The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-02-19

From the Iowa I'd Regiment.
McDowEIL's MILITARY Prison,
st Louis, No., Feb. z, 1862.
Mr.. EDITOR The Iowa Cd Infantry re-
cicved orders this afternoon to hold them
selves in readiness to march at moment
warning We are to be relieved from our
guard duty tomorrow morning, by some
Missouri Regiments, and we have at last a
prospect Of taking the field, where we may
expect something to do besides guarding
Railroad Bridges and keeping watch over q
vilianous gang Of Rebels until they have
chance to take the oath and are turned loose
again upon long suffering community
Our destination is yet unannounced. Being
somewhat Of Yankee, indulge my pro-
psnshy Of guessing that we shall hardly
stop short of Fl. Henry, Tenn, the news Of
whose capture sas received by US to-day
Our preparations are this evening going on.
By noon tomorrow, we shall only wait the
autograph Of Gen'l Halleck, for us to be on
our way.
Our Reg't. will probably go down by River.
I improve an hour "after taps" to write you
a line, not knowing when l may have q
chance again, il ever. A campaign in the
wilds Of Kentucky and Tennessee, will not
afford the most favorable opportunity for
correspondence. We have been at this post
something more than six weeks, and in the
vicinity of St. Louis since the last of October.
Our purpose in removing here has been in
some measure accomplished. We are in
better health than or our arrival. Our sick
list has become SMALLER by degrees" Our
men unfit for service have been discharged
and sent home. Their places in many in
stances have been filled. Our numbers are
not yet up to the maximum, bat for active
service we may be rs strong as ever. AT
any rate we have not the care of as many
sick as formerly, and in this particular we
are relieved from somewhat arduous duty.
The care of the sick Wha. is iti To he
sick at home, where we are surrounded by
friends and kindred, where every attention
prompted by love and affection is ours, where
kind words and gentle voices are ever
sounding in our ears-or to have the care
of sick ones, even those cot Of our own
household, with the opportunity ofcontribu-
ting to the comfort and happiness Of our
neighbors and friends, is not always an I'M
pleasant or disagreable experience. It has
its pleasures and its compensations.
But there is something in the condition Of
sick men in our army, and our relation to
them as companions in arms, something in
the surroundings and associations, that, to
sensitive and thoughtful mind, is heartsick-
ening and terrible. There is apparently,
and perhaps really, feeling of loneliness
and gloom which steals over the mind of the
sick soldier which no attention of his COM
rades can remove. No words of cheer we
can offer him, can compensate the loss Of
kindly words from loved ones no longer near
him. No suggestions Of duty or patriotism
can relieve his mind of the terrible thought,
that somehow, he does not understand quite
how, he is sacrificing and suffering much
for others that is unrecognized and unap-
preciated.
have walked up and down the long rows
of rough made cots, and peered into the pale
faces of mon in all varieties and stages Of
disease, making some remark or enquiry, in
answer to which almost inwardly find the
thought expressed that il they could only
''go home' they would soon get we'll What
world of meaning is found in this Let
those who are enjoying the comforts and
happiness of home, either in sickness or
health, remember the poor Sob soldier.
have seen the soldier die in our camps.
l have watched the hurried heaving OF his
breast, the dimcd and CLASSY expression of
his eye, the trembling Of his parched lip
the effort to alter some dying message-the
sudden start and all was still have seen
him dressed in uniform and in his coffin
have seen him carried to his grave upon
the shoulders of his comrades and buried
with the honors (?) Of war, and have asked
myselfwhat all this was for, and if the sac
rifice of the best lives Of the nation soas de.
manded for the establishment of the authority
Of the best government upon earth-if so,
let them be given, but great and terrible
judgment must await those who have re-
quired it.
Mr.. Editor, have we no way to settle this
matter but by the shedding ofblood and the
destruction of life /? Are we showing our
capacity for self government only by resort.
ing to the sword? May not the time come
when the confederate authorities can be
found in an attitude for an adjustment Of
the questions now dividing US?
am no Politician. God grant may new
er be !! am no statesman; only soldier
for a time. see no way except to fight it
out 1t will cost treasure. 1t may cost
blood. We must maintain the government
under Abe Lincoln. We must thrash the
traitors The evils and sufferings incident
to war must be borne. Men may die. The
principles Of free government must lipe =
Men may turn traitors. The integrity Of
the Union must be maintained. Party creeds
and Platforms may be broken up. The