The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-05-07
Army Correspondence.
CAM. OF THR 36TH IowA,l
HELENA, ARK. April 18th, 1863. &

HELENA, ARK. April l7th, 1868 s.
A great every-daysvi virtue
is cheerfulness. It is hike Noisture! to
parched herbs but, as we'll miEht fog and
vapor hope to maintain theifa.anivering
shapes before the advancing sun. as cheer
fulness introduce itself into the castle of
"blues p Why, here I've been sitting, for
tine last hour, trying to .amuse myself in des-
cribing, satisfactorily, gay forests, beautiful
gardens, and the like, by tracing the coun-
try lying between the little riveuts that un-
consciously intrude and traverse channel
through my tent. 1t is starless night,
which, in itself, you know, is productive of
but very few generous ref1ections-add to
this chilling April winds, the monotonous
patter ola never-ceasing rain, and the smil-
ing picture Of a sunny South is most effec-
lively "played out ~ Submitting shift
my position little, fold my arms and gaze.
Eyes fall on the same familiar objects
nothing new-the same 6xs, angle. roof,
wall of"duck," with no gilded landscapes
swung up to relieve the dullness no dear
friends sitting by, with whom to converse
the evenings sluggish hours away but. in
stead, here, there, piled up in close confu-
sion, lie blanket, knapsack, etc., stupid as
mumies. And such a place the soldier calls
his home The thought induces sigh,
bewildering imagnations whirl us away and
we are in an avalanche of visions. aa 80
Visions, however, like the Southern icon
thieveracy," are nearly played out, and
must bestir myself Thoughts whisper
write letter e Connected thoughts, they
are, too, suggest writing to paper! Well,
to indulge these EttleAa slash, dash,
sneeze, and off goes pen similar to the eAcit-
ing pace Of "a 'land terrapin, ;" z''a' 7ieZ
We have returned from where, what !?
Why, the extraordinary Yazoo expedition.
Yes, returned in rather dilapidated con-
dition: transports up, troops jaded and
shoulder-straps furnished. Yeu have. ere
this, learnedHof our success, and probably
know more Of it thanf. However, an
incident or two, may not be unworthy
The very day we started on our return,
4th of April, our regiment were on picket.
In the morning, at an early hour, a detach-
ment of rebels, supposed to have been sent
from their fort for the purpose, crossed the
slough between our lines and tie fort, and
commenced vigorous attack upon Co. A,
throwing some very pretty squibs, which
induced Jour good Austrian-rifles to get
starvation" mad and insisting upon redress
for such an insult, they beloved loud and
spit fire so nicely as to box several Of their
resulting in the complete repulse and skee-
daddle of the party ofaggressors mot, how
ever, until several of them had bitten the
dust, and many more placed in a condition
to test the efficiency of splints. Co. A, -
Lieut.. Porter, in command, were our ex-
ire ne right pickets Co. III Lieut.. Clifton,
in command, were the next company,
while Co. E,--Lieut. Scott in command
were guarding the bridge our men bad con-
structed Both these companies rallied and
FASTENED to reinforce the engaged company.
The boys were eager to try their guns, but
in this they were disappointed, as only few
shots were exchanged after they reached the
spot, when the ''rebs," undoubtedly,
thought it time for corn.bread and rusty
bacon. Our men sustained not the slight
est injury. One member of Co. A,--Couley
received the compliments of one Of the
''rebs' through the shoulder. of his coat,
just perforatiRg sufficient to admit ''balmy
breeze" doing no further injury. The Off
GERS and men maintained GOODNESS through
out, and aimed with steadiness aud precis-
sion. The same afternoon found the Seth,
along with the whole Brigade, aboard trans
ports, ascending the river ung 5a1d1
Gen, Quimby's.. Division came in day or
two before we started back. The 18th
Iowa are insthis divisioG. / saw Capt.
Stuart, Lieuts. j. f.. Shelton and John
Browne. They all look-as it goes
slough y The Capt. is in excellent health;
told me he never felt better--bully! 4s.F
The Yazoo Pass is abandoned, guess !;
as the whole feet and force that went down
have returned. On our way up, as was the
case when going down the several rivers,
we were frequently fired into by small bands
of sneaking assassins. Our regiment sus-
tanned no loss, which is truly wonderful, as
the men were exposed great deal. We
had excellent breastworks built up on the
boat, It's true; but the boys couldn't stand
it to be Gagged. and would frequently gather
| in knots, at which the cut. threats would
aim every time, of course. Four, only,
were struck and three slightly wounded
Scott Bland, ofCo H. was struck in the
forehead, causing quantity of blood to
fow although severe shot, has entirely
Recovered. Two men of Co. A, were struck;
one, Sergt. Bay, in the shoulder, pretty
severely but not dangerously; the other
sorry have forgotten the name--received .
shot in the cheek, penetrating the skin. but
did no further. damage than subjecting him
to the Inconvenience of wearing lop-sided