The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-03-24
From c..p .sAr yiek.b.rs.


Our sick during last night were put
aboard tn hsupihl hosts. We ara in
expectation of going to the
evee or 10 = boat, TO escape the food
The ill-fated canal has crevassed bank,
and the old Father Of Waters is looking
down upon ID through the breach from
the height Of some ten feet. and threatens
to move Us out.
1t is stated ID the Memphis Bulletin of
the 4th inst, that the IudianoIa WAS not
sunk, but captured BY the rebels, and Is
now lying below here in sight under the
rebel guns. This 10 given ~ . 6nal and
true statement, made up from known
facts.
For the last four weeks Col. Abbott
has been on picket aad scouting duty on
our extreme right, and 10 sight and sound
of the whole scene, and has therefore the
most ample means Of knowing the facts.
He says that the public may dismiss their
fears onthe subject, Tor be knows upon
lie most positive information that che
has gone to the bottom. l viii not give
details Of her loss. rs they have been pub
hshed With substantial accuracy, except
the following.
A few hours after her surrender. which
took place just below here, another boat,
with the ssual daring, ran the blockade.
It vas night. and dark. The batteries
sent forth their volleying thunder, peal on
peal, but in vain. The "QuAKER" pass
ed quietly down unhurt. Warrenton
opened up her thunders in due time
but she pressed "a. Amid tAe Asshes
of their guns, she was deserted in the
dim distance to be boldly nearing their
new prize. Miserable dictu what could
be done. The Yaaks" are coming to
recover their 0unboat. The dreadful
dernier must be taken, ard soon the de-
tonatng thunders shook the very heav-
ems. They blew her up. magazines and
all, and, ~ Maj. Watts Of the rebel army,
afterwards told our Colonel, she went to
the bottom. When too late, it was discov
cred that the " Quaker" was an old fat
boat, with mock barricade and chimneys,
and not man on board, let loose upon the
river above the city, to try its adventur-
eas and romantic fortune in the drama oi
war, and passing down in the romantic
grandeur of its silent heroism, completely
surprised the rebels. and sow lies lodged
upon their bank in the easy glory of its
6rst triumph. Ecce mea gloria
But more seriously-what singular fol-
ly was that which has resulted in the los.
Of the Queen of the West and the Indi.
anola Had they remained togetheRn and
co-opersted in the work feutt,ng of freb.
el supplies. protecting each other, and
defending the river against the construc
tiou Of additional forts, they might have
stood agaius. the rebels, and been of in
finite service to the Government. Blu
in the overweening confidence and crazl
rsshncss of little success, they mus
dash about alone. and unprotected, unit
they are both lost. Whoever is RESPONSE
bic for such blind folly should be cashier
/ cd
| Dcferring for the present what / in
tended to say in this paper on the sani:a
/ ry condition Of the army, ! will add tha
the health fthe new troops has bean hac
| Msay of the regiments have suffered
most terrible ordeal, aud few worse tba,
our own. After our 6rst visit to Vicks
burg, and the exposures to bad water
cold, rain, and the hArdships Of that IN
fortunate campaign, and the subsequen
deprivation of nearly every comfort o
life, upon crowded boats. very many fel
sick, and many have died. Not less thai
one in sins 10 our rsgimsnt, or abont ON
hundred in oil, have fallen, and sherc ar
others that cannot live. This mortalit
h remarkable for the short time of on
service. At one time not more than on
in eight wss 6t for duty, while hundred
were sick, dropping most languidly, dis
couragsd and home s.sick upon every hand
We have been afflicted with almost ever
species u disease measles, mamps, iuui
disease, fever, small pox, and Of cours
diarrh@s, the great scourge Of the army
We seem to have passed pretty well thro
with an, except lung diseases and disr
rhaa. The hAalth Of our regiment, ans
of the troops generally. seems to be i'm
proving. Thanks to the good Lord, an,
to everybody else that has contributed i
the result. More attention seems to b
given 10 the sick, both as to their com
fort. cleanliness and food. until some tra
oes Of humanity, 1t least, are once NOR
visible among US, and the doom of inev
4 table neglect in the hour Of helpless suf
fering, disease sndsdeath, is lifting "
the dsspAiriDg heart.
j Nothisg ooald be more gratifying tha
TO witness with what grateful emotions
little supply now and then from tn
Sanitary STORES" 10 rsceivsd BY the sic
and eonvalescent. who, for the most part
are literally destitute Of rslishable del
cacies.
i The vigorous measures II length take
to presssuss the war, sad the evident r.
faction IN public Democratic sentiment, :
called, sgainst treason 10 the North in th
garb of " Peace men, and a Pesoe meas