The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-06-21
From the 18th Iovva.
HEADQUARTERS Iowa 18TH,
Camp near BoonvilIe. Mississippi, :
nAL 1910


June 9th, 1869.
EDITOR GATE CIrr - The hoLth {
the Regiment is rapidly improving. 10
: great disease of the army-the diarrhea-
is rapidly deserving us. We nre NOV
near Boonville and close to the Ohio ant
:. Mobile Railroad The road is in runnin,
r. order and will soon be of great service
Instead of dependence on the Tennessee,
:, river, we will have forage and subsistence,
by way of Memphis and Corinth w,
came from Corinth here in forced march
es. We spent one night on the way whc,
; the rain was falling in torrents and tn,
mud was very deep. Every soldier wa,
} completely wet and many lost their shoes
but there was no repining or complain
ing. In the dark night the airs Dixie
Star Spangled Banner, Red White and
Blue, DC, were sung in the happies'
manner. Iowa soldiers seem to be equal
to any occasion or emergency.
When We arrived here the 18th was i'm.
mediately put in line Of battle. Gen.
Stanley's Division had fallen back, team
sters were pushing back in confusion,
and the announcement ran along the
lines, "Iheenemy is approaching, lS0, 900
strong, and will attack us on both TANKS. y
Gen. Pope's army was alone, but the next
day Gen. Buell., by heavy marching, came
up. We have not been attacked and will
not be. To-day Gen. Buell. left with his
army for Washington, perhaps to assist in
the capture Of Richmond.
We arc encamped in the woods. In
line with us and in our brigade are the
8Oth Ohio, Seth ILL.,, 10th Iowa, and 10th
Missouri All our sibly tents are at our
old camp ground near 30 miles distant;
also our sick under Asst. Surgeon Nc
Garrisk We have q few officers tents
and flies. When we started here, We had
two days provisions. and it was near week
before our trunks and provisions came
up. The men were supplied with rations,
but the officers were in dirty clothes and
without food. The men shared their ra-
tions with seeming delight. Our camp
ground was covered with oak bushes and
poison vines it is now as nice as a por- |
Tor. We have been highly complimented
for cleanliness, order, DC.
The poison vines give us trouble.
Lieut. Newton, a devoted officer, and
some others are pitiable sights.
Across the road from us, is the Iowa
9th. Major Robertson and Adjutant Pat
terson visit US almost daily, and we have
an occasional visit from Col. Mat,hies
and Lieut.. Sam. Sample. Col. Parrot,
Col. Rice, Capt. Dougherty visited us
yesterday. Col PARROT on account of |
great merit, is placed in command of the |
Union Brigade. Capt. Archer is acting
as Majar of the 18th and is most active
and efficient. Lieut.. Edwards is in COM
mand Of Go. I, relieving Capt. Moor in
his illness. There is not a man in the
Regiment more attentive to his men. or
one more beloved by them
Last night, our wagons which had been
sent Tor stores, were ordered back empty,
and this indicates return to Corin,h or
some place near it. Maj. Hepburn, of
the ID Iowa cavalry, reports the enemy
n force g miles distant, but they will
not be followed.
The Rev, Mr.. Wilson, Chaplain Of the
18th, arrived recently, and on yesterday ,
preached most excellent sermon oHappy |,
is that people whose God is the Lord
Every soldier present listened with marked
attention. A Chaplain like Mr.. w. is a
blessing, but there are few of them.
forgot to mention in the proper place
visit from DR.. Thrali. He spent sew
eral hours with US to-day. By the way be
is Medical Director on the staff Of Gen
Pope and stands very high.
Iowa men seem to be everywhere pres
ent where fighting is to be done or ssry-
ices rendered. When we came here we
found DR.. Rawson, Of Des Moines. on
Zen. Hamilton staff and now DR.. Thrall
Is on Gen. Pope's. The Generals head.
quarters are about two hundred y.rds
rom ours, and those OF Division General
hummer and Gen. Gen. Hamilton are
q the line Of our brigade.