The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-03-01
The Iswa Second.
FoRT DoNELsoN, Tenn. \
Heb. % 1860 I

SANA ~oRSCAsONt Cuu.,t
Feb. ~, 1869.
ED GATE Cry / have delayed wri-
ting to the Gate until news from this
quarter has probably become stale. in.
tended to have written Immediately after
surrender, but delayed in order to visit
the entire battle ground, which was pre-
vented from doing by . severe cold taken
during our long siege.
The batteries cover three or four square
miles, fortified by nature and art. To-
day is WasLington's birthday. A cold.
disagreeable rain Is falling. It has raiued
or showed every other night and dsy siuce
we arrived. The night Of the l4th We
spent keeping watch during snow-storm,
on the northwest side Of hill, without
tents. blankets or coffee. Having M arcs
We picked up rotten wood and made fra,
to sit or stand by. and these attracted :
number OF shot and shell from the enc
mys batteries. under whose guns we were
lying. The next night after stormino the
enemy's outposts, our regiment, with sew
eral others, lay in the trenches on the
summit Of the hin all night, and in add.
ton 70 all the Inconvenience above mon
toned we could not have particle offire.
lest the enemy should get our range from
the interior batteries. This will give xou
some idea OF the amount Of suffering en-
dured by the Iowa I'd during this terrible
siege. Other regiments suffered. too but
some had their tents. and other their
blankets-none, ] believe. but ours with.
out either We left ours It the boat be.
low.
Our official report will reach YOU be-
fore this. You will observe that ve lost
about one-third Of our force that entered
the field.
1t is useless for me OF this late hour "a
attempts description. The papers are
full. We have glory enough. The Till.
nois boys, noble fellows, fought brayely
and some regiments were worse cut ur
than ours. but We were the first to storm
take and hold battery, and for that ser.
wee we were accorded the place Of homo,
at the surrender--that Of marching in. IN
advance OF all other regiments, and plant.
Ing eur Tag upon Tie main Fort Glor,
enough for one daY.-
we left st. Louis under rather humil.
iating circumstances, having to march in
dead silence and with furled Gags through
the streets Of that mighty city, jus. Be.
cause . few individuals. probably not
more than dozen in number, had broken
into and partially destroyed the museum
OF McDowelfs College. The order came
after We had formed in line to march 10
the boats. LII the general opinion in the
regiment that Gen. Hamilton showed him.
sell an ass BY that operation. Our repi-
ment Is everywhere known for its sobr;etv
and good conduct, and we have never
been anywhere that We have not made
friends. On the Cape Girardeau trim
last summer, when Cooks Campers and
fnrrhin' thieves were continnaIlystealino
horses and negroes, our regiment drummed
man ont for taking . horse, although he
was drunk at the time Of taking II. A
regiment c-inoi be mustered without get.
ting IN some hard cases. Among the
twelve Disciples whom our Savior chose
one was traitor and thief. If General
Hamilton thought to damage our growing
reputation, - some other Illinois Gener.
ais would like TO do, he has deceived him.
self. We have lately cast that Museum
adAir into the shade. II young Mellow
81 viii g 70 the Geological Garden he