Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-05-15
OUR ARMY coRRE sPoNDENcE.
SALEM, DANE County, Mo.,(
-. A.. sAL 1000

@SALEM, LANE OOUNTY, MO.,(
May 9th, 1863.
EDITOR JoURNAL 81 Dear Sir Since my
last, the movements of the Army of the
Frontier seem to point to an active campaign,
this summer.
On the 9Th of April, Col. VIM. Weer,
commanding brigade composed Of, the 9th
Wisconsin Infantry, 25th Ohio battery and
part Of the Sd Wisconsin cavalry, reached US
at Forsyth, when Col. Weer took command.
On the 22d Of April, the whole command left
Forsyth-after having fred it--and travelled
to mill on Swan Greek. The next morning
the 53d started early and reached Ozark at
two o'clock, where orders met us to take the
first road to Hartsville, which was at Ozark,
marched six miles that evening, and stopped
at an old mill told mills are as numerous in
this country as are county seats). Here the
heavens opened. and with effect, too, for the
camp fires were all extinguished. Beds on
the ground were taken up in quick time, and
those without rubbers sought shelter under
the wagons till morning; but the sun soon
drove off damp clothes and damp spirits
The next day the road crossed the creek SO
often, or the creek crossed the road, that by
l at night, when we reached our train from
Springfield, we were tired, hungry and wet.
The next four days it rained all the time, and
the streams were so swollen that the guns OF
the battery were covered with water in cross.
ing. The infantry felled trees from each side
to meet, and walked the trunks. The train
was unable to keep up with the column, and
for that reason we were short OF rations.
Talk about the state Of the roads in the
army Of the east-can't be worse than the
most Missourible roads. Our regimental
color bearer said that the third day after it
began to rain, as he was picking his way in
the brush, on the side of the road, he saw a
hat floating along the road, and as he put
out his hand to take it, voice came from the
depths, Let that hat alonsl have as good
six mule team under me, as is in the army
of the frontier" but cannot vouch for that
From the time we left Forsyth till we reached
this place, we had no news of any kind, as
our worthy post master had gone into the
suttling business, and was not along at all
so we were in state of ignorance of the news
from Charleston till May 3D.. Yesterday the
myth of the army appeared among us, and
dispensed his favors with liberal haRd-paid
us four months. ..-.....,.. .....-.... 3D.. A.
Many of our boys start home to-day or
furloushs thirty days from Ro|la-and their
presence may hasten the death of Copper
headism. Col. VIM. Weer, of Kansas, is moi
appreciated by Iowa boys-he is too fond O.
his bitters-in point Of fact, he is not sober
half the time.
The health Of the regiment is good. Oul
surgeon, Philip Hawey. is with us again; alst
DR.. Hurst's successor, B. F. Balch. The Fas
day set by the President, was observed by Vi
of necessity.
We are awaiting orders anxiously to joir
the division, and be at work.
Pardon my disconnectedness; the tent ha:
blown down several times, and that was
slight interruption. Have not seen the Jour
NAL for two weeks-hope I'll get one soon.
j. /. DUNCAN.