Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-07-17
OUR ARMY CORRESPONDENCE,
In CAMp, NEAR BEAR CREEK 30 NILES L.
% rsa p,.1 IN REAR OF oVIcKsBURG, 81
....-.., cpl, ,.....,-., i, June 29th, 1862
CHANGE OF FRONT.

In CAMP, NEAR BEAR CREEK 20 NILES j.
yl rs7 p,3 IN REAR OF oVIcKsBURG, o.
II .,..-..- -, ,....,-.. -. %. June 29th, 1862
-,.... .-,,.;.-. CHANGE OF FRONT. ,....,. 81. .
For a week past our Division has occupied
a new position some distance in the rear
Vicksburg, thus changing the direction Of ou1
force from the front to the rear. The reasons
for this are obvious, when you learn that tht
redoubtable Johnston appears to have beer
warmed into life by fresh reinforcements, and
is said to be seriously contemplating active
operations. Indeed distinguished Genera
said yesterday that we might expect an at
tack within forty EIGHT hours. He has moi
come yet, however, though indications Of .
speedy movement on his part are numerous
The 35th holds the post Of honor in thi.
new line, being in the extreme front. The
boys are well prepared to give their old Jack
son friend warm reception, and that he will
find "Jordan a hard road to travel" is toler
ably certain. -g ''-'9--s s|
The present whereabouts of this rebel force
has not yet, believe, been definitely ascer.
tanned. For some time the other side of the
Black river -four or five miles away has been
their seat of operations, and few days since
party of the 4th Iowa cavalry was ambus
caded by . large force in the woods only a
couple of miles to the front. A severe fight
took place in which our boys got worsted.-
They at last succeeded in cutting their way
out with heavy loss. The 4th fought brave.
ly but were overpowered by the swarms OF
rebels that sprang up from all Sides How
any of them escaped is a mystery to me.
Our present camp is located in beautiful
grove, Just on the border of large planta-
tation. A spring near by furnishes excellent
water, and all in all it is camp worth fight.
ing for. Pigs, poultry, &C., abound on the
adjacent farm, and the surrounding woods
furnish splendid blackberries in inexhaustible
ground we have yet found, and seems quite
refreshing in comparison with the dusty camps
in the vicinity Of Vicksburg. -.
The boys are fixed up as though they in
tended to stay, and many fine article Of fur
niture has found its way hither from the
abandoned houses of the neighboring planters.
Sofas, tables and chairs, of the most costly
variety are plenty, and were not the life of a
soldier, from necessity, somewhat erratic in
its nature, we would bring up fine piano
from a house which, nobody owns, about a
mile from here.
A week ago paid visit to the 25th Iowa.
This regiment is on the extreme right, and
not more than seventy-fye yards from the
river. -.- .r.... .0,,.., .-..... ..r.,.--.. .-t
The wreck of the gunboat Cincinnati lays
against the bank about mile above. The
water has fallen so that her armament is Wis
ible. 1t is uninjured. A heavy earth-work
fort was being constructed on the bank of the
river in which it is intended to place her
guns. If the rebels cannot destroy this last
work before its completion, it will knock their
water batteries to pieces in short order. The
whole front of the city is also exposed to
view from this point A severe artillery fight
will take place there ere long, the result of
which will be very important 1 fT
CONCERNING THE Both. f"-as1 -H
The health of the regiment is not improving
very fast-camp diseases prevailing to la
mentable extent. There is something radical
ly wrong in the medical department. A
scarcity of medicines and doctors-somewha
singular in consideration of the plenty that
abounds elsewhere. 1t cannot be expected
that one physician can attend to regiment
himself, and l am at loss to imagine why so
much work from one individual should be de-
manded. Where the blame should be laid l
cannot say, and will not endeavor to fasten it
upon any particular person. It seems to be
one of those occurrences which, though it
may be deplored, cannot be improved at pre-
present. The regiment only report 400 men
for duty. 6" - biz -E-
am very much panied and mortified at the
disreputable and slanderous stories concerning
certain officers in our regiment that have found
their way home. There is little or no truth
in them, and the man who was instrumental
in their circulation has nothing to boast Of
The matter has gone so far already that an
investigation must and will take place, when
we shall see what we shall see. No want of
confidence III the regiment or its officers ex-
lists in headquarters, as it now occupies the
most RESPONSIBLE position in the Division, and
the advance of the whole force is under the
immediate command of the commander of
the 35th. If the regiment was in the condi-
tion represented, the compliment of an hon.
orab'e and important position would have
hardly been paid it by the powers that be.
.. THE ,11TH AND 10TH .,i
Are also in this part of the country, being
about two miles and a half in our rear There
is nothing new in their camp. The health of
their men is much better than that of the 35th,
a fact suppose that may be attributable to
their having long been aceimated.
CAMP ITEMS. -e
In noticing the changes among officers last
week, neglected, inadvertently, to notice
the promotion of Oroerly Sergeant Jerome
Mccormick, of company E. He is now act
ing Second Lieutenant Oice Anson resigned
| take more than ordinary pleasure in chron-
icling this stroke of good; fortune for this
gentleman, as he has unquestionably earned
it. He is immensely popular with his COM
pany. - 1fa
Lieut.. Myers, of company G, is now in
command of company E, Capt. Doran not
having been heard from for some time. First
Lieut.. Kennedy is still acting Quartermaster
at Island Number Ten f''E-
Whicher, our energetic sutler, sticks to the
regiment with devotion worthy of all praise.
He has established his ranch right up with
us, being, I guess, about the only sutler in
this part of the army. His courage and per-
severance pleases the boys, and they patron
ize him algely. & .5.E
private corps" has been organized in
the regiment, under the charge of Serg't.
Phillips. The nature of their duties has not
transpired yet, believe ,@ Lsa sdj
A company Of sharpshooters is soon to be
organized, learn. This is good movement
and one that has long been needed in our reg.
iment In this wooden country such a corps
can be made eminently useful ***
List of Deceased Iowa Soldiers
Who have died in Hospitals at St. Louis. NO. from
July to g. 1858. Furnished by Thos. W. J. Long
State Sanitary Agent at st. Louis. Mo. u : '
July 2, VIM. Rambin, CO. H, Seth, Chron Diarrbes
+ 4 Walker, CO. D, 24th Fiux Diarrhea