Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-08-21
OUR ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.

UUk ARMY CUKkt SPUNUE N i E.
Trip from Cairo to 81. Loui.-Arriual Of
Rebel Prisoners-2her appearance
Bulternufs Changing Honds-Deseylions
Caused by Coqperhsads-The Soldiers
,cant a Chance at the Cops.
ST. LOUIS, Aug. 10.
DEAR JoURNAL:-Our (1st Kansas inft.)
stay at Cairo, though Of only forty Eight
hours duration, was long enough to satisfy
all curiosity in regard to that ancient city Of
the Egyptians. The order for our return tc
st. Louis was received at o'clock r. NJ
July 10th. At midnight the same night We
went on board the steamer Metropolitan, and
at daybreak next morning were steaming W
the river. 1t soon became evident that oul
trip was to be a tedious one. The old Graf
was in poor condition and was heavily
laden before our embarkation. She was di
rect from Vicksburg, with $4,000 stand O
small arms, ffty-two pieces of artillery and {
large amount Of ammunition on board, being
part of the trophies of the surrender. A
quantity of the ammunition was piled upor
the boiler deck, so close to the boiler that il
was found necessary to keep it wet to pre-
vent explosion. Thus for three days we were
subjected to the risk of being blown to atoms
by rebel powder.
On Wednesday evening, the Goth, after
frequently running upon bars, sometimes
with such force as to make the old shell
shake and groan in every joint, we reached
the levee and proceeded to our camp at Camp
Jackson, now known as Camp Gamble.
Since that time we have been kept on
continual round of guard and escort duty
At one time six companies proceeded to the
levee to receive and escort to their new home
seven hundred and fifty of the Vicksbure
prisoners. They were a sorry looking set
though some of them fine looking men. The
greater number belonged to the 9Th Louis
lana infantry, though nearly every State in
rebeldom was represented. | was informed
by one of the prisoners, an East Tennessean
that the majority were men who had refused
parole, in order that they might be sent
North, wishing to take the oath of allegiance
| noticed some, however, whose manner very
plainly indicated that their journey North
ward was not at all to their liking. The
countenances of these wore an expression, as
they glanced along the lines of bayonets
similar to that worn by mule driver, who
maliciously calls his refractory mule "d-n
you," with the accent hard upon the you
They were received in an obong hollow
square, and in that manner conducted to Ora
tiot street prison, where they found many
friends to welcome them. Several rebels who
formerly lived in st. Louis were among the
number and frequently recognized friends
along the sidewalk. Very little sympathy
was shown them in their misfortunes The
only demonstration l saw was in passing
down Seventh street, where woman threw
apples from third story window among the
prisoners.
Copperhead badges frequently change
hands here. Our boys insist on the imme.
date surrender of butternut breastpins and
suspicious looking hat bands, wherever they
find them, and their demands are generally
complied with peaceably. In one or two in
stances some argument has been found nee
essary, such as smashing in row of teeth,
or the application of Government boot.
Approaches of this character are very sure
W OiiPS oDoue oPSOOy ouAAOAuCis
Quite number of deserters are being sent
to their regiments. Details from our own and
the 9th Wisconsin regiment are constantly
out on such business. A number have lately
been sent South who belong to Iowa regi-
ments. One of our Springdale boys saw four
men among them whom he knew at home -
three from Iowa City and one from near Tip
ton. One of these had paid surgeon twenty
dollars for discharge. He produced the
document which was signed by some one
processing to be surgeon, but who neglected
to state where he belonged, or to what branch
of the service. No field officers name ap-
peared in the discharge With this bit of
worthless paper the man went home, was ar
rested and will probably suffer the penalty of
death for desertion, while his twenty dollar
murderer will go unhung.
Nine tenths of the assertions in the army
can be traced to the influence of Copperheads
at home. Any man who ever had patriotism
enough to serve his country for single day,
even though he deserts the next, is worth
more than a regiment f'the sneaking scoun-
drels who allure them from the path of duty.
For every man shot as deserter, a dozen
Copperheads ought to hang. The sentiment
is universal among the soldiers that your
home traitors, your Mahoneys, Thayers, and
their miserable tools, are the worst enemies
the country has. Hang them; hang
them!" is the cry everywhere among the
soldiers.
When the news Of the South English affair
reached US, the other day, it was hoped that
at last the scoundrels were going to open the
ball in such manner that something could be
done for them. Many an earnest wish was
uttered that we could be sent where Copper
heads were at work. Nothing would suit us
better One company of the 9th Wisconsin
went to Indiana few days ago, thought to be
to quiet Copperheads. They are Dutchmen,
and will never think of firing blank cartridges /;
they say they are good enough for firing sa-
lutes, but mo good for making funerals"
Yours, as ever, E. H. G.
FUTILE ACCEPTS The Burlington Argus
of the 18th inst, says:
"We are authorized to state for the benefit
of all concerned, that Gen. Tuttle has signi-
fed his intention t. accept the nomination for
Governor rendered him. The matter is now
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