The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-08-22

the lcves TO camp. Here, mixed IN 3
confused mass, We slept, sat and es'' o'I II
and on graves. Graves under US anu ~"
around us. The men had receiver DO pay
for some months, and Suffers were co'-
stantly arriving in camp, telling she men
If the sufferngs of their families 81 nome
mil tbsy were wild with despair. Ii
scanned that everything was done or omit
ted 10 discourage and demoralize our for
ees
On the cd of May we took up the line
Of march, on the campaign proper, thro'
heat, rain, mud and dust, frequently with
out sleep for two days on stretch. The
road sides along our line of march were
lined with our dead and dying comrades,
who had sank down from sun stroke and
exhaustion. Often we were without wa
ter for whole day Sixteen days at one
time with only four days half rstions,
during which time we fought five battles,
dozen or more skirmishes and destroying
thirty miles of railroad. In the whole
time fseven months) beginning at the
22d OF December and ending Aug. 22l.
Grants army travelled by land and water
two thousand five hundred miles, des-
troyed one hundred and seventy five
miles of railroad, captured and destroyed
property amounting TO, say one hundred
million dollars; killed, wounded or cap
tured six,y.fye thousand rebels, besides
capturing three huHdred cannon and olie
hundred thousand stand of arms, with
! large quantities of ammunition. Duringthe
whole of the seven months We never pass
ed day without hearing the roar OF hos.
/ lilo cannon or mnsketry; no day passed
| in which we did not see the dead bodies
/ Of one or more of our comrades who died
of disease, or the mangled bodies OF the
! dead and diving from the battlefield. 10
Iali thiSlwhen it it would seem that fends
inearnate could add no further misery
add the reproaches, inuendocs, lying
charges and disnouraging appeals TO the
army, made by Northern sympathizers.
you have picture such as would cause
the demons in the darkess corners of des-
pair to yell with delight. God and our
selves alnna- kaaH- the G4tigae-ef- body
and anguish of mind we have endured. Ii
! is beyond the tongue or pen OF man to
describe Men were on the point of mu-
Tiny, they were crazed with their suffer.
lings, and the insidious wies of the COW.
ards aud kuases at the North who stole
the garb of Patriotism, crying, 20, yes
we are for sustaining The Government
but not the Administration" Can it be-
possible that such men liyey Is there no
cup of ruin and dcsola,iou for them?-
Must we drink the cup of affection TO lts
last dregs while they grow fat on The
gainsg Beware, mistaken menl beware
The widows prayers and tears ore not
1 forgotten 10 the court of Heaven. The
ofshan's tears are bottled against YOU
! The impreca,ions OF our fallen comrade,
did not die with them. Tremble 70,
your safety, and cease doing evil 70,
cannot retrieve the past, but for the SAX
of your poslerity do better in the future
While we were in our darkest hours W
were not entirely without hope. Patriot
ism and trust in God lent silver hnin:
TO the blacklist cloud OF despair. Attime
i seemed that the star Of hope had se
forever. but. anon, the clouds parted an,
were scattered 10 givo place to the bow G
promise, which lit up the whole sky. !
/, halo of dog. oas6e Ters,ih" XhatapHull
tear shed by our loved ones at home. :
! our kind and loving letters move us o,
TO seek new fields of usefulness. and stern
lntiexlbie patriotism bids US onward. It
YOU, at home. we still say, stand firm
Complete triumph is not lar distant. Gu
battle cry is STILL "Our God, our country
and our loved ones"
D. H. CLEspKstsd,