Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1863-03-23

Carr o. THs l6rH Iowa IN1AHrRY,
shore of Lake Providenee, Louisiana,
March 9th 1893


EptroRs DrMocRAr:-When l last
wrote yon, we were marching and
countermarching through the swamps
and over the hills OF Northern Mississip.
pi, almost daily expecting battle with
Prices army continually exposed to
the cold winter winds, storms Of snow
and sleet. and the gloominess OF hostile
skies. But now the scene 10 changed.
Here ali 10 enchantmeut. Above us are
the dark blue skics Of Louisiana, the cir
is redoleut with the perfume Of blos-
som., the breeze IL soft and soothing,
the trees are beginning to put forth
their "grsen gloIies," the lawns are
clothed in vcrdurc, the flowers are
,pringiny up around us, before Us hes
one 0, the sweetest lakes the eye ofman
ever delighted to dwell upon. snd to the
left, plainly visible, roll the flashing bill
lows OF the Father Of Waters. We are
camped on tho plantation Of rebel
Congressman; everything around us
denotes that taste and elegance once
made this theig abiding place, but the
desola,ion OF war already tegins to mar
its beauty. Fences are being consumed
for fuel, ou,.houses are being torn down
Tor lumber, hedges are beng gradually
torn away, the gardens arc being fact
despoIed, despite every effort TO ths
contrary, and where was oncc heard the
songs and laughter Of aristocrstic danes,
now sounds the monochrome tramp or
tho quick challenge Of the sentinel. The
proprietors arc fled, the slaves are now
in tho service Of tie government, and
before the war j. concluded the estate
viii have gone TO ruin.
Lake Pio,i lence 10 abont ~ wide a. tho
Mississippi. and j. fed BY tho backing up
OF wafer from the Red River. by way Of
tie Eayous Mason and Tensas the
point at which the Red River flows in 10
twenty-five miles above Bayou Sara,and
fry above Port Hudson the .ase has
little Or no tide, the shores are heavily
,i.hbered, and are bounded, as far A. the
eve can reach, by the white tents Of the
invaders.
As you arc no doubt aware, 4 canal
Is beng dug at this point, TO connect
the Mississippi with the lake, thereby
enabling our gunboats to pass into the
other waters, and operate agsinst the
rebels. The canal is very nearly finish
cd, AID there can be no doubt OF its sue.
cess, as the level OF the lake is N any feet
below that of the river, and the length
of the canal is not more than Lalf mile.
There are several divisions oampcd
here, and raid into Texas is much
talked Of, although prya,es have no
means Of knowing their destiny an hour
ahead. The canal was began by the ist
and 81 brigsdcs, Int will be flushed by
several hundred cor,rabsnds, who are
bow working daily upon il. The chief
labor contests IN cutting away two
massive levees ballt many years ago to
prevent the river from breaking over its
banks into the lake. which danger is in:-
mincnt in high water. Then SO eYcava.
ton one and half feet deep and forty
feet wide completes the enterprise.
The rainy season is not yet over, and
we have thunderstorms every few days,
The roar Of which would do honor TO
Corinth, and the lightnings would vic
with the flames o. iiades. Although
the sun is now pouring down its rays
With fiery Iervor, and the tents are idly
haFping IN the breeze. yet but Jester
day hsislcnes were falling as large as
hazeinuts.
A Circumstance occurred on dress pa
rade on the evening of tic 9th, which
might cast some undesirable reflections
on The loyalty Of the 10th Regiment, if it
remained unexpla ned. Alta meeting Of
the edcsrs OF our brigade, short t.me
ago, u series Of resolutions was drafted,
declaring the co, laest OF the South every
way possible, denounelrg The action Of
peace legislatures and peace men at
home approving Of the con.cripiion act,
applauding the proclamation, and sup
port ng other war measures. These res
buttons were submitted TO the scyera
regiments OF the brigade, on the evening
Of the 9th, aud adopted viii. !ouL cheers
10y ali bu. the l0th, which rejected them.
The otl y objection urged against them
was the Insertion OF tie Presldents Pro.
clsmation. which does not seem ID meet
with much approval, but had il been omit
ted, tho remainder would lave been
adopted unanimously. The members OF
tbs regiment are just as loys! IS those
Of any other in the service, nor DO thor
opinions on this matter Of public policy
argue the ieas, di.loyalty. The 10Th ha,
proved its loyalty in sigma manner on
the ssngninaIy fields Of Shiloh, loka and
CorlntL, and Is Is ready as ever to meet
the enemy. Already movements have
been made in number OF companies to
correct any false impressions which may
arise.
Tue Paymastcr has at last discovered
the whereabouts OF the 9th Division, and
has commenced paying GU, tso months