The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1862-03-24
BRACKETS CAVALRY.


EDITOR ARGUS; 1t may be Improbable
= and stale, to an interpreting journalist, t;
publish much Of the war correspondence that
is likely to find its way to his "sanctum. -
In palliaton Of this annoyance. il it is 50 re-
garded, We urge the TACT, that nearly all the
officers and soldiers composing the forces now
in the field, from the state Of Illinois, have
many relatives and friends ut home VINO are
readers Of the different country journals ana
it's through this medium that they learn win
greater facility than any other OF the where
abouts and doings Of those Of us who are for
tunate enough 10 be in the service Of our com
mon country, There are four full companies
from tho neghborhood Of Rock Island, now
in the 9TH regiment, Illinois cavalry. Com.
pany A, Capt. Burgh. is composed, almost eI
clusiyely, Of residents Of your city and sur.
roundings. Companies Is, c, pnd II, are from
Henry county mostly from Geneseo. No troops
! could add more lustre 10 the service than
those, whose friends will be likely to come
within the range Of your publication, In
deed, oil the troops comprising this command,
are among the noblest specimens Of western
yeomanry, the bone and sinew of patriotism
and enterprise The state Of Indiana has
two companies in this regiment, of which
that, or any other state, might well be proud.
You are doubtless fully appriscd Of all ma
terial matter connected with this command,
up to the time of its leaving Camp Douglas
possibly you have traced US to Benton Bar.
racks, aud, perhaps, to Pilot Knob. From
this latter point, we have been constantly on
the march, SO that the readers Of the iryus
could hardly keep posted OF our whereabouts.
The 9th Illinois cavalry, Col, 4. g. Brack.
EFT commanding, took up its line Of march
from Pilot Knob, en- route tor Arkansas on
the 9Th Of March Our column consisted Of
about eleven hundred men--narly twelve
hundred horses, thirty four heavy army wag.
ons, laden with camp equipagc, commi-sary
and medical stores, drawn by two hundred
and four mules, or six mules to each wagon.
We had, also, two four wheel and two two
wheel ambulances, for the use Of the sick
Our column, with its train, presented form
liable appearance, when all in line. The
very few union people along the route, seem
ed to enjoy the most ecstatic emotions at our
approach while "secesh " tremblcd in its
very boots, at their sickening aspect. The
country along the line Of our march il very
broken, and much Of it quite worthless, save
for the timber. Everything seem, desoIate,
and silence seems to prevail like the unbrok-
en- quietude Of the last sleep. Every sound,
save the heavy tramp OF our cayalcaje, falls
upon the ear ike the sections mattock break
ing the mould for some new grave. The
rainy season seems to have fairly set in, and
the roads had became nearly impossible
the streams 80 much swollen that we were
obliged to swim our horses, with their riders,
across some of them. The places where our
men sought reposc ut night, would often 10
found to contain in the morning, after their
blankets were removed, as much water as the
| indentatlons Of their bodies in the mud could
hold. Notwithstanding these exposures and
annOyances, our men behaved ike the high
toned, noble band Illinois soldiers which
they are. Not Il murmcr escaped their lips,
nor did any one o! them give uttcrance to
single sentiment Of regret that their hard.
ships were Inflicted upon them. For the
Spartans Of America, look you to the north.
west--look especially to Illinois He that
holds command, however humble that com.
mand may be, over II band Of such noble
self sacrificing troops as make up the MAORI
! ty OF our western forces, and not have his
heart thrill with exalted pride, must be lost
to the lottier impulses Of human nature The
record OF DoDelson will live IN letters OF lv
ing light, perpetually casting their halo
around the sons of Illinois who fell at that
memorable occasional wrapped in their man.
ties Of glory, and the living who passed
through the conflict with the wounds of tri.
umph as momentoes of lasting honor, and
those who came through the frey ordeal I'm
scathed, can bear lottier brow, and recitc to
posterity his deeds Of valor.
Our present encampment is the samo
grounds occupied by the notorious rebel Gen.
iiacdee, during the winter, but he, like the
rest Of the wicked traitorous hordes, :. flee
when no man pursueth.' His present re-
vlsed tactics treats mostly on the science of
= skcdaddIing,' or the art Of vamoosing with |
most ursparlng preciptancy. Indeed the
proficiency attained in this department of
rebel tactics has become so perfect and pro.
found among the discip Of - secessiu." that
no opportunity is given our troops to cultivate
their acquaintance. The whole rebel popula.
ton in this region, and for some distance over
the Arkansas border, seems to be on the
qui Vlve . at the approach of our columns.
They really appear to think they "hearn
somethin' drap,"
We have quite a formidable force, constr.
tutlng our expedition, consisting of cavalry,
artillery and infantry. | dare not tell you
the exact number for precautionary reasons.
We resume the line of march tomorrow,
with all our forces, in the direction of poca.
hontas. | am, however, ordered to remain in
command of this post with the first battalion !
Of the 9th Illinois cavalry, for the purpose of
guarding the heavy army trains of commits ,
sary and other stores, moving to supply our !
troops; aso the river crossing, and the But |
'ernu' chivalry," generally. 1t is barely
possible that may be visited by the nrowlinr :.