The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-12-30

KEOKUK:



Editor Gate CITY: To-day IL weather
il very cold and windy. This morning
found ice thrss-qu&rtszs Of IN iuch thick
in . wooden water bucket. Two days
ago We had heavy rain. Our principal
duty now Is grand guard around the picket
linesof our brigades. which is commanded
BY Brig. Gen. Alex. Chambers, late Col.
OF the 10th Iowa. Gen. Davies COM
mands our division, and Gen. McArthur |
the post of Vicksburg.
Gen. Crocker's division is out on Big |
Black.
A one-horse theatre 10 in full blast in
the city, holding forth nightly to crowded
houses, principally soldiers, who are ready
to 90 their "botton dollar" to s'see the
sights"
The niger regiments and batteries,
about nine in all, are doing fatigue duty
on the Notifications, which are not yet
completed, though they are nearly en-
ished, and can defy an assault from any
rebel force. IA
Forage is very ssarce, horses and mules
principally frustrating" on green cane
tops.
Major Gen. Mcpherson, commanding
the 18th Army Corps, to which We be-
long, has just issued an order directing
the Paymastsr to psy::off the veteran vol
uuteers who re-enlist in their old regi-
ments, after having served two years
their bounty includes the one hundred
dollars to which they are entitled after
two years service, making altogether Eve
hundred aud two dollars, one hundred
and seventy-fve Of which will be paid
down.
Burroughs, not to exceed seven to .
company. it is expected, viii be granted
to the veterans" many Of whom want
to 60 North to see their wives and sweet
hearts-principally the latter-for little
season, after which they will chang their
harps upon the willows and HE to the
wars again." Eight have already gone
in from my company; many others are 60
ing in As soon as they see the "green-
backs" while Others again only wait till
their two years is up to follow in the
wake.
Citizens subject to military duty loaf
ing about Vicksburg and the army are
being daily "gobbled up and impre sssd
into the service, much to our amuss-
ment.
We have no civil courts established vet
in the city. The army corps court-mar-
tlal has been adjourned, and a court
called in each division, which has not vet
fairly commenced work.
Targets have been erected in each brig
ade, at which the details coming of picket
duty each morning are practiced in firing.
the best marksman being excused from
his next tour Of guard duty.
Among the tragic iucdsnts which
have recently taken place, is the death of
one of Gen. Maltby's orderlies, who was
few days since knocked off the ton Of
the railroad cars on the route to Biz
Black River while the train was passing
through bridge. fell under the wheels,
was dragged several hundred yards, hor-
rlbly mangled and crushed to death. Two
"unbieached American soldiers have
also been killed. One went into an old
deserted powder magazine, on the floor Of
which large quantity of ammunition was
scattered, deliberately smoking cigar, /.
spark from which fell amongst the pow
der, igniting it, blew up the Magazine
and-in the language of oil reports Of
cavalry fights" scattered Mr.. niger in
all directions" Another being. s.inst;-
gated BY the Devil "a Chitty's Indict.
mens say. strollsd towards . powder
magazine guarded by = company from
our regiment, smoking q pipe, was or
dered three times to halt by the sentinel
on duty, to which he paid not the slight.
est attention, when he was treated 10 .
blue pllf' through his "bread- basket !"
which caused him TO expire Immediately
his Col. (of the 9Th Louis;ana) went to
the Captain to whose company the sem |
tlnel belonged and ordered him arrested
which the Captain declined doing, when |
the Colonel declared he would not have
been shot il be had not been a "niouer y
II You think SO. replied the Captain. Won
had better try that little experiment On
yourself.
A crowd of $50 rebel prisoners can
1ured at different points were sent up the
nver to Cairo under guard YESTERDAY.
whence they will be taken 10 some secura
prison.
Oar hrt0adA hes H..