
halt, who, upon being questioned, stated
very pathetically that he was ''poor brack
man runnin' way from de shcsess" lie
went on to say that his master was secesh,
and had treated him very unyentlenanly-
in ~ of r., .t .,1.n hoA ~, La
of whaling him most numerically, and in
timated that he Che darkey) was tired of
his (the massar's) society, and that he wo'd
f,in enclose himself within the pickets of
our military fence. He was brought into
camp, and for while was the lion Of the
day; a cumbrous iron band or yoke, as it
is termed, with formidable looking horns
or pronSs Of the same material affixed
thereto encircled his neck, and dressed in a
close fitting jacket and trowsers Of white
woolen homsspun, his large eyes like two
billiard balls glaring wildly forth from his
ebony phiz, distorted into the most ludi
crous expression Of fright, if he didn't look
like the devil, he at least must have resem-
bled the uglicst of that worthy's first wifc's
relations. With little happy ceremony
he was presented to Lieut.. LeftinSwell, Of
Co. G, who Immediately had him gorged
with beef and hard bread, and now he is
in excellent condition weighs over. 200
lbs. (; only nineteen years old totes WOO i
and water "lor de cook house !" is ''old pie"
on a breakdown, and rcjoices in the soubri-
quct Of Lieut. Left. Green.
Our two-monthly payment has not yet
come of, and there is feeling Of fervent
anxiety among the invincibles for the ap-
pearancc Of the gentleman with the treasury
notes: and speaking of this let me say
that there is very bitter feeling pervading
the regiment with regard to the deduction
from the next payment Of the Iowa uni
form. The lst apd sl regiments received
their clothing from the State gratis, and it
is understood that the Sd should not be an
exception. Yet when the shabby U. 8.
clothing was imposed upon us at Quincy,
our grey suits were condemned and forbid
den to be worn either on drill or dress pa
radc. At this time the clothing was in