The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1863-05-14
Knowlens Iiantati m. La. Anil %

know'ens Piantati III, La, Apl 80
Mr.. Editor. !,
Having strol'cd over he plantation
and amused myselfin divers waysduring
til. forenoon, aimirihg the beautiful
scenery CT Louisiana, and comparing
The same With that Of unr own, and not
less beautiful state, Iowa my thoughts
naturally wandered back to the good
old times when our country was united
and when Southclncrs did not run and
hide at the approach Of y Yankee; and
while thus solloquizing, the thought
struck me that few lines in Your
columns from Go. Il. might not be I'm.
interesting TO some Of your readers. |
thereupon concluded to send YOU short
description Of our doings since leaving
Helena.
On the 10th Of April we bid farewell
to llelcna, and though no tears were
shed at our departure, yet it was hard
70 break the cndearin. ties {?) that
bound us TO that beautiful and lovely
little mud hole.
We sailed down tie river some FIVE
mil, aud tied up for the night. Here
we met with Go. G Of the 10th Regt,
and Capt. Ciark's Go. was also present,
making the rep esentat,ves from 'rama
Go. about two hundred strong. and \
general good time ensuei. On ,lc ! l,h
we again started down the river and on
the Eth landed at Millikens Bend, Ia,
fifteen miles above Vicksburr, shere
we pitched our tents and stayed until
the 18Th, when we we've ordered To
march. We struck tents and put them
on ho,rd the boats which were 10 run
the blockade at Nicksbnrg, and we
started on our first march,
Alter marchin. ab ut Il miles we ar
rived at little village called Richmond
and rested our weary limbs for the
night upon Il green meadow. From
this place We could hear heavy firing in
the direction Of Nicksburg. On the
-l6.h we marched nine miles to BENEFITS
Plantation and stayed there until the
2lst when ne again took up the line Of
march, reaching this place a distance
# ten niles about lhrce o'clock p. Nj.
We lad Just halted and stacked our
guas when tremendous rain storm
came. OH and gave us complete soak
ing.
The county over which we have
marched is one continuous chain Of
Plantations, furnishing rs with an ab
nn,lance Of provisions. There is no
end to lie number Of cattle, he gs, sheep
Nc., along this ROAD The rebels ncro
we'll prepared in these paris in the pro.
,isipn line for three wears to come, even
II they did not raise another crop.
Oar stay here will be but a few DAYS
~ lsioNt, VIZ ittc 0tlN IW.ltllN tib
construction Of bridge across a bay
and when finished we viii again start
on "nr journey I here are numerous
opinions in regard! to ctr destination
some think we will cross The river Is
." 80 miles below ckshury anil march
up 10 the rear Of that place for the pr,r.
pose Of cutting off The rebels retreat
towards .Jac kson, while others tI,ink we
are destined for Port Hudson.
The b,ys are I'll in good health and
excellent spirits. These nnahleto march
were lett Al Helena and Millkcns Band.
Co. +. has sixty mcr able for duty on
the march, while at Helena the number
seldom exceeded forty. All We ask is
to be led on to meet the enemy, and
when we do meet them, be assured that
the places that shall then know them
will know them no more forever.
w. n.