The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1862-05-01
ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.
On BOARD STEAMER NEBRASKA,
MEAN PirTsBURG LANDING,
April ed, 1867.

Some Of your readers will, perhaps, be
surprised to hear of our sudden fight
from TT Pillow, on the Mississippi, away
to the head of the wild Tennessee. As
for yourself, you have been an editor toe
long to be surprised at anything, except
perhaps a delinquent Offering to pay fol
his paper. But it's nevertheless true, We
are here bound for Corinth, via Pit,sburl
Landing "Why a'e We brough, here
is frequently asked, but never answered
aud your correspondent. can come ne
nearer solving the question that the rest
A week ago va were expecting to have I
good time taking Fl Pillow, and the boy!
don't like the idea of leaving just as the,
had made up their minds for fight. w
lief. on tho 18th, early in tie morning
after first destroying mile or SO Of fence
to get fuel for the boat We are yer,
much crowded and the weather is win
dy, cold, wet and disagreable enough t.
give man the "blues'; and cur trip al
together has been very unpleasant.
The Mississippi was rising rapidly
when we left Osceola, and from there t.
New Madrid the country on both sides Of
the river was under water--the settler.
along the banks had skiffs and dugout.
tied to the doors ready to leave whenev,
err the river threatened to carry off the
miserable hut they lived in Cattle and
horses were wadiug around the cab.
ms mid.s,de deep in water, while the
hogs were perched on the drif,wood col
lectcd against the trees, eating the corn
thu: their owner would carry to them in
his du- ont.
On seeing such feet of steamboats,
(l6) going back loaded with troops they
appeared to think peace was declared.
They would jump into their skitfs, run
GU, to us, and ask US to throw them over
a paper. A number of papers were
thrown to thsm-they would pick the
paper out Of the water, lay it by careful.
Iy, aud row ashore, eager to read the
news.
We stopped few minutes at New
Madrid, and then started again-after an
hours run we were taken in tow by the
City Of Alton, our boilers leaking so bad
" we could scarcely raise steam enough
to stem the current; but we now moved
off quite lively We passed Island No.
10 before dark, and | had the pleasure Of
taking a good look at this ar-famed
placc-the Manassas of the West. The
position is certainly a strong one, and
the Notifications are constructed with
great skill end threaten death and de-.
struction to any force that might attempt
to descend the river, but they lcf. their
rear entirely unprotected while defynd-
Ing their front, and, as the sequel prov
ed, when menaced with a rear attack
they had but one choice-surrender or
evacuate. They chose the latter and left
in the night, and fed to Tiptonyillo but
the next morning, seeing themselves sur
rounded by the forces of Gen. Pope, they
chose the first alternate, and surrendered
with the best grace they could.
Columbus was passed ia the night aud
| did not Sc. to see it. We passed day
at Cairo The water was in the most Of
the houses. Boats, skiffs and RATS had
to be used in passing through the streets
Guards were posted with strict orders tc
let no one off, but the boys had had moth
ing to eat but crackers and coffee for
several days and wanted bread, so they
broke guard in all directions There was
plenty of whisky to be had-scyeral of
the boys took a glorious spree, and had
the satisfaction Of being tied up FIR TWO
hours in the rain to pay for it,
At Cairo we changed boats At night
We started and the next day passed Pa
ducah aud entered the Tennessee. Pa
ducah is quite large place, but look
old aud diIapidated There is nothing
TO be seen but soldiers Their tents do,
every vacant square.
The Tennessee is famed for its fn.
scenery, bu. | have seen but little Of it
as 1t has rained necessarily ever since W.
left Osceola-rain. rain. night and day
continually. Oh, for day Of sunshine
Hoping that my next may prove NOR
Interesting, | will close
Yours, &c, Coon CREEK.
=. 5. --Enclosed is a specimen Of III
currency that the Confederates circulate
there is no other change here.
By The Hcrk, Eye Of the 10Th says
1t may not be amiss to tell the good PEG
pie OF Burlington and surrounding coun
try that wounded Iowa soldiers by tn
hundred and perhaps by the thousand
are in the hospital 1t Cairo, Mound CT
ty, and on the Tennessee river tina
they need hospital stores, sheets and pil
low slips, shirts, and bandages, towels
eggs, butter, wines, jeIies, and hundred
other things that are abundant here. bu,
very scarce and impossible TO procure
there-that these things with good nur