The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-01-23

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LYGURaus, in.
SUFFOLK. VRarNIA,l
January 18th, 1868.
DAARg GAVss--You will Sc. by the
heading. Of this lsttsr that We have left
our old camping ground. and are now far
down in Virginia near the Dismal Swamp,
Twelve miles. above the North fAruiinx
border, thirty-fve from Petersburg and
eighteen from, Norfolk BY railroad. We
have good means Of communication via
Fortress Monroe, and the cry Of ceres
yesterdays 'Erald, Tribune and Times"
resounds daily through the streets Of this
formerly quiet village Of Secessia.
The resident population in this portion
Of Virginia. consists Of old men, women
and "contrabands. All those who were
unable to shoulder gun. or whose means
we're insufficient to get away with. stay
behind to show their contempt for the
TsblaSted Yankees" The hatred of the
female portion exceeds that Of the male.
Seet see! cries my room mate, that fair
damsel who has just passed by the win
dow, b up her diminutive nose at the
sigh OF . Union officer that is walking by.
I'll bet she has brother or two in the
rebel army, ready to 'welcome Us with
bloody hands to hospitable graves" In
deed.I have found few loyal persons in
Virginia, except the negroes, and the Gull
tivation Of Union sentiment, hereabout,
seems just about as practicable as mans
expecting 10 raise corn crop on the sum-
NIT Of Pike's Peak.
There is nov force Of about thirteen
Thousand stationed at this point, in which
are included the four fne regiments nm
der command of Gen. Corcoran. Iowa
is even represented here in the 18th Penn
sylvapis Cavalry. Co. A of which Was
raised at Fort Dodge. The Major 10 an
lows man, and the regiment bears m ex-
celtent reputation.
Last Thursday six thousand men start
cd on reconnaissance, with the hopes
Of getting fight out Of the rebels, who
had been seen to the number Of five or
six thousand, eight or nine miles out,
and had been annoying our advance
picketss. but Reger A. Pryor. who COM
mandsd the rebel horde, backed out quite
~ ignominiously a. he did Of yore, when
Porter throw down the gauntlet, and wise
" "skeedadleds' across the Black Wat1s.
. river about midway between here and
Petersburg. So, after three days march,
most of the time in the midat Of drench-
ing rain, our troops returned 10 old
quarters. -
This post is under command Of Major
Gtnl Peck. Those Who know him, say
he Is full bushsl. / understand be i
an old soldier and has been in many bat
tles. Weare we'll fortified and think We can
hold the position against any force the
rebels may bring against us.
We spent the holidays It Newport
News. and no place ever presented . 6nel
appearance or WAS decorated in bette,
style, than the camp ground of the Cor.
coran Legion, on that day. For : week
previous soldiers had been engaged in
bringing in shrubs and small trees and
decorating the camp during thar leisure
hours, Each regiment and company
seemed to vie with the others in this ar.
tistio display. Arches spanned the eoppa.
ny, while wreathes, shields, hsrps and sven
birds and letten were made from the
lsafy boughs until, ct last, the tents wore
obsoursd and nothing but one mass Of
verdure could be ssen. The days spor,
commenced with grand race among The
horses belonging to the officers Of The
Legion, in which an old white NAG, be.
longing 70 fhe General, onstrippsd eve.
rythiug on the course. Then came
wAselbafrow roe, the men who trundlea
thpm being hlindlolded. Next . rack
hekysen tlyee duepmer boys cpvepnai
chase ~ Ms &hOis Legion, sitAf ! savag,
pig, shaved Ind grsased, wound up Is.
days festivities. TAs night subsidized ID
: gaeat illumination and supper anopl
thp officers. Our brave General presidst
over al and enjoyed II hugely.
| Hha Prcaident's Emancipation Pros
lamsalon e1sit1s lttls sonmSnt here, ~
have neyeF JET haard 81 : rssigaatior
Ion its account. Every soldier, insteat
of, that. seems to wish that they wosIi
IdIpft those raacaliy towards. Who, stayinl
tat home, keep croaking about il and nakl
II - - N1NS Az ~