The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1863-10-14
Army Correspondence
On Board STEAMER T. I.PArrrN, !
Sent 9th l0H9 Z

Army Correspondence.
On Board STEAMER T. I. PArrIN,
| .... .-..-.- Sept. 9th, 1863.
Dear Times I'm my last promised tc
write you in few days again and perhap.
be able to tell you something Of the taking
Of Little Rock and the casualties. But u1
to this time am unable to gather anything
reliable, hence abstain from giving anything
but what I know to be true in connection
with the victory. The prisoners taken q,
the time were very few, but every day since
they have been picked up by our scouts,
and numbers continue to give themselves
up, until think it is safe to say that there
10 at least three thousand in all at this
time, and stin they come. Deserters say
that the whole Of Prices army will desert
for the reason that he will never give them
a chance to fight and they arc getting tired
running over the country after him.
In their retreat they burned the bridges
after them, but our troops had one erected
out Of the fragments before 10 o'clock the
next day and now VIC have two in running
order. They also burned 8 steamers lying
in the river, and one or two that lay on the
sand out Of water, one of the latter was
the Ponchartrain, large boat fitting out
Tor an iron clad gunboat, they also burned
lots Of army supplies, machine shops, &C.,
and made an attempt to burn the rolling
stock Of the Memphis and Little Rock
Railroad, this they only partially accom-.
plished, only succeeded in burning cars,
two locomotives and tenders, and Eve cars
have been saved and are now in running
order. The road from Little Rock to Du.
wallis Bluffs is in running order, your hum
bic servant having passed over it on the
23d. A day or two before leaving took
stroll through the city, visited the United
States Arsenal, beautifully located on the
south side Of the city, the buildings still
remain uninjured but the grounds are being
laid waste, fences broken down, shrubbery
trampcd under foot and broken down, it is
about to be used for an hospital. The State
Prison is located on the west side Of the
city and is now being cleansed and used to
guard prisoners of war. The capitol build.
ing is very much the worse Of the wear
and tare, is used for Provo Marshal and
other offices, the library to share the gene.
raj melee, books and paper strewn over
the floor. All these buildings are built of
brick, covered with slate, abundance Of
which crop out here.
We arc again placed in Division under
Brigadier Gen. Nathan Kimball, and known
as the first Brigade, (Col. j. NJ. True) first
Division at Little Rock. Our Brigade re.
naming on the north side of the river, but
few opportunities are had Of knowing what
is going on at headquarters, bnt being un-
der the impression that we would lay some
time inactive, availed myself OF the priv
il.gc granted me some time since, and am
now on my way TO visit my family and
friends in the North. ! left the boys mostly
we'll on the 23d, arrived at Duvalls Bluffs
same day. Lay over one day waiting on
transports. Met Lieut. Olmstead returning,
in good health and spirits; left next day in
company with Lieut.. Pratt, Co. A, 9th
Iowa on leave, and Lieut.. Soles, Co. X,
first Iowa cavalry discharged, going home
and host Of other officers all good fellow s,
and here we lay at anchor in the middle of
the Mississippi river, 80 miles below Hsle-
ma out Of wosd, coal and grub, awaiting the
aid of others to help us of. Should we
get the desired help you may expect to see
me in few days.
Ircmain, THos. G. DRIPs.
A steamer bound down now lays along
side with coal, and we will get Off
Later-10 O'Clock P. NJ, We arc now under
weigh. Good bye, T. G. DRIps.