The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-11-05
SPRINGFIELD, Oct. 26, 1862.

FRIEND HOWELL We are now reali-
zing something Of winter camp life. Night
before last was regular freezer, and yes
terday it was very cold all day. To-day
the ground is frozen hard and it is clear
and cold-just such weather as you
sometimes have along about the holidays.
You might expect to hear something
interesting from this section of Missouri,
but the army is so far from here now that
We hardly ever hear from them except
when they have a skirmish with the pick
cts of the enemy, or pick up some strag
Cling bushwhackers, which las, are as
plenty through this country as good spec
ulations in corner lots were in keokuk in
'56 and 81. But perhaps that is SUBJ
| ject which should not be mentioned, out
OF regard to the feelings of our specula-
ting friends.
BY an extra issued few days since,
see that Col Moss has assumed editorial
control of the Springfield Missourian. l
have not met him since, and don't know
how he is succeeding in the enterprise,
but think the institution might be made
pay, and hope he will do we'll with it.
The Cd battalion of the LIST Arkansas
cavalry had skirmish with the enemy's
pickets on Thursday at Cross Timber,
Arkansas, and repulsed them with what
result we are not informed.
The army under Schofeld left Cassyille
last Sunday, and are now on the sacred
soil of Arkansas. The yalorous Gov.
Rector wa, last heard of somewhere in
Texas, where he intends to spend the
winter, unless the federals should occupy
Fl. Smith this Fall, in which case | sup.
q pose he would make another forward
movement.
The defences Of this place are only par
TALLY completed, and l think will never
Q be finished, as they have only few Sc
I cesh and Cit izens working on them, and
don't seem at all anxious to finish them.
They are Of piece exactly with the fort
building Of Fremont in ST. Louis, except
, that he finished his. At the time they
were commenced there was force enough
| here to have held the place without them,
and now that they are nearly done an
might be of use in case of necessity. there
: is not enough left here to hold them
They will serve the purpose very well
: of Notifications for the rebels when they
again occupy this place, which event you
may safely predict. unless there is pref
ty strong force left here for its protection.
: The mail was robbed on Thursday be-
: tween Rolla and here, bya small band
!, ofbushwhackers, whereby lost several
8 Gates, but perhaps the reading Of them
' may do them more good than they would
!, me. There was also, the same day, q
fight at Marshfeld, 80 miles east Of here,
: in which the 10th Illinois was engaged !;
n result not yet learned by outsiders.
II Iwish you could hear the men in this
g army damn the democratic sympathizers
! OF the North and rejoice over the Proc
= lamation of the President. The Arkan-
sas and Texas soldiers say it is the only
n thing can be done to crush out the re-
II bellion, and save the Union as it was and
. the Constitution As it is, except slavery,
which they want wiped out entirely, if by
3 that means and no other the old Union
= may stand forever. az
is We hope 10 leave here within two weeks
l. for TT. Smith. or Little Rock, and after
we get there, want permission to winter
in Texas, whore we will find plenty OF
friends and where several regiments OF
VI Union soldiers will be organized as soon
It as the federals have force enough there
to protect them. We have reliable in
formation from there which warrant such
y belief, and hope to yet write you from
3, there this winter confirming the infolma
y ton.
visited the old battle field of vii
:. sons Creek this week, and went over The
whole ground. There is scarcely any
thing to be seen, except the graves O
Oh the rebel and federal troops, and the trees
some Of them cut short off by artillery
and nearly all full of bullets, large quar-
- titles Of remains Of horses. and here ant
= there human bones which have not beer
sufficiently covered; also large number,
st OF old boots where our dead were strip
ped, and the rebels leaving their old one,
ID on the field and taking better ones from
the feet OF our slain The same ia tht
- case in regard to old coats. Glorious aas
On chivalrous South
h. Yours, &c, T.J.R.