The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1863-02-12
For the Transcript.
On BOARD STEAMER kENToN,
January 22nd 1863.


petition into Mississippi on our re,ur,
and as the 2s,h say in Camp from tha
time until the ll,h inst there was littl'
of interest to chronicle. The daily rou
tine of guard and drill duty is stale ant
monotonons. On the llth inst we wen
on board Of steamer and joined I'll,
expedition to go up the white river
The white river enters tho Mississippi
80 miles below Helena and about q
above the Arkansas. Arkansas Pos,
lies on a cut off connecting the two
rivers and about 90 miles above their
confluence with the Mississippi. I,
was n strong point and commanded the
navigation of the Arkansas. Thirty.
one Transport Steamers moved from
Helena Just after nigh,fall on the | LII,
and at daylight were opposite The mouth
Of the White River This expedition i.
under The command of Gen. Hovey.
Gen. Sherman's feet moved up the Ar
kansas at the date above given and the
gun boats commenced shelliny the post
about noon Of the same day. A vigorous
fight ct hours reduced il. Our repor.
ted loss is fifteen hundred. We took
several thousand prisoners. Hoyey's
feet with four gun boats moved up TO
81. Charles 10 miles where there arc
strong foriiiications. 1t was at ,!lis
place the Mound City was lost las, SUN
mer. All will recoilect the imhuman
butcherv Of our men who iumped into
the river when her boilers exploded II
was expected that here we should meet
with a warm reception but the enemy
evacuated at our approach removing
their guns by steamer to Duvalls blstt'
so miles above. We occupied tie
works over night and then leaving the
2s,h Wisconsin to guard the Post, we
started for the post above. Dsva,rs
Bluffs is the eastern terminus uf The
Memphis & Little Rock II. II. We rea.
ch,d this place on the 10th, but found
the enemy had again slid out. But this
time he hal not time to remove all his
guns. We captured two sinch Dahl
green siege guns and 150 stand of small
arms and our cavalry soon brought ia
about 40 prisoners who had no, time To
get cut of reach after We made our an
pearance. DuvAls bluff is well fortified
and would have cost us many lives ii
the enemy had made a stand. Our gun.
boats chased the Blue Wing refel st.a.
mer 50 miles further up, but did not
catch her; perhaps the enemy run into
some cut off and hid at all events the
Blue Wing escaped. Ga the 10Th the
expedition set out on its return, will
probably fit up and join Sherman for
Vicksburg. Though | understand this
morning that Little Rock has not been
taken and in that event we may take a
trip up the Arkansas. think the army
of the West are bound to do something
and hope they may. The White river
i, stream little larger than the Iowa
but deeper channel and Of all tortuous
streams it certainly must be the
crookedest. AT one place We sail I
miles around to make 90 feet across.
Often our fleet could be seen right and
left as though . half dozen channels
were being navigated. From the mouth
Of the river to St. Charles llO miles
counted but houses and only l ol
these houses Inhabited. There is moi
land enough above water from The
mouth to St. Charles for the alligators
TO sun themselves on. Above St. Char
les the country is somewhat better bu
wild and desolatc enough at that. St
i Charles is in ruins scarce a building
standing. Rumor says that Col. Fey
house very fine building was left stand
ing and guarded because he gave 3Ot
dollars to have it guarded. I do no
vouch for this report but l have seen s.
much that / would hesitate to deny ii
Col. Fry commanded at the battle Q
St. Charles and ordered our men to b.
shot when swimming ashore from tn
wrecked Mount City. Money is cor
rupting almost every command in TIL
army and cndangers the Union NOR
than the rebel army. The cheek ofth
soldier patriot burns with indignation
at what he sees and knows to be true i
every brigade, almost Of the army
Patriotism is the motive Of rank an,
file hut the love of money and Office
lcorrupting it's way everywhere above