Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1863-09-25
FROM THE THIRTY-FIRST IOWA
Letter from Captain Speer.
CAMP SHERMAN, MISSISSIPPI,
Sent. 10th. A. ID. 1868,

" CAMP SHERMAN, MISSISSIPPI, |
. Sept 10th, A.. D.. 1868. I
MEssRs. II. A. & G. d. PERKINS return
ed to my regiment on the 1st day Of Sept,
| from Iowa, and was very sorry to learn that
William Barry and Chas. Lusch Of Co. B,
had died while was absent. We have ex,
cellent water for all purposes and our camps
are neat and clean, yet the 18th army corps
has suffered much during the month Of Au.
gust from aguo and intermittent fever. With
in few days l have seen many more newly
made graves on Black river than expected
to find. But there is much less sickness in
our division now than there was one week
ago, and feel confident that hereafter we
will enjoy better health. While we remain
here, whisky containing quinine and other
drugs will be issued to the soldiers of GEM
Sherman's corps every morning before break.
fast. Many hundreds Of the brave soldiers
from Iowa have suffered and died through
want Of -proper medical treatment. The Iowa
regiments have few good surgeons and q
great many others who draw surgeons pay
who have learned that Castor Oil will cause
man to do what Morphine or Tanin would
prevent in ordinary times. am of the opin
ion that the latter may have been skillful
physicians while at home and that their
minds have become so clouded by being con
tinually in contact with Confederate States
Diarrhea, that they cannot now see how to
treat other diseases properly.
If Gov. Kirkwood and the Governors OF
other States will commission only those sur.
geons, hereafter, who are skillful and ener.
getic and who use jellies, wines and other
delicacies in moderate quantities, they shall
have the prayers of many sick and wounded
soldiers. And hereafter it would be we'll for
all who may contribute delicacies for the use
Of the sick in our army hospitals, to send
only such articles as are known to be good
as nurses have lost much valuable time here.
tofore in tasting wines, jellies, etc, for the
purpose of ascertaining whether they had
been spoiled or not. Our excellent surgeon,
G. L. Carhart, is now absent on furlough and
our regiment has no surgeon reported for du.
ty. Thirty good surgeons sent to the Iowa
regiments at the present. time would be worth
more to the Government than thousand
conscripts. General Sherman has ordered
that Negroes shall serve hereafter in his corps
as cooks, transfers, etc., instead of enlisted
men. He has also ordered that weak regi.
ments shall be consolidated until further or.
ders, for tactical purposes. The 4th and 31s'
Iowa regiments have been consolidated under
said order.
A few days ago our brigade brought in SOC
bales of cotton from near Raymond. A large
portion of it was marked G.. S. A. From
present appearances, am Of the opinion that
our corps will perform picket duty, drill, and
repair railroads, until the first of November
No large bodies of the enemy ara near US al
the present time. Everything is quiet and
time drags A great many men Of the differ
ent regiments in the 18th army corps are be.
ing transferred to the invalid corps, for hos
pital duty, guard duty, etc. Thos. B. Ora
ham and Geo. Rawn Of Co. B, have beer
transferred to said corps. On the 7th inst
William Harter, James Pattee and Florizc