Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-07-24

From the 10th Kansas-soldiering
I'm NlfssOurl-Pursuit Of Morgan
n Indiana, &C., sc.
& M CAIRO, July 10th, 1868.
DEAR JOURNAL When l wrote last, you
will recollcct we were suffering somewhat
with the Vicksburg fever. The fates were
against US, for we have not seen Vicksburg
yet. Failing in our efforts to be in at the fall
Of the great stronghold, we took quiet pos
session of the post of Rolla and entered upon
garrison and provost duty there.
Gen. Thomas Davies was in command Of
the District Of Rolla, and Of course we came
under his immediate control. The General
was the hero of Island No. 10, on the occasion
Of the spiking Of the guns and the abandon
ment of the position last spring, or winter.
This coming to the knowledge of our boys,
their natural love of fun and mischief prompt
ed them to make anxious inquiries as to
s'who spiked the guns at Island No. TO-"
whenever the General made his appearance
in camp. Some knowing chap, eager to i'm
part knowledge to his fellow soldiers, would
reply "Gen. Davies" This would, perhaps,
be followed by some witty allusion to rat.tai
| files, &c.
All this proved very annoying to the Gen
eral, and one day he ordered the regiment
into line for cross-examination. For two
hours we stood under the brolllng sun, while
he was trying to make somebody ''own the
corn" l need scarcely say he did not sue
coed. Every man of all those hundreds was
innocent as lamb. The General then made
few remarks, to the effect that he was our
commander; as such he was entitled to our
respect, and was going to have it. In rela-
ton to his official acts he was responsible
only to the Government, not to US. Having
thus defined himself, he turned to Major Viii
liams and ordered him to keep the regiment
in line until he was out of sight. He then
rode leisurely away.
As soon as he disappeared, we were dis
missed with three cheers for Col. Weer, which
were given with such emphasis that the citi.
zens turned out to see what was to pay.
After that it seemed we were ordered on ex-
ira duty, for reviews, drills, inspections and
sham battles came thick and fast upon us
every day, and at all hours, until we began
to discuss the propriety Of changing the num-
Der of our regiment. Everything must have
an end, however, and on the evening of the
18th inst. orders came for an immediate re-
moval to st. Louis. Next morning we
marched on board train of ears, and the
same evening were in camp at Camp Gamble,
head of Olive street.
Upon the receipt of news of Morgan's raid,
the 10th and 1st Kansas battery were ordered
to Mitchell, Indiana. Left St. Louis at one
o'clock in the afternoon on the 18th, reached
Mitchell next morning at 5 o'clock, were dis
embarked, ammunition served out and every
thing put i'll trim for little tilt with John,
who was then thought to be coming in that
direction. The 104th regiment State militia,
was also there, three other regiments having
left the evening before for Seymour.
We remained all day at Mitchell, and at
10 o'clock at night proceeded to Seymour.
Mitchell is at the crossing of the o. & M. and
N. A. & S. Railroads; Seymour at the cross
ing of the 0. & M. and j. & l. Railroad.
Arrived at Seymour at daybreak on the
morning of the 18th, and were Immediately
ordered to Indianapolis. Ag
By that time Morgan had reached the line
of the indianapolis r. R., and had destroyed
bridges on the o. & NJ. east of Seymour, so
that 1t was impossible to get through on that
line. We reached indianapolis at P. NJ of
the 18th, expecting to 60 forward Immediate
ly towards Cincinnati, but the news of Nor
gan's escape into Ohio, closely pursued by
Hobson's force, detained US. The command
then proceeded to the Soldiers Home, where,
during our stay in the Hoosier Capital, we
were most Hospitality entertained by the good
people of the city.
The city was full of soldiers. The response
to the Governors Proclamation was most en-
thusiastic. In forty eight hours from the
time the call was made, forty weight thousand
Hoosiers were enrolled, armed and equipped,
and ready for action. Every class of citizens
was represented. Farmers left their harvest
fields, merchants closed their doors, lawyers
took their hands from the pockets of their
clients to seize the musket, doctors left their
patients to die natural death, and all enter
ed upon the duties of a soldiers life. Hon.
H. S. Lane filled his place in the ranks as
4th Corporal of an infantry company, and
other high State officials filed equa ly respon-
sible positions. So determined were the
HOLSTERS to do something, that two days after
orders were issued for no more men to come
5000 men came into the city in one day.
On the evening of the 18th, the city regi-
ments marched down Washington street,
formed in close column in front of the Bates
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