The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-10-14

much more so than when we first came
here. We have good deal of guarding
10 do. This Brigade does picket duty
for the whole army. A few days since
the rebel bush whackers came up TO our
cavalry pickets and fred on them, killed
one of the 4tb Iowa Cavalry and wounded
two of the same regiment. We captured
quite number Of prisoners. Some have
been paroled and others were sent North
in order that they could get plenty to
eat and some work to do. The move
ments of the army in the East raised
quite an excitement here, but it seems
that the victory was not so complete as
first reported to US. The Confeds have
quite large force at Little Rock, com
manded by Major Gen. Holmes. Their
men are scattered over this section of the
country quite thick, and sometimes they
com, down and camp near our pickets
These are LAWMAKERS, they would rather
slip up to guard and shoot him down
than TO come out boldly and fight. Their
many cowardlv acts show that they do
not intend TO fight in civilized manner.
Ii we were allowed the same privileges
we would prosper better. We have men
that can shoot just as straight as they
can, but we are not allowed to shoot, but
TO take prisoners. They are brought into
camp, kept in the guard house a few
days, and then they take tie oath and
get pass outside the pickets, and then
they will get their guns and go to sol
diering again. These bushwhackers
care no more for the oath of allegiance 10
the old Government than they do abou,
shooting off our pickets. The cotton
houses have nearly all been burnt, by
whom, it is not known. There is one
yet standing quite near camp, belongs
to Mr.. Allen Polk, nephew of Elk Pres
ident Jas. X. Polk. 1t has been guarded
very close.
We see by the papers that the new
regiments at Dubuque talk about having
hard times. We look back to the time
that we were there with pleasure. Then
and there we saw our pleasantest time
There we could see men, and once in a
while could get glimpse OF the fairer sex
But for the past six months we have seen
no one but Butlernuls and Niggers, un-
less some lady of the North came down
TO visit friend or relative. These Of
course are exceptions. We of course
now and then see very few of Ulcle
Sans men.
Soldiers do not see very easy times
when they have to march from ten to
twenty miles per day in the scorching
sun of Arkansas. They cannot rest al
night for the mosquitoes. Frequently
they will concentrate quite force and
form an attack on some poor fellow who
has trudged all day through the dust and
neat, and unless he is we'll drilled in the
manua. of fighting mosquitoes, he is
forced to retreat. Thus he passes the night
in fighting, and talking rather rough
about soldering, but the sun bursts
through tie branches Of the mighty oaks,
and the order forward comes to our ears,
and all past troubles are forgotten. Capt.
/ Wright has been sick since the 18th OF
/ August, he left here some time since,
and probably has gone home before this.
We have not heard from him since be
left us. Corp. James III. Merrill. of Co.
G, died the Sd Of Sept, of Dysenterv
He was buried in the burying ground on
Folks plantation. with several other
men Of the regiment.
We see by late papers that Senator
Foot, Of Tennessee, has proposed to the
Rebel Congress to form treaty Of peace
Think, that providence has smiled on then
in the recent battles, and that it is time
tina, we should begin to think Of Peace
Recognize the Southern Confederacy
pay the expenses, and they will probably
be satisfied. They begin to think that
this rebellion is not so much of joke as
they expected. Bully for them. Bully
for them.
Yours, DC,
Z. c. LITTLE.