The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1863-09-15

over 80 rods apart. Tie water is Sc
strongly alkaline as to be totally unfit fol
use, but by sinking wells few feet from
the shore. we made out to obtain a toer.
ably fair article. Not a living thing is
to be found in or upon its waters, rave
the gulls and Waterfowl that skim upon
It's surface no weeds except gree slime
Even the amphibious frogis extinct here.
Not a bush or tree by the shore, nothing
but the coarse rank grass, and here and
there clump of rushes. This lake, t1t
times, must be great resort for buffalo,
Judging from the wagon loads Of chips
that lie scattered around. We burn
buffalo chips iorfuel now, stogether,
and probably shall in the future, as we
DO not expect to see wood except semi
occasionally for many long march 10
come. The next day we passed over a
very broken, billy, wild and savage
country, the summit of the hills, espec-
ally being covered with boulders and
pebbles, and as destitute of vege tation as
the granite peaks of New England We
crossed the Sheyenne again that day al
most dry shod, very little water, and
what little there was, looking dirty and
uncomfortable. The valley looked cool
and pleasant, however, with plenty OIL
timber, all white elm, rather stunted
but yet quite large trees.
The lo,h we attempted to make Lake
Jessie, but, failed owing to the severe
rain storm, and camped at this place in
stead, leaving Lake Jessie some three
miles to our right Perhaps you will
say why don't the fellow give US
the points Of the compass, instead OF
saying right, left, right, left !; how can we
make out his locations ?" Well, Sir,
should be happy to do so, but unfortu-
nately do not carry The article, and as
for being guided by sun that rises in
the north, circles all about The heavens.
and sets somewhere up in the north
again, that is impossible. l do the best
can, and the country is troubled with
too much sameness 10 be very fastidious
about the locality. But here we are. and
here we intend 10 stay until the scouts
who are traversing the country all come
IN and Gen. Sibley makes up his mind
whether to advance or retreat. Our
men and animals can stand a vast
amount OF rest just now. The former are
doing well, very little sickness in the
brigade, and the boys are making up, in
card playing and story telling, what
they lack in the way of reading matter
was amused at short conversation
that took place short time since, be-
tween our worthy chaplain and a soldier
whom he WAS taking to task for some
peccadillo. card playing l think it was,
or 1t might have been profanity. Now
my man, says the Chaplain, "do YOU
think 1t would look well for me to 90 in
10 your tent or any other, and take up a
pack of cards and commence PLAYING
poker, or to rip out an oath occasional
ly when things did not 90 Just to sui,
me"' No returns the other, al hard
iy think it would" "Well Sir" pur-
sues the Chaplain, warming up with he
subject. and thinking he had got the
man in tight place, "can you show me
anything here,'' laying his hand upon
the bible, why you are not as account
able, and under as much obligation 10
obey the laws of God as l am in short
do you know of any reason why YOU
should not sci as, good an example, and
lead as upright and moral life, as II"
Yes, Sir,r.e," exclaimed the net,led
private, you are paid one hundred dol
lars month, and three rations per day
10 teach all these things, and TO observed
all these things. l receive thirteen dol. |
lars per month and one ration, and ifyou
expect to get all the christian graces for
fhdf price, you are terribly mistaken"
Was there anything more to be said ?
Did Lever tell you that we have guile
a menaserie OF birds and ANIMALS attach
ed to the 10th Reg't, principally under
the care OF DR.. Sheardowne, our reri
mental surgeon, and caught at different
times upon the route ? They are all
young, pretty. and would | could add,
playful, but love for the truth compels
me TO state that some are very stupid
and sallen, or else like the Irishman's
owl, keep up an immense amount of
thinking" First we have young elk,
spotted like fawn, and who calls con-
3tanny for his mama, in tones like that
Of young child next a grey wolf, an
Indian pup, a hawk, bittern. sand bill
crane, black coon, blue heron, a beauli.
nj ybite swan, aud last, but not least a