The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1863-08-25
Army Correspondence.

lRoxToN, Missouri, Aug. II, 1868 !
Dear Friends ia ne 0Gee,--As Mr.
Beeeher says in his European let ers. -
Though just up from sick bed, where
have languished for more than three ! ng
months past, ! feel as though ought to
make some reply 10 the interesting talks
which the JOURNAL makes TO me from week
to week 1t must be now something eonsid-
erably more than half a year since you heard
from me, since which time have passed
over more than one thousand miles tina
spans the distance lying between us here and
the Rocky Mountains. and an illness which
yet enfeebles me, has kept me PROSTATE for
many weeks, and brought to my immediate
consideration matters Of more moment than
those pertaining to this world alone but
through His mercy who has watched over
me for many years heretofore, am still
spared, and am apparently eonyalesciug to
complete restoration
Our command, consisting Of a battalion of
five companies. belonging TO the 3D. regiment
Of Colorado Volunteers left Denver ty on
the 9th day Of March last, aud arrived at
Fort Layenworth, Kansas, on the 23rd Of
April, distance Of over six hundred miles
On the 2sth We were ordered to St. Louis,
thence TO Sulphur Springs, on the Missi, $
ppi, and from there to Pilot Knob, where
the command is now stopping awaiting fur
Their orders. Co. in the mean time has
made little excursion into Arkansas and
participated in tie copturc Of several humid
red guerrillas.
Pilot Knob is the headquarters Of the dis
uict Of South East Missouri, and the troops
there are under command Of Gen. c. b. Fisk,
Of ST. Louis. There is little of interest con-
nected with tbs military operations in and
around here, as it is nearly the same hum
drum life that attends o soldiers career in
time Of peace, except that an occasional scare
Of the citizens from plundering squad Of
bnshwhackers, sends out scouting party
that comes back in due time reporting "all
quiet. " Night before last the piekets we're
fired upon by party Of thieves, rebels
around seeking for their "rights, and one
Of them slightly wounded. In the morning
cavalry were securing the country for miles
in every direction, but with the usual result.
Pilot Knob is in this immediate vicinity, as
also Iron Mountain. The iron works con-
nected with the mines belonging to these
mountains are now run by government en-
poyees, the former proprietors having sus-
piciously left at the outbreak Of troubles
here, and Uncle Sam is kindly taking charge
Of their property during their absence, and
holds it ready to return to them when they
come home, and props their iogalty.
This whole region ofcouutry bears marks
Of the whitening blight that is sure to attend
the curse Of slave! y. Though it has been
settled all about here for a full half century,
in all that constitutes progress il is behind
the latest born Of the free States But in
the providence Of God, a new career is about
TO open before it; and as the black shadow
Of human bondage retreats before the bright
sun that is heralding the new day, pros
perity commensurate with the unequaled re-
sources Of the State, viii more than iesupply
the exhausted energies Ct Missouri and will
make her advancement in every feature Of
greatness, the marvel Of mankind.
All loyal men here are sanguine Of an ear
" termination Of this unhappy contest, if
our government will but put forth its ener-
gies at once to the task Of following up our
recent successes before its enemies shall he
able to recover from the terrible blows they
have received oflate in such rapid succession.
Granting them oil credit for the energy and
yalor they have exhibited In their unright-
eous cause, we know that they cannot achieve
impossbilities, and no amount Of "hate and
fury" can supply "the stream Of lifes ez-
hausted tide, and fail they must, sooner or
laieE God grant that the day be not far
distant
Having had nothing to say at the com
mencemeni, think | have succeeded in say
ing il. Hoping TO DO better next time, re-
main iill then, yours for the right
RQuIKnx