The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-01-28

Major TeFrenee's Battalion.
OTTERvILLE, Mo-, Jan. "a.
EDITOR GATE CITY:-We have read
over and over again Of the hardships of =
soldiers life, from your luminous CORES
pondents At Benton Barracks, and We
have felt relieved to think that all the
horrors incident to army life were being
endured by the I'd and Sd Iowa Cavalry,
ut the Barracks, leaving 80 little to be felt
by those in the field. You viii pardon
ms if l do say something Of the little pri-
vations left for MS to encounter in the
active movements Of cavalry in the De-
partment of Missouri. You are web
aware that We have scarcely known what
it is to rest Except, perhaps. time enough
to adjust our horse shoes or mend our
xagons) since we left St. Louis, early in
October last. We have considered our.
selves always under marching orders, and
have promptly responded to every order
to move. know it would be q source Of
qualification and pride to the many friends
of Company A, who we're congregatsd on
Nain and Fourth Street, to bid us God
speed at our departure, if they could but
witness the alacrity of the men in respond
ing to the call Of the ef6eers, with orders
TO march 1t matters not at what hour
they are called upon to 60, whether
through storm or bitter cold, it is all the
same. You might witness the hustle Of
preparation at midnight or in the small
hours of the morning, and you would hear
the prompt here Of all in rank, ready to
receive the order forward march, You
might witness their return next morning,
or twenty-fo hours later, all covered
with frost, and the whole column smoking
from forced march. These scouts are
usually attended on their return by sun
dry prisoners and arms. to be turned over
and sent forward to College, in St. Louis,
The coolest day of the winter thus far
found us ON the march from Boonvills to-
ward Otterville, and our camping ground
looked cherries indeed, Is We reached it
about three o'clock p. M, with frosted
ears and aching toes, amid dancing frost.
Two houfs Of active work, shovellingsnow,
pitching tsnts. building 6res and carrying
straw and hay produced quite ohangs
upon our surroundings. and you might
have then heard merry singing and hearty
laughter mingling with the varied antics Of
camp. An hour later yon might have
heard the bugle calling to guard-mount,
and twenty-four stalwart cavaliers, with .
Lieutenast, report in front Of the Aajor's
quarters for picket guard duty during the
night; and such night-cold singing
frost, driven BY the freezing winter winds,
making the thought of home and cory
warm beds very mockery. Il Is oil
past, however, and now We are ready for
another move upon the chess board Of
war. Such . life is at once interesting
aud exciting, with no chance Of rusting
out from inaction and equally free from
the hard labors Of Barrack life near st.
Louis.
We arc getting our shoes set for an
other rampage and long march. As "a
where We are going has not transpired, but
if you will allow me to guess will ven
ture the assertion that we will be engaged
within less than ten days in some move
ment which will vindicate the early policy
Of that much abused man, J. c. Fremont
If l mistake not there will be onothsr ex.
petition 70 the Ozark Mountains, and
ihsnos forward. We are ready. Aitei
what experience We have had l am fallJ
convinced that the trne policy, to kseE
! soldiers in good trim. with good health, i
to keep them moving. and the tables Of
mortality in winter quarters and barracks
fully bear me out in saying this. The
Democrat Of last week recorded sixteen
deaths in one week, in the I'd Iowa Cav
airy alone, OF over two deaths per day.
do not believe that the LIT lows hsve lost
y many sincs Reaching st. Louis 10 Octo.