Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-03-13
AN INTERESTING ARMY LETTER.
CAxp ELLIOTT, Mo-, % Iowa CAVALRY.
Mach 7th 1862

March 7th, 1862
MrssRs. EDITORS IL have just re-
ceiycd three copies Of your valuable pa
per, the first since we left Benton Bar
racks. Since We left St. Louis we have
been scouting the land of Missouri huge.
". We left st. Louis thinking we we're
10 be landed at For. Donelson, but some
how we disembarked at the noted Birds
Point, where we remained some three or
four days. After much discussing
among the officials at Cairo it was final
Iy determined that the I'd 1oxaCavalry
should proceed to Charleston, when on
the n.orning Of the I'd, at six a. M, we
took up the line OF march. Proceeding
about two miles we beheld the beautiful
waters Of the Mississippi spread ont in
one vast sheet before US, caused by high
water. 1t was impossible for US to pro-
coed further (; we finally wheeled about
and eau 8 to the Point, and procured
boats to carry us over the bayou. After a
hard DAYS work, and using the utmost
perseverance, We finally, at eight O'Clock
at night, pitched our tents, making the
first day distance OF three miles. The
next morning while the sun was rising
in his accustomed grandeur, and while
all nature was hun ming melodies, the
.'General's" call chimed 10 with the song
Of nature, when sll tents dropped and III
a few moments the "forwald" sounded,
and we were on our way to the noted
Charleston, here We arrived about II
m. Here the detachment sent out 10
advance joined rs, having taken twelve
secesh, one Of whom was JEFF. Thomp-
sous best scout, who considered us
rather "pirtal" 10 our manner Of scout
Ing. We LETT the prisoners at Charles
ton and proceeded on 10 Bertran, six
miles farther South according to orders
received at Charleston. Well here we
are among the true live secesh.
jeff. Thompson is every where
according to the reports we hear. 1t is
the general opinion that he has evacua'
ted Missouri, since part of his artillery
and one of his Majors we're captured.
| SI,o oh FOR l, {ro n
are following after him closely. Oar
orders are to proceed as fast as possible
to New Madrid. We are detained here
on account Of high water. There is a
strong force in advance of US building
bridge over large bayou, which will
be completed in a few days, when we
will again take up the line of march.
Tnere is force of about eight thou
sand troops at this point, some Of which
are to accompany us. The force under
Gen. Paine, Tour General, will proba-
bly, reach ten thousand. We are enjoy.
ing the good hospitslities of the so called
Uuion people which We find through
the land. There are very few citizens
left; fine houses totally deserted; plen-
II OF forage in the fields waiting for us
10 come along and take possession Of it,
which we do; chickens attack the
guards, hogs lun the lines, and we are
compelled to act on the defensive, and
unfortunately the chickens, hoga, &C.,
fall prey to Northern livers.
The TOYS have all thrown themselves
down on the bosom Of mother earth and
are enjoying the sweets Of sleep, and the
undersigned proposes to do the same.
| will try to keep you posted with re-
gard TO the ID Iowa cavalry in the fu-
,nre, as there is some probability of our
having something to do very soon.
J. A. p.