The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-06-30

LEGATION, Al you aSfee win Ho IL '
ing that its noble sentiments and lofty
patriotism should have wider range than
. circulation among the personal friends
of the writer. Who shall say, after read
ing this letter, that our adopted fellow
citizens do not most thoroughly under
stand and intensely appreciate the free
dom and good government of the land OF
their choice, or that they yield to any
in their devotion to the cause and the
flag of "our country ?" Yours, W.
sCAMr IN REAR or VIcKsBuRG. Miss.,l
june 18th, 1868.
JAMES l. RoosEvELT-Dear Friend.
do not know what may happen, and,
therefore, take the pleasure and write
1his letter to you, sir No hour, a SOL
der can soy. is his, and We cannot Say,
81 wait until tomorrow or some other
day." Our duty is to 60 when ever we are
called upon, and there is no weather, no
storm, or anything else, that can stop US
from going. e
think much Of you, and often my wish
is that you could be here and see some of
our work. 1 shall give you little more
information about those "battles" and
our work. Our troops are working day
and night. We got Notifications already
around Tia whole line, and our rife pits
are only rs yards from the enemy's breast
works. Firing has never ceased since
we got in the rear Of Ficksburg. Gun.
boats, mortsrs, feld-batteries and pickets
are continually firing day and night. The
rebels do not show themselves. II any
Of them ''hist" their heads up dozen
bullets are after him, and he can expect
nothing but death.
Our army is stationed from the enemy's
breastworks at Yicksburg to the Big Black
river. We 1.-THE sth Mo. Req are on
the right wing, near Yazoo river, in front
OF two of the strongest forts the rebels
have here. Our camp is but 500 yards
from them. Their bullets are whistling
ubout us continually, but We do not no.
tice them. or pay much notice when .
soldier gets shot.
My dear friend, it is only fun for us &c
whip the rebels in open fields, but in pls.
ces like this, where they are sticking in
holes 4snd we have to crawl over high
hills and felled timber. and get no chanc,
to shoot while we 60 in and see our boy,
cut down, tell you, that is too hard fo1
soldier.
On the 22d of May many Of the boy
OF our regiment were killed from cannon
balls was lying near by one of ou
men who had both of his legs shot off b,
cannon ball. Many of our men wer,
badly wopnded and could not be brought
of the field. There was no help for them
They had to Icy and hoa. their comnde,
fighting.
Ny dear friend, / came out again with.
out-a scratch. consider myself one Of
the luckiest of men, "and do not know
how much thanks / owe Him who rules
all and brings Us ont of dasger"
Our regiment was the first year when
it was made up eleven hundred ner
strong, and is ncwonly $50, with the new
recruits. that are fit for duty. The
weather is dry and warm here. The corn
in the fields iooks splendid. No cotton il
planted. II shows that they are oil good
secessionists to raise crops and keep W
the 6outhern Confederacy. Soon will ou
time be over and conscripted soldiers ma,
Fill up cur ranks. If think if these fel
lows would open their eyes, and take
look for what cause we are fighting, the,
would rather volunteer. 1t is RICH
enough TO see and hear of the battles
but oAa they see US in the field and nc
help US. Thinking would not whip tn
enemy, and speaking would not settle thi
war. Nothing but the point Of the bayo
net and bullets, Friendship has bee
shown long enough to our enemy, an
sometimes very bad friendship is show
TO US from those who claim 20 be roo
Union people at home.
Nothing will trouble US when we brin
an end TO the bloody slavery question:
There will be no danger for the Union
Tony great JOY zee our people are get
ting in better spirit The whole worl
csnnot ny anything against wha, We ar
fighting for. The nations of Europe ar
Wishing and hoping that We will gain tn
z victory. but the Tyrants, Emperor,
Kings and Queens do not. If apybod
GAf61b Eaeiaod supported the souther,
7 OesfD6ssscy and France went to Mexic,
= hsiag liberty and freedom in free re
tf1s thsy Gro very much in the dark