The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-03-26
q For the Gate City.
CAHp NEAR HELENA, ARK,
March Ia. ,63.

March Ia, %.
My last was written, / believe, from
camp near Memphis. Our stay there
might have been very pleasant--doubt-
less would have been--but for almost
constant rain. Whatever may be said Of
the ''soft patter Of the rain upon the
roof.'-there is very little poetry about
it, when the roof is canvas, and the pat
tering rain patters through. Our camp
ing ground there was beautifnl-abo Q
miles from the city-aIl around us taste
full residences, embosomed in natural
groves, whose beauty was enhanced by
the intermixture of evergreens and flow
ers. / have seen no city that in subur-
ban beauty excels Memp his. The dris-
cling rains, raw air, and intensely muddy
roads, prevented "a, however, from duly
approaching the charms Of scenery sur
rounding us and it was with no regret
that we received the order. to march to
Memphis, and embark for lower latitude
in Dixie.
We struck our tents the first day Of
Spriag--a most beautiful day-God's own
holy.day yet desecrated by march, the
necessity of which was wholly unapparent.
Our regiment, together with the 10th
Missouri, went, the same evening, on
board the transport Gladiator. Our feet
consisting of fourteen boats, moved of
from the levee on the evening of the Sd.
and the next morning found us below
Helena, blowing our way down the "F.
of w."
Our destination was supposed to be
Lake Providence--our business, canaling.
On the evening Of the 4.h, however, the
feet rounded to at Pixies Landing, about
80 miles above Lake Providence, and
perhaps 100 miles above Vicksburg.-
The country around, 30 far as explored,
was partially flooded, rendering it difficult
to find even suficiency of terra irma or
which to camp. Remained there until
the morning Of the 1th, when the Division
re-embarked and moved up the river
The night preceding. We had sample o.
the violence, and capability for mischief
of thunderstorm. Some half dozen O
tho boats, though each was secured BY
four heavy cables, were driven from their
| mooriAgs; and four of them. notwith-
standing their vast proportions and n,
swifthess of the current, were carried
4 quartering up the stream and almost up
on the further shore, before steam could
be got up. The huge cables were snap
ped asunder like threads. Altogether
1.-The roar Of the wind, the driving sheets
Of rain, the binding flashes Of lightning,
the crashing thunder, the alarm bells o.
the boats-made up scene that was in .
high degree exciting, and which those
who were on board will not soon forget
Sabbath evening We reached Helena,
and on Tuesday morning dsbarked on,
what is now at least. sandy island-on
one side. the Mississippi, on the other,
) Bayous, which cut us of from tho inlaad.
We are in hourly expectation Of an order
to rc-embark, and make trial of the va
zoo Pass. tits reported that Gen. Ross
forces have gone through, and are now
in the Yaxoo River. ats
| Rumor is current in camp taat our
troops have taken Yasoo City; but, as yet.
it lacks confirmation. Stirring times,
however, are anticipated very soon.
Advancing on Vicksburg by Yazoo
Pass is like drawing the sword and
throwing away the scabbard, as It is alto
gether too problematical whether the wa
ters of the Pass will continue, for apy
length Of time, Sufficiently deep'fUr the
return Of Transports We shall probably
be cut Of from communication above, ex-
cept Is We open up and hold the Yasoo
River. AZ revoir. w. w.
4 D0The Chicago Times calls President
i Lincoln a"blood sucker. Tho sditov,of
that detestable print ought TO ke lauaht
bv experience. that he is 4 ind-stnhnAv