The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1863-09-09
Letter from Capt. DriDs.

HELENA, ARK, August 9th, 'G3.
Dear Tins Since wrote you see
that change has been made in Editors
change that I, with great many others
Of Go. "E," can and do most cordially ca
dorse ; not that we think any the less OF
our valued friend Mr. TENNEY, but former
attachments to friend RICHARDSON, and
hope that they will both have better
opportunity Of doing good, in their present
positions, cause this pleasure: they have
our best wishes and prayers May God
bless every honorable means used to bring
about a speedy Peace!
You will be apprised before this reaches
you that the 9th is again on the move
We left Moscow, Tennessee, on the ooh,
and travelled on foot to Memphis, where we
lay over two days expecting to get paid off,
but time being precious, only three com
panies got pay, and we were hurried on
board transport, Pay Master, Money and
all there we received our Greenbacks and
had time and opportunity to send surplus
home; Lieut.. OLMsrEAD kindly coming
down with us for the purpose, "a hours
we landed at this place, and camped on
the bottom and lay down in what ever
shade we could construct in the boiling
sun, being allowed only ono tent to com.
pany. Here we lay until last evening when
we packed up and came about three miles
from where we first halted. We are now
about one and half miles from town, at
the foot of the bluff, pleasant place and
good water, and expect to remain until to-
morrow morning when we will march for
Clarendon, on White River; there we will
join General STEEL's command who are
awaiting us. Our brigade, in command of
Col. JAMES NJ. TRUE, is the 5Oth Indiana,
62l H., 9th Iowa, 49th ILL.,, Infantry,
Battery A, 4th I'll. Artillery, and known
as the Sd Brigade, Sd Division, 10Th Army
corps, Division Commander Gen. NATHAN
KMBALL. This time we expect to see fight
ing, which We arc all very anxious to see,
very few Of our regiment have seen an arm
ed Rebel in - months service. We do not
claim to be spelling for fight but if it
has to be done We are willing and ready to
bear hand. Fortunately for US we had
our old lnuskets exchanged for new Enfield
Rifles, and understand the whole Brigade
is armed in like manner, making it an eff
cent Brigade in that respect, and our COM
manders say we are "a. No. l" men. Hav-
ing received new Arms and pay, the men
that are free from Ague are feeling in the
best of spirits; hut marches arc what brings
out the weak ones. We left Of Co. "E" at
Memphis 4, at this place 8, mostly Ague
cases; those left here are Riley, Stratton'
and wilkins, all Ague cases; cannot stand
the march. This season of the year in this
climate is bad time to start on march,
but it is not best to lie still too long. l
think our fall has begun; and may have
something OF importance to write he,eaf
ter. Lieut.. O'MsrEAD will give more news
personally than can write, which will
satisfy all who see him and presume mos t
Of the friends Of Co. men will see him.
Helena is small place, situated some.
thing like Gutenberg. The bluffs are
mounted with batteries of artillery. DC,
casionally aravine puts in from the country
back and at these places the Rebs. under
TODD to come in on the 4th Of July last
and were used up. We saw some of the
effects Of desperate battle--houses riddled
with cannon balls, and the graves of the
slain.
But will close. Having had the Agnc
for thu last three days, you can perhaps
imagine my condition.
Yours, Tnos. G. DRIPs.