Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-08-14
Letter from the 35th Regiment.
CAMP ON BLACK RIVER,

IN REAR OF VlCKSBURG, Aug. I'd.
At last the campaign isended, and the army
of the Tennessee, worn out by the hardships
it has undergone, is encamping on the banks
Of the Big Black preparatory to taking res
of couple of months. 1t is needless for mt
to recapitulate the results of this campaign
as the readers of the JOURNAL are fully alive
to their importance. Mississippi is conquer
ed, and the rebe lion in this locality, at least
is finished. From all can learn there is ;
strong disposition on the part of the natior
to return to its allegiance, and again " keeE
step to the music of the Union" No
that they view the Government with any
more affection than formerly-they are ye
bitter secessionists-but, $50 they express it.
whipped, ard what is the use of fighting
when man has got both of your thumbs in
his mouthv'
THE THlRTY-FIFTH.
Nothing has transpired in the Regiment
since We came into camp. The boys divide
their time between cooking, eating and sleep
ing, and make full hands at either Ripe
fruit in abundance abounds in this neighbor.
hood and as it cost nothing but the gathering
it is superduous to add that the boys have all
they wish.
The health of the Regiment is improving
rapidly in fact there are but few dangerously
sick, the most of those "off duty" being men
that have not yet recovered from the march.
MAJOR KEELER's DIFFICULTY.
As many rumors have made their way
home by this time in regard to this lamenta.
bic affair, it may not be out Of place to give
full explanation of the matter. The facts
are simply these: A cotton gin on the road
side was found to be on fire, and Gen Sher-
mai, investigating the matter, fastened" on
to the Thirty-Fifth. The Regiment was
drawn up in line, and Orderly Blank, of Co.
A. was arrested. As soon as Major Keller as.
certained the cause of Blanks arrest, he
rode up and informed the General that he
alone was responsible. He was Immediately
arrested and his shoulder straps and sword
taken away from him. A court martial was
ordered the next day, which, 1t is understood
fully and honorably acquitted him of all
blame.
The 'sword and the torch'' was under
stood to be the principle we were working
upon, and the fact that the first arrests for
arson should be made at this late day is GER
tainly astonishing. Gen. Sherman in his re-
marks to the regiment, however, said that
he had long been endeavoring to ascertain
the names Of those who were firing buildings
along our line of march, but until that time
had been unsuccessful. He has not yet, l
think, discovered those mostly engaged at the
business, as this cotton gin is certainly the
first building ever fred by any one connected
with the 35th.
The matter occasioned considerable
talk, not only in our regiment, BIT in the
whole brigade. The honorable acquittal Of
Major Keller by the court gives general sat-
siaction to ALPHABETICALLY in our regiment,
wh"re he is regarded as an excellent officer
and a gentleman-two qualities that men in
authority, in this part Of the country, do not
always enjoy.
GOING HOME.
Quite q number of the boys start home
this evening ON furloughs. Five per cent. OF
the army will be allowed thirty days in which
to visit their friends in the North. Not wish
ing to Tighten anybody, will conclude this
letter by advising those gentlemen in the
North who have stigmatized US as Lincoln
hirelings," &C., to think moment before they
tell the boys this to their faces. The late
drafting riots have not eetened the temper
of the soldiers to any great extent, and it i
barely possible, that, recolecting the hard
ships they have endured, while those abus-
ing them have been at home enjoying the
comforts of life, they might give their tradu-
GERS practical illustration Of the way Their
"southern brethren" are handled. In fact
make them see