Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-09-04
OURARMY CORRESPONDENCE.

ScHoTIELD BARRACKS, ST.. LOUIS, Mo.

ScHoEIELD BARRACKS, ST.. LOUIS, Mo.,(
| August 2Sth, 1868.
DEAR JOURNAL :-Schofield Barracks, where
companies G and H are now quartered, are
used as the depot, or headquarters, for the
reception of deserters from the States of Hi
nos, Iowa, Missouri, and Kansas, as well as
| all deserters found in those States belonging
to reg ,ments of other States. $50.
Never day passes without bringing its
quota of recruits Of this class They are
kept here in what is known as Barracks
No. @" until they can be furnished with prop
er escort and transportation to their regiments,
where they are delivered over to the proper
authority for trial. Those belonging to the
army on the lower Mississippi are escorted
as far as Helena by details from the compa-
MES stationed here, to be forwarded from
thence to their regiments below. Such as
belong to regiments in Rosecrans' Depart
ment are in like manner sent to Nashville,
Tenn, while now and then squad is sent to
Washington. Nearly all manage to set up
some apparently very plausible excuse for
their conduct. Some quit because they could
not get pay regularly every Saturday night
some say they are paroled prisoners who
were at home waiting to be exchanged
some only took French furlough for few
days, intending to return; this, that and the
other excuse is offered, while some swear
roundly they never was soldier no how. =
This morning an Iowa chap who was brought
here with Government jeweiry on his ankles,
said he recolected of telling recruiting off
Ger year or two ago. that he would go in
his company, but the company all Jizsled out,
and he must be dragged all over creation and
part of st. Louis, because he once agreed to
90 soldering. He thought it was q little too
id bad, and if he only had that chap what
reported him to the Provost, wouldn't he
chaw him up though?
At least 400 deserters have been sent here
for transportation within the past two weeks.
Illinois sends the largest number. Iowa comes
next, Missouri next One George Hoser, of
the End Virginia cavalry, who was caught in
Illinois, reported himself as belonging to
Company Q, End Old Virginny Equestrians"
This morning at guard mounting, 1 saw
his Excellency, jeff Thompson, Brigader
General of "a thousand hills" He was quiz
city gazing down upon the stirring scene
from the second story ndow of Mcdowell S
College, corner of 9Th aud Gratiot streets,
otherwise known as Gratiot Street Prison, or
'Hotel de Gratiot."
jeff took rooms at this fashionable lodging
place night before last His coming was ex.
pected and measures were taken to receive
him in proper style. A squadron Of cavalry
accompanied him from the Iron Mountain
Depot. He was accompanied by several
members of his staff. The General is rather
a keen looking little chap, and seems to take
matters quite coOlly. Capt. Reuben Kay, his
Adiutanr, stood near him at the window, and
together they seemed to be taking the meas
ure of the stalwart Wisconsin Dutchmen
who were forming their guard on the pave
ment below them. They will find the lop
ears enough for them. jeff. and his party
were captured, as you are doubtless informed,
at Pocahontas, Ark, by attachments from
the End and Sd Missouri State Militia under
Col. Woodson. He will probably be sent to
Johnson's Island.
This evening the air is filed with rumors
that the 10th will 60 at once to Kansas The
Quantrel raid, no doubt, is the cause of this
move, if it really be intended. A week has
now elapsed since Quantrell left Lawrence,
and it is now just about time for us to start
out after him on foot 1t would be in exact
keeping with some of our former tramps.-
But wherever they send US we will try to give
good account of ourselves. We have had a
good time Of it here for as long time as we
were ever known to be still
Some Of our boys have been disposed to
congratulate themselves that their marching
days were over. All nonsense, boys; we
must stretch our two thousand miles 10 four
or five thousand yet. We can do it like a
MICE Yours, as ever, Ell. &.