The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1863-05-20
NO. 344.
Army Correspondence
Two NILS STATION MSS. CsNraAL 3. 4. !
tenn :. May 0th, 1855.

| Two NILS STATION Mss. CBNrRAL 3. 4.
TsSS., May sth, lses.
Dear Times Since my last letter to
you have been so much on the move that
no time has been left me to writo more than
business required, but now there appears
to be a chance for spare time. We are
about two miles and half from Jackson,
just on the edge Of large swamp, station
ed perhaps for month, to guard the Rail-
road and put in the time as best we can
Being close to our pickets, and the country
secured by our cavalry scouts, we fear no
danger; still we keep up a good guard
We don't propose to be paroled, or taken
by surprise. When they find US they will
find US on guard. The boys have gone to
work and have fixed up their tents so that
We are now pretty comfortably fixed for
everything but sun, which shines pretty
hot sometimes, and we being in an open
field, with nothing 70 check the heat but
canvass, will suffer some wh,n summer
comes.
Our regiment is all divided up; four
companies are strung along the Mobile &
Ohio Railroad in distance of or 10 miles,
viz: A + D and I. The other six are on
this road. B and II are at, G and G
At, X at Buffers bridge, and E from
Buffers bridge to our pickets outside Of
Jackson. We don't fancy this Railroad
guarding, but have to take our turn with
other new troops. Old heads figure little
stronger. Our regiment was improving
finely but this breaks up drill. Our head
quarters are still at Jackson. The whole
regiment had just returned from Corinth,
where we had been ordered 10 fill places
made vacant by the troops taken out by
Brig. Gen. Dodge on an expedition to
TuscumLia and farther east. They were
out about Is or 20 days, and returned last
Saturday, and on Sunday we returned to
our old camp, to rest day, move camp and
come here. When VIC left jackson to 20
to Cornith, We were in high ho pcs that we
would see fight, but was again disappoint-
ed.
You have long ere this had the pa, ticu.
lars Of the above expedition. l believe
they accomplished all they intended; they
destroyed large amount Of property, about
two million bushels corn, a great amount
Of meat and brought back about 75 bales
Of cotton; lost one piece of artillery, three
efficers and men, and killed as usual a great
many more, besides taking number of
prisoners, horses and mules, and five or six
hundred negroes. Other expeditions are
still out and will continue to destroy until
the war closes. This seems to be the only
way to bring them to terms. Make them
feel our power to ovcrrun their entire couu-
try and lay it waste. We have talked and
argued the case long enough. A greet pro-
portion Of their people are no more con.
vinced Of their error to-day than they were
two years ago. From present appearances
| conclude they may be able to carry on the
war, as far as provisions are concerned, for
years; they raise corn and hogs without
number, and sugar and molasses. These
are their principal supplies of food. North
ern Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia are
still full Of corn and pork. Starving them
out is played out. My opinion is that the
only way left US is to fight them out, and
the news that comes to us now goes to show
that fighting has commenced in earnest
Everything looks favorable, and the troops
are all in excellent spirits The health of
our regiment is better than it has been for
long time; having received their pay puts
new life in them. Should the rebels leave
Vicksburg, and fal! back in this direction,
We may lock cut, but we are ready for
them, willing ard waiting.
Our late papers bring US the sad news
Of the burning Of the steamboat Majestic
with large mail on board; all lost. We
all feel the loss of our mail, and no doubt
great many of US had letters on board,
also papers. Speaking of papers reminds
US that we have not received the Times
for more than month. Do you still mail
it to US?
Lieut.. Olmstead is no longer with US; his
worth is too we'll known to our Colonel for
our good. He has bt en- placed in command
Of Co. B, Capt. Hemenway being sick and
their two Lieutenants not being able to
m anage the men. We all, officers and men,
of Co. E, regret the loss of our Lieut.; he
is a favorite in Co. E, and an excellent of.
ficer; hope he will soon return to US. We
have lost by resignation, three Captains,
three Lleutenants, and one Adjutant, and
two or three others are on the way; none
by death. We hope to have our medical
and hospital departments purged soon, and
then perhaps the machine will run smooth
a while again.
Hoping to see you before the 4th cf July,
once more bid you farewell.
Yours, T.G. DRlrs.
A Hit AT Army CHAPLAINs.-An army
correspondent sends the following, which
is hard hit at q pretty large class of army
chaplains: "A captain in the division,
German and very strict disciplinarian,
had his company drawn up for the usual
Sunday inspection. One dirty scrub. who