Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-01-09

WASHINGTON, Dec. 80.
Another batch of good ncws from tn
Northwestern boys has set us Northwestern
fellows, who have the grace which alon'
keeps this wicked city from dropping through
the thin skum into purgatory at least, on oul
high horses again. And, indeed, we have
seldom been off the best kind Of stock since
the war began in dead earnest, especially
those of us who have the honor of being citi
zens of glorious Iowa. But the good
news from Blunt and Heron, at Van Buren,
in the mouths of every body here this leaden
morning, is refreshing, amid the seeming in
activity of the vast armies near us, and the
reports of blind stolidity which come from
Kentucky. 1t is exhilerating in the highest
degree to learn that way out in Arkansas al
any rate we have Generals who have the
nerve and the capacity to personally lead
their troops to the charge. 1t seems to be a
general notion, obtaining not only with those
in command, but with many persons Of re-
spectacle intelligence, that of all sodicry
qualities, "caution is the best and the
greatest 1t was this ungallant opinion which
led so many we'll meaning folks into thinking
highly of Little Mac, and large proportion
Of his admirers no doubt esteemed him the
more because he had always the caution to
keep out of personal danger. Not so thought
Napoleon the First During his early cam
paigns, where he first exhibited his splendid
military genius, he often rushed into the
thickest of the fight, and more than once
saved to France victory by the contagious
example of his personal bravery. His con-
duct at the terrible passage of the bridge of
Lodi would have set him down as a "mere
dashing Kearney by the caution-admirers of
this day. For my own part think consid-
cradle experience in close quarters is not cal
culated to make a little Corporal out Of a
great General-on the contrary, quite the
reverse. He who can successfully lead the
impulsive charge will not lose his judgment,
nor suddenly grow blear-eyed in directing the
movements of pitched battle from his head
quarters in the rear. I believe that if Napo-
leon had himself led the charge of the Old
Guard at Waterloo, the final result of that
battle would have been reversed. At all
events, however, these things may be,
Iowans now here rejoice that Hawkeye
General has set an example Of personal gal
lantry, the influence of which will not be lost
upon the country and the future conduct of
the war.
confess that expected more from Gen.
Heron than his youthful appearance might
lead stranger to look for. knew that he
was strongly opposed to the idea of fighting
the rebels by digging bitches, or of giving
them all the advantages of their servile labor
without an earnest attempt to deprive them
of it. knew that he was brave and be-
lieved he had plenty Of brains to supply sew
eral ordinary Brigadiers. .. .a
Brig Gen. Frank J. Heron was born at
Pittsburg, Pa, not quite 30 years ago, and
lived in that noisy, smoky city till 1856, when
he removed to Dubuque, and was there en-
gagged in banking and speculation in lands
until the financial crisis wound him up with
hundreds of others. He seems 10 have a
taste for military affairs, was Captain of the
Governors Greys," company noted for
the perfection of its drill and discipline,
wherein, perhaps, it was not surpassed by
any company in the Northwest, and was al
ways prominently known among the military
men of our State. He served with his COM
pany during the three months campaign un-
der Gen. Lyon, and participated in the skir-
mishes at Forsythe, Dug Springs, and the
battle of Wilson's Greek. For his conduct at
this engagement he was highly complimented
by Gen. Sturgis. Upon his return he was
appointed Lieut.. Colonel of the 9th Iowa,
(Col. Vandever,) and commanded the regi-
ment during the entire campaign under Gen.
Curtis which closed with the splendid vic
tory of Pea Ridge. For his gallant conduct
during this hard fought battle he was greatly
praised by his brigade and division command
ers. He was severely wounded, however, by
cannon bali which passed through his
horses body and terribly wounded his foot
on passing out. He was taken prisoner, but
by the special exer tons Of Gen. Curtis was
soon exchanged for Col. Louis Hebert, Of the
Sd Louisiana regiment. The President made
him Brigadier without special solicitation
from any source. His more recent brilliant
history is better known to your readers than
it can be to me, but cannot be more rejoiced
at by Iowans at home than those at Wash
ington.
Mr.. Crittenden Mr.. Wickliffe and the rest
of that class are a-blubbering hugely over
the impending Proclamation Of Freedom.
They begged and cried at the President in a
body last night but failed to move him a jot
from his determination. Then they went
away and took to swearing and to liquor.
Before this can reach you you will know just
precisely how much they took by their mo-
ton, and need not elaborate matter so full
Of lamentation, and noes, and blubbering all
around. i' 2al ts
The rebel raids to within a dozen miles or
so Of this city may be very good things in
their way, but they have no effect upon the
cool, calm, collected navigators of the cast
political ocean on which the Washingtonians
must sail evermore. If ever, my, reader, you
sailed from New York to San Francisco by
way Of the, Horn, you will know exactly what
/ mean when 1 say that this city is still in
the commotion which Immediately follows a