Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1863-04-24
FROM THE THIRTY.FIRsT IOWA.

We make the following extracts from o
private letter received from member o.
Company B, 31st Iowa, dated Youngs Point
La, April 9Th, 1868:
1.-THE regiment has gone-.like the Tallihatch
lie triponly the sick and camp guard are left
Where they are gone to can't say, though
it is generally thought up the Yazoo again
l hope they will sec no fighting, for our poor
regiment is sadly dwindled in numbers
perhaps there are $50 men out on this trip
certainly not more. s-..
Of the health of the men, it is generally
very good; for all those sick have from time
to time been sent up the river, or have died
till at our last drawing we drew for less than
500 men. That looks bad for a regiment
never in serious engagement Co. z, Capt
Alderman, from Anamosa, has lost by death
81 men-discharged, 4 more than almost
any company in the old regiments. Let me
give you statement of the different compa-
MES. Co. A has lost 13 men-the Captain,
LIST Lieut.. and I'd Lieut.. are sick, and the
Company with about 80 men for duty is
commanded by private. Co. B has for du-
ty, Captain, 1st Lieut.. and I'd Lieut., and
about 30 men. Co. G has for duty about 30
men and I'd Lieut.. Milo Smith, who by the
way is to be Captain, for which Hedinger
has rendered his resignation. Co. D has for
duty Captain, I'd Lieut.. and 25 men. Co. E
has for duty I'd Lieut.. Hilton ard about 40
men. Co. F, I'd Lieut. and 40 men. Co. G,
no company officers-40 men. Co. I, Cap
tain, LIST Lieut.. and 80 men. Co. X, 1st
Lieut., I'd Lieut.. and 30 men. So far the
regiment has lost by death according to the
AdjutaEt's books, 1875 men.
Now for Co. B. We have been very for
tunate having lost so far, but three men,
The Captain is very we'll. list Lieut.. Town
send was half sick when he left, and think
very foolish for going. I'd Lieut. Gilman,
well. Tom. Salisbury, Blakeslee, VanNorden,
streeter and Sessions, well; also Stearns,
Hotchkiss, 10. Mills, Ed. Crosby, Smith, Meu
ser, John Ray, Mensch, and in fact almost
all the Falls boys. Ras. Wilson was hardly
strong enough to 60 with the expedition, so
was left in charge of the sick-13 in all:
Sitter, Ed Graham, Kinsey, Bawn, Brandon,
Barry. Morrison, Hoagland, W orcester, Moore,
Darius circuit, Richardson and Moulton-
none very bad, but enough to show that the
town boys are the ones to stand soldering
after all.
The forming Of the Union Leagues, and
the opposition the copperheads are meeting
with in most parts Of the country, gives us
heart to try the harder to do our share It
really did look disheartening at one time
meeting with defeat here and in Virginia,
and hearing Of peace resolutions and organ-
cations all through the North. But now |
think we are bound to put this thing thro';
it will take time and many of us must die
but what else did we expect when we enlist
ed? never have as yet regretted for an in
slant having enlisted; had l remained at
home should been ashamed to look SOL
der in the face-but this is egotistical, for
Pm not what IS generally called a good SOL
der. But no one will bid peace welcome
with more qualification than myself. I'm
home boy, and it is at best rough and de-
moralizing life. Many good, virtuous boy
is being daily ruined 4; gambling and drunk
enness are very common.
We are living nowadays very welI-almost
as we'll as at home, though it's rather expen-
sive. Vegetables which we want most are
very high. Think of paying so cents for
butter, 30 cents for eggs, fifteen pounds of
potatoes for dollar, and everything after
such style. It's a glorious harvest for suit
lers; all the boys are very free with their
money.
1t is swelteringly hot to-day-what must
we expect in July. have seldom seen hot
ter weather at any time in the North, and
our tents offer poor protection from the sun.
aa