The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1863-04-21
READERS OF THE GUARDIAN :

As many Of
you are interested in the movings and
doings Of the Iowa 9th, and especially
that of Go. @, | shall give you a few des.
ultory notes. 8" rs jf'
Our regiment has been quite active
since we came down to Vicksburg the
second time. 1t is always ready to take
part in the various duties that are bro't
about by the ever-changing circumstan
ces of war, be it building corduroy,
road, digging canals or "cut offs, I" or
VIVA, not. a9' a5i
The canal or "cut off - South of
Vicksburg, commenced last Summer,
was abandoned by our troops, but only
after spending much hard labor on it
The entire thing was planned on too
small scale. Several weeks ago new
"cut off" was projected, on grander
scale, and thousands Of men put to work
on it night and day The soldiers and
cortrabands worked like beavers, and
now the project is beginning to show its
feasibility. AT present several dredge
boats are finishing the work by deepen
ing and wilenins Tie channel. The
object of this cent off, is to afford a
transit for our transports to get below
the city of Vicksburg. so as to enable
our forces to get ioothold on the East
of Tie city. ab
The second cut off" or Yazoo Pass,
/ is only short distance below Helena.
1t is cut through a large levee that wa
thrown up years ago to prevent the riv
or, when at high water. from inundalng
the surrounding country. If his proves
success, it will enable our transports
to reach point within twenty miles Of
of the Vicksburg and jackson railroad.
BY gaining the railroad, tremendous
blow will be given to the Confederacy.
The third cut off - is between Lake
Providence and the Mississippi River
BY this canal, boats will be admitted
into Lake Providence and from this
lake they reach Bayou Macon, and AS
this bayou is connected with various
creeks, sloughs, and other waters. boats
can pass into Bayou Boeui, Texas River,
Onclchiia River, and Red River. BY
getting possession Of these waters, an
extensive river communication can be
intercepted, cutting off large supplies Of
various products, cattle &c, which are
now furnished the rebels from this source.
/ The system of "cut offs and canals
along the Mississippi River, their direct
and indirect bearing upon the Western
portion Of the Confederacy." its army
supplies, DC, is assuming considerable
magnitude. The whole project looks
very feasible, while nothing is seen. TO
the contrary. Should it prove a success,
as is anticipated by naval officers. the
city Of Vicksburg can be taken Without
firing a gun. Rumor has il that Haines'
/ Bluff was taken few DAYS ago by our
gan boats on the Yazoo River. | this
! is so, a very important decision was
made, namely that iron clad vessels
may be inyulnerable TO The fiery yomit
ings of land batteries. No more Of Ills.
But for the company | would say, on the
lth inst. We received orders TO be de-
tached from The Reg't TO act AS a pro
rost guard on the Steamer Henry Clay.
tOn The 18Th, the regiment was paid of.
This makes The boys teel considerably
better Green backs distributed occas
Iionally by the handful, infuses more
activity and cheerfulness into the sol.
diers, than plaaoons Of doctors and cart
loads OF medicine. Hurrah for more
green backs. And litlle more lager
beer This suggests one incident that
must relate ust before Capt. Wright
left, he wished to give some tangible ev-
lidence OF his regard for the members Of
company c, 50 two men were detailed, !
and after receiving Tie necessary nsIruc.
tons, and an adequate amount OF green
backs from the generous hand OF Inc
Captain, they started for the "boals, -
and soon returned with bali barrel Of
lager This was hustled into the Cap, !
tain's tent and nicely adjusted for "tap
ping OF course some preliminaries
had 10 be gone through with. fixing
faucet, giving vent. DC.
Lieut. i c. LiuIe and Orderly vii 4
bur were the managers. As every bod /
Us mouth was Watering for lager. be
coming activity was expected every
where. In trying 10 get the faucet 10
operate, owing 10 sioppage, tie shut
off, part OF the faucet was dropped. A fer
fixing and fuzzing liule. out comes Tie
lager with vim and impeuosity that
is indesrcibable, squirting and splashng
IN all directions. The managers. having
too nice a regard for the lager, could not
bear 10 see the waste, SO they tried TO
stop il by holding il in here and there.
and finally in The muss they succeeded
in getting everything right and lager tight.
The scene was Iaug hable, (afier the beer
WAS sale ILpv MARA .pp, nj .talv