Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1863-10-23

Letter from Captain speer.

Il SesSs ss~A.A S1Rsos0 SP0Cbs
l. - luxA, Mss, Der. l2sh. 4. D. lso.
MEss1A EDiroRs: On tle morning Of IL,
2sd Of Sspt. many of the beys In the 10
Divisions 18th A. c. were building chimney,
and fixing up camp for long stay u Blacl
River. At o'clock Pm. we were ordered
to break up camp and be ready for the trair
at 8 o'clock. About sun. down We arrived in
vicksturg, and expected to embark mex,
morning for trip down the river, but wers
disappointed As we did not get ready to leave
until the 25th, and then ourlittle feet moved
against the current instead Of with It. On
the morning Of the 2sth we arrived At Mem.
phis loaded our baggage on the cars, and
the same evening started for Corinth, Missis.
sippi. where We arrived the next day. On
the both We camped on Clear Creek, about
two miles from Corinth, and on the 9th Of
October broke up camp sgain, marched over
rough roads and through very poor coan-
try to this place. <aa8a s2egAI
4 Two years ago the population Of luka was
about 1900. At tho present timeit Is aimost
deserted. In the village there are ave beau.
tiful mineral springs which attracted crowds
Of people during the summer mo:.ths before
the war. It is q new town and as the pro
prietors are absent we will praise their town
BY saying that it has two large hotels, good
church, female seminary, and very many
other fine buildings and perhaps in few
yesrs it may be = Saratoga for our Southern
brothers and sisters. In two hours after we
entered town nearly oil the houses in il were
occupied, and We IRE again able to set good
table. Every soldier who is not too lazy to
run has good supply Of beef, pork. goat or
chickens. And nearly all who are disposed
to dig have sweet potatoes. We do not ex
pect to remain here more than eight or ten
days. The entire 18th Army Corps is, at
Corinth and this place. We expect 10 put
the Railroad in good repair from Corinth to
Chattanooga. The cars will run to Iuka to.
morrow and We will push them forward as
fast as possible. In q few weeks We expect
to give Rosecrans lift and spend the remain.
der Of the winter on that quiet stream. " TIE
Potomac" aa. .aptsisE o gta5dE
81 The rebels have destroyed nearly all the
Railroad bridges between Tuka and Chatta.
nooga. and they cannot all be repaired for
several weeks. The water is good in North.
ern Mississippi. and We have been told that
it is Of tho best quality through Northern
Alabama. Iuka is only six miles from the
Alabama line. and sixteen miles from the
Tennessee line. tits 100 miles from Mem
phis, and 2O5 miles from Chattanooga. The
timber through this country is principally
Yellow Pine, Chestnut and Oak. The bes,
sol in this section Of country in . good sea.
son will only produce 20 bushels Of corn, or
10 bushels Of wheat per acre. d..
The people living through this section of
country are almost destitute of all kinds Of
food, but if rags were valuable they would all
be wealthy. From what can learn Judge
that nearly all Of Georgia and Southern Ala
bama was planted with corn last spring and
the crop is remarkably heavy. .n
All the sick Of the 18th Army Corps were
left at Memphis. If We should not suffer
during tho coming winter with Pneumonia,
we expect to be troubled with but little sick
ness in the future. At the present time re
have but 800 Of the slst Regiment at this
place. When We left Davenport, Iowa, our
regiment numbered 900 men. More than
two.thirds Of the regiment have either died.
been discharged, or are now in hospital. If
We live until tomorrow, we will have served
one-thrd Of our time. as we were mustered
into the U. S. service on the 18th Of October,
a. D. 1869. II we can judge the future by
the past, when our time Of service shall ex
p:Ie but few Of Us will be left to tell the tale
--rr--z-e- r. p. 3. :