The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1863-08-26
@ Letter from Lynn. p. McKinnie oi
the 2lst, not intended for publication.

the 2lst, not intended for publication.
!, CAMP IN vIckspURe, Aug. s, 1868.
COLONEL My mind has been up in you
mountain city this evening, and among tn
many immaginary friends it met, va
yourself got up, took drink, and con
cluded would send you few lines to le
you know that I was in the land of tn,
living.
This. l can assure you, has turned ou
to be very good place of business since
U. s. Grant and his boys, as he calls them
came here; there is no grass growing ir
the streets as was the case when we frs,
came in. The stores are beginning to oper
up,and in less than one month this place will
do more business than it ever did. The
people have all taken the oath and arc
willing to play quit.
This evening ! was up in town and met
an old friend of mine that has been here for
the last six years. He has tin-shop, and
made me the offer Of one.half interest in
the tools and shop If would 60 in with
him; but on going to Gen. Grant l found
out that l was soldier and there would be-
no chance for the as was now but if
would get my discharge, or a substitute,
that he would grant me permit and give
inc all the government work to do, which
would amount to good business of itself
but am tired down and will have to let i,
pass on, as cannot even get a furlough to
go hone on.
My friend, the timer, gave me copy o
the Citizen that was printed on the morn
ing Of the End Of July, the last issue OF
that paper before the surrender this is q
genuine copy.
There are great many getting sick. and
you canhear the death march andthe volleys
of nusketry firing over tho grave Of som,
poor soldier. We have not had the pleas
ure Of burying any Of our officers yet
when they get sick they can 60 up the riv.
er, and private has to 60 to the hospital
or -.
Col, do the boys ever take drink to the
health Of Us poor devils that are down here
in this hot place and no ice' If you dom,
it is time you commenced, and as often as
you drink, drink to the good old toast, zone
Flag, One Country, and swei glass ol
lager! !"
Well, here I must halt! The order has
just came to be ready to pack and start 70,
Natchez at q moments notice; they are
bound to send the 2lst il it takes the las,
man, and thank God there amt but 2O8 OF
us reported for duty; the balance are in the
ground, or in the hospital having the fesl,
taken off them before death claims his
right to interfere and make them His own.
Have the people Of Iowa no interest in
this matter. that they do not make arrange
mcnts to take their own sick home and not
let them die in this couatry away from
home? nine out Of ten that 60 to the hos
pital keep on to the graveyard, and all that
can be said to our officers does no good
Colonel, il you could have any influence
with the Governor, do SO, for Gods sake,
and your labors will be rewarded in heav.
en-. Talk to the people, get them mad on
the subject, and l think there can be some.
thing done yet.
Give my respects to all.
l expect the next place you hear from US
will be in Mobile Bay.
Direct to Vicksburg, 2lst Iowa, 18th
Army Corps. LIP. McK1xS1E.
Accompanying the above, we received a
four colun issue Of the Vicksburg Citizen,
dated July ID, 1863, and printed on the
white side Of very coarse woN.paper! 1t is
a great curiosity to lock at with gas
and defiance to the brim, with an occas-
sional touch Of sad humor. The Citizen
is quite readable and very suggestive of the
reverses Of life: to-day blowing over their
invincibility yielding to Fate
and U. S. Grant!
Mr.. Gates, Of Pleasant Ridge, also hand.
ed US copy of the Citizen, sent him by
his son JouN in the Vicksburg army. John
directed his father to look it over and hand
It to the TIMEs--a courtesy which makes
US indebted to him. We give, below, q
few paragraphs from this last No. of the
Citizen to show the 6rag that animated
them and the food that didn't:
I've lay before our readers in this
issue an account Of Lees brilliant and sue
cess(ul onslaughter upon the abolition
hords, and show, cen from their own rec.
ord, how our gallant boys of the cavalry
have feshed their swords to the hilt with
their vaunting foes, and how each musket
Of our infantry has told its fatal leadcn
tale.
To-day Maryland is ours, TO- morrow
Pennsylvania will be, and the next day
Ohio-now midway, like Mahommed's S
cOtin-will fall.
Success and glory to our armies! God
and right are with u.s."
1--WE are indebted to Major Gillespie
for steak Of Confederate beat alias meat.
We have tried it, and can assure our
friends that if it is rendered necessary,
they need have no seruples at eating the
meat. 1t is sweet, savory and tender, and
SO long as we have mule left We are salts
fed our soldiers will be content to subsist
on it. l-. .......
-"Porter is enjoying season Of rest,
and his men are doubtless obliged to him
for his kind consideration for their welfare.
On Tuesday he fired . few shells from his
parrots. and kept his Elen tolerably busy
sharpshooting across the river, with no
other result than might be expected. The
,nortars have not been used for nearly fol.
ty.eight hours. Poor fool. he might as
well give up the vain aspiration he enter
tainss Of capturing our city or cxtermina.s-
ing our people. and return to his master to