The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-06-10
In FIELD BEFORE CoRINTH,l
Nav, 81 1862

ed, the great, the tremendous battle,
has not come off yet, although our lines
are so close that the picket tents and
intrenchments of the enemy can be seen
stretching for miles on either side and
beyond Corinth, while the whistle of the
locomotive can be plainly heard. Now
that they are so closely hemmed in on
every side, all ideas of an evacuation APP
pear to be given up, and they are pre-
pairing to give US warm reception.
On the 10Th inst, Pope's division left
the old camping ground, and moved out
by the southerly road six miles, which
brought us much nearer the enemy,
although further to the left. The ad
vance was halted beyond Pennington,
while the town was completely encircled
by the rest Of the forces. Heavy works
are being thrown up on the heights to
fall back upon in case of repulse, COR
dons Of field batteries bristle on the hill.
sides, while rifle pits are scattered up
and down the line for miles. A short
distance from our camp good view Of
the whole scene is presented, and the
imagination Of man never conceived a
finer subject for the canvas. Stand with
me upon the eminence and view the
mighty host. See the thousands on
thousands Of tents, three divisions deep,
nesting in the grassy vales-gleaming
on the hill tops-shining through the
foliage of the dark blue forests-and
scattered on the plain-winding their
folds like huge anaconda around the
little town Of Corinth and its envilons,
ready to crush out the last vestige OF
; rebellion. The vast moving human
. sea, the indescribable din, the quick
sharp report OF musketry, mingled with
the deeper bass of artillery, the waving
flags, the troops OF infantry and cavalry
: deploying in the open plain, their bay
onets and sabres giittering in the sun,
> the thick leafy piney woods beyond
shading and giving effect to the whole
the blue azure vault above, undimmed by
a single cloud, the sound of the bugler's
horn summoning the soldier to drill or
fatigue, all conspire to amaze and delight
the beholder. The whole of this force,
presenting front of fifteen miles, and
seven miles deep, are subsisted from sup
plies landed at Hamburger, and thence
drawn by wagons to camp, distance oil
twenty miles, and over the worst roads
that ever taxed the patience Of a super
visor. You are travelling quietly along,
The path appears to be hard and firm,
when 10 ! the next step you feel sink
ing sensation, Heaven and Earth vanish
from view, the black and Shiny waters oil
the swamp runs into your mouth and
nostrls and you are onl saved from
disappearing altogether by the friendl,
hand Of some mule. driver who drags you
out encased in a coat Of paint blacke
and more pungent TO the smell than was
ever the sanity tar-ieathered form o
Joe Smith. looking some like the minis
ter, who, returning from highly sue
cessful counting expedition by moonlight
fell into wide and muddy ditch on al
tours, in which condition he was found
by his betrolhed, who, being membe
of the G. t., and in good standing, hav
ing paid her quarterly dues regularly
and sang the soul.inspiring odes witt
great JUNCTION, refused TO believe but wha
he was drunk, and with that sacrifcin!
spirit characteristic ofthe beloved Order
threw up the engagement. The wors
places over the swamp have been cover
ed with corduroy bridges, but holes,
and steep hills bad enough are still re.
naming. 1t is amusing to stand by and
"tueoo tuC uuuIricuS luCiucutS tldt Oc
eur in the transit Of long train o.
wagons. A black styx-like slough i.
just ahead. its treacherous bosom cover
ed with frogs, lizards, turtles and Other
sweet specimens of natural history. The
driver of the foremost wagon sees the
task before him and prepares himself fol
the emergency. Frantically he tears of
large quid of tobacco, pulls his apology
Of hat over his eyes, and braces him
self in the saddle. BY dint Of yelling
swearing, lashing, squirting, he work,
the mules up TO the proper degree O
enthusiasm and in they plunge. Down
goes the wagon with lurch like 8
foundered ship, deeper and deeper i
sinks, till wheels and box are nearly ou
of sight, causing the driver TO draw up
his heels 10 keep his last pair Of darling
home made socks from getting wet, and
nearly submerging the mules. At last
the mud besp altered trio emerge on the
opposite bank painting. weary but tri