The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1863-04-21
From the 9Th.
CAMr NEAR GREENWOOD. Miss. I
April 81, 1863.

ED1roR GUARDIAN We have Just
disembarked from the Steamer Armada,
and pitched our tents on the banks of
the Talahatchie The sound Of rebel
cannon regales our ears as write, giving
us a strong hint that we have something
to do soon. The pickets are within hail
ing distance on opposite sides Of the
River. We have been told that they
enquired after chem Iowa boys" and
when told they were coming, gave them
three cheers, which is more of a compli.
ment than would be aid 10 us by class
at home that should be friends These
same forces made our acquaintance at
Iuka, which | think will be lasting =
The fort is across The river, two miles
below US. They have a force OF this
side, also, and have a floating bridge
across the stream. Oar men are now at
work trying 10 destroy this by means OF
floating RATS against it. What has been
accomplished, so far cannot tell About
all | can tell you of the rebels is tina;
they are here and we are ready to fight
them. A description OF our voyage here
would Gil volume. We left camp be-
low Helena the 22d OF March, or rather
embarked, did not get off till the esd.
when we steamed across the Mississippi,
and entered the long to be remembered
Yazoo Pass. We got safely into Moon
Lake miles distant, where we laid up
for the night. Next morning we entered
the pass from the lake Now commences
/ the history of our troubles. The chan
mel viii average about 90 yards wide,
and runs in every conceivable point of
the compass. There is n strong current
/ flowing out, so as TO render boat al.
most unmanageable. They are lashed
from one side TO the other. against the
trees, the boats generally farng the
worst Passed two small steamers in
the channel that Were sunk, the Luella
and Jenny Lind, the former lost her en-
1 tire cargo. Jenny contrived to run her
bow into shore so as to save her coal.
We were four days going distance of
90 miles, to the terminus of the pass.
where it enters the Coldwater. This
stream proved to be but little better.
The good Captain Of the boat seemed TO
Ter ego ahead on the Niger" as often MS
ever. Bob, The pilot, has more than the
patience of Job. Tie Captain was un,
ceasing in his demands on him. Ii,
was all Of the time "back her on the star
board, come ahead on the starboard.
catch her up on both, Bob, but Bob was
always at his post and always smiling. L.
can only be accounted for by consider
ing his great size, 250 lbs, it requiring
great amount OF outward pressure 10
get him mad all over. The term Niger
is applied TO the capsland, which is often
used in navigating small, crooked,
stream to draw the bow Of the boat from
shore. | never knew, ill coming aboard
Of the Armada. any such definition for
Niger, and / haunt got Webster hero
10 consult in the matter. The 3Olh we
reached the Tallahatche. and find II
quite an improvement, The stream is
about the breadth OF the Wapsie. There
are some fine plantations along its banks.
On some of them the Negroes were at
work in the field, they swung their hats
and jumped high in the air as we passed
on through. certain Of better time com.
ing. Most Of the way the river is skirt
ed on either side by an mpenetrable
swamp, where wild game abounds in
abundance. Three OF the boys Of com.
pany L met with quite an amusing acct.
dent coming down. They were seated
on the outer railing Of the boat, which,
yielding to their weight. gave way. pre-
cipitating them into the river in heap.
Fortunately they were all swimmers, and
the boat at the time was floating with
the current. so they reached the boat
and were pulled on board without much
difficulty. The utter ruin of pack Of
cards, and loss Of rs cents in sutler tick
cts, they inform me, comprzes the list
Of damages. which they think must be
refunded by the government, as they
were lost in action. Several large sege
guns have just come down. They were
brought from Corinlh, showing that We
will tight the same men ui,h the same