The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1863-08-13
Fr. HALLEcx. CoLrMBus. KY, July 81. S3.

Nr. Adoerttser:-Perhaps it would be
of interest to your readfrs to hear oftte
whereabouts of the 18th Iowa once IL ore;
! for we have been so long inactive on &C.
count Of the slow process Of recognizing
and filling up our ranks, which had be-
come much reduced by casualties upon
the fields of Donelsou aud Shiloh, and the
fatal effects of long imprisonment in
the South that fecr we have had sufii-
cient time to entirely pass from notice
amidst the excitement caused by the
glorious news CT victories achieved b;
our armies.
Although we consider our regimen.
second to none in the field, yet By the
fortunes of war, we have been 50 placed
as to render US, for many months past, Of
but little use to the service. Bu, such
appears to be the inevitable fate Of all
regiments. They may deck for time in
radient colors, the gorgeous canopy of
military fsme, but by a single line from
the great impclling power of this grand
military machine, they are sent to garri-
son some post of minor Importance, there
to brood over their past renown and pres
ent obscurity.
During our present struggle for ma.
tional existence there has been the best
opportunity thrt has ever occurred in ou.
country for the development of talent, to
demonstrate the evanescencc of fame and
instability Of man. to Illustrate the oscil.
lating tendency of the masses of our pop
ulation, and also to show to what heigh;
a man may rise above himself aud all
around him, and again by adverse circum,
stances sink far beneath the common
level.
How often do we hear regiments laud-
ed to the skies fer some daring exploit
while engaged in battle, but soon to van.
ish as stars before the light of the morn
ing sun, when the act has "got cold' in
the minds of the people, and something
equally as daring has been performed by.
some other regiment, which is as it
should be--to grant to every regimen.
its meod" of praise for the part it takes
in this contest between liberty and des-
potlsm.
Our regiment has gained some little
notoricty-ycs, it has lowered nigh in
the zenith Of public praise for the par.
we have taken; but in accordance with
the inevitable law that althiues mutablo
are fraught with change, We have now
sunk down into comparative insicnif-
cance in this once boastcd "Gibralter Of
America,' but now obscure one horse
town of Columbus, noted for its muddy
and filthy streets, its macy dsloyal inhab.
itauts, aud for its frequent and grand
conards occasioncd by few of Forests
guerillas who continually prowl about in
the neighborhood and gobbIe up all the
cavalry scouts sent out TO take items with
regard to their numbers and whereabouts;
therefore. our small force is kept con-
stantly on the qui oire, to prevent their
making dash on the town, for they
might pc ssib'y acetroy some government
property 1t we did not keep on the alert:
but with regard to taking the fortifca.
tons, it could not be done by three times
the number Of rebels there are in this
neighborhood. But | think since Col
Hatch whipped them SO thoroughly at
jackson they will not trouble us much
more for the present, but 20 to somo
place not so well protected to carry on
their thieving designs.
Yesterday We were called upon to wit
ness sight which was, to most persons,
rather disagreeablc, and which should
deter any soldier who has ever witnessed
like scene from ever being guilty of
like otfense; the circumstances were these.
A corporal Of the sd Ind. deserted.
and was arrested in Arkansas, tried and
found guilty of the charge by general
court martial, and was sentenced to be
diseracefulIy discharged, to have his
cheverous torn off in presence of, and
marched out Of camp to the tune Of the
"roguc's march, between all the troops
here, who were drawn up on either side
in two ranks, and stood at "charcc bav.
onet;' he was then taken back to prison
to be sent to Alton, H., there to serve
out his time withou: pay.
The paymastcr was here yesterday and
issued to us our regular supply Of green
backs'-paying us up to the lst of July.
Co. G..