Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-07-17
OUR ARMyc0RREsPoNDENcE
ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE, RIGHT WINa,)
-1. ~, In REAR OF VIcKsBURG,
June 81, 1868. J
THE THIRTY-F!FTH.

| --.. In 4GEAh OF V1CkSbUkG, 2
t.. ........ ... June 81, 1868.
X X X X
| THE TuIRTY-F!FTH.
| For more than week the Sd brigade, which
includes the 35th, has been occupying po
sition in the second line of our army, a shor
distance in the rear Of the first line, wher,
they have been located most of the time. Al
though not perhaps quite SO exciting, it il
infinitely more agreeable, as man can stand
erect without having his head knocked of
his shoulders by rebel bullets. The regiment
still has its portion of "fatigue" duty to per
form, though, and occasionally loses man
by the rebel sharp shooters
Three or four days ago, Corporal VIM
Phipps, of Co. G, (from Wilton) was shot
through the side while entering ditch with
a working party. He expired in few min.
utes. Corpl. Phipps was brave soldier and
a good officer From personal acquaintance
with the deceased, the writer of this letter
has no hesitancy in saying that among all the
victims of this rebellion, not one has died
who was more sincerely beloved by both off.
GERS and comrades than VIM. Phipps.
The boys received their pay yesterday for
the two months ending May lst A consid.
cradle portion of it will be sent home.
II ~ " THE WAY THEY LIVE.
In lieu of something of more exciting
nature, it may not be uninteresting to read a
description of the way the boys live Cor erist
rather, for man cannot be said to live in the
army.) Tents for the soldiers are all at the
river, and necessity compels the boys to exer-
else their ingenuity in devising means of
shelter. "Many men of many minds" natu-
rally differ little as to their ideas of COM
fort, and while some put up four posts and
stretch their blankets over them, others build
nice little huts with matched roofs, each in
side furnished with hunks, shelves, tables
and other cheap but useful elegancies. 1t is
astonishing what Yankee can do in the way
of house, without board or nail. The
swamp cane (such as is used north for fish
poles, which abounds here in inexhaustible
quantities) being lashcd together with bark
aud raised foot or two from the ground,
makes tip-top spring bed, and its leaves
make an excellent thatch, which will shed
water like ducks back.
The outside man having been provided for,
it is indispensably necessary for the welfare
of the soldier that the inner man should be
taken care Of. The old plan of company
cooking has been abandoned, and now every
one goes It on his own hook. Each man is
provided with little kettle made Of an oy ster
or fruit can, and in this he prepares his
coffee and mixes the batter for his cakes when
-four is issued. A skillet, iay-hawked from
some neighboring planter, finishes the picture,
and with these simple implements dinners
are often concocted that will upset the noon
day meal prepared by many of the girls at
home, who will laugh at our conveniences.
The health of the regiment Just now is
bad. This morning but four hundred and
twenty nine men were reported for duty with
fifteen officers, not including the field and
staff Two hundred and seventy men are
sick at present and absent. The prevailing
diseases, however are not Of very malig-
nant type. Rest from labor and excitement
generally cure the patient. ~ ~
Capt. Keeler is now acting Major 0ice
O'Connor resigned. Orderly Bunk is in
command of company A, Leutenants Hawley
and Kyrk being sick. ...-... ..... ...l
Lieut.. Porter, of company B, is acting
Brigade Inspector
Lieut.. Hoover, of compar y D, is acting Ad-
jutant uice Lieut.. Dayton promoted to place
on Gen. Tuttle's staff '...
Lieut.. Duggan, of company K, is acting
Brigade QuartermaSter
This, | believe, embraces all changes among
THE ELEVENTH AND SIXTEENTH
Are encamped on our left. The former is
now on picket duty several miles in the rear
of McPherson's corps. Company E, Capt
Turner) of the 18th, is on Provost duty at
McPherson's headquarters. Capt. Turner is
ProvosA Marshal of the 18th army corps.
John Monroe, of company II, has been pro-
NOTED to a Lieutenancy in company B of the
18th. He will doubtless accept a position on
the staff of Brig Gen. Reed.
The boys of the 18th are in good health
and spirits. saw several of them yester-
day, among them Pink Sparks. He is the
same original Sparks, and has lately had an
adventure with convalescent mule"
A wagon load of rebel cannon ammunition
was captured lately. As it was of very poor
quality the boys destroyed it. The cartridge
envelopes, which are usually made of coarse
flannel, were made mostly of fine dress goods
donated to the rebel government from the
wardrobes of the ladies of Mobile, Ala. A
genius in company B has secured enough to
make patchwork bed-quilt. -,...
Our pickets and the enemy talk to and
blackguard each other every night, in the
most approved fashion. Last night rebel
inquired of one of the boys what all that
digging was for? "moI;ng forts" was the
reply. The rebel in turn was interrogated
concerning some heavy pounding made inside
the Notifications. He told the seeker after
knowledge that they aoere making gun6oaf.
y Deserters continne to come out in great
numbers, telling all sorts of probable and i'm
probable stories about things inside. We will
go in ourselves and take look at matters
some of these days. W. y y
rW Five persons were killed and twelve
wounded in riot at Hyde Park, St. Louis,
on the 4th. The difficulty was commenced
by number of paroled soldiers, who had
been incensed by swindling practiced in re-
lation to reserved seats for spectators and in
advertising balloon ascension with horse
attached, which did not take place. They at
tackled the bar-keeper, completely cutting his