The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-10-10
From the Sth Iowa:
CAMP SHERMAN, Miss, Sc

occupies, and the condition it is now in
We are now camped on Bear Creek, near
Black River, where we have been ever
| since the return Of the army from Jackson.
This is very healthy situation, and our
Regiment now enjoys good health, not
withstanding there are a few cases of fever
and ague. But the yellow fever, so much
talked of in the North, has never yet made
least alarmed about it. We are in the
Third Brigade, Third Division of the Fiji
teenth Army Corps. This Brigade is an
Iowa Brigade, being composed of the Stb.
| 18th, and 35th. Our Colonel, James l..
Geddes, is now in command of the Bril-
gade, in the absence of Col. Wood of the
18th, who is home on ''leave of absence"
Our Division is commanded by Gen. Tut
tie, of whom / will say more before close.
We have now been in service a little over
two years, and those that are left, begin
to feel quite jubilant over the thought that
we have but the short space of one year to
serve till our time will be up. Our aggre-
gate number is now about five hundred
and twenty eight, of whom about three
hundred and fifty are for duty. This leads
to the natural conclusion that we have seen
some pretty hard service since we have
been out. The greater portion of our Reg
iment, after fighting all day and losing up
wards of two hundred of their nomber, had
the misfortune to be taken prisoners, on
the 9th of April, at the battle of Shiloh,
and suffered through long and weary
months, in loathsome Southern prison,
exposed to all the communicating diseases
of Southern climate, and where many of
of our brave fellows came to their untimely
end for the want of proper nourishment
and proper treatment. But in the course
of events deliverance came, and we were
released from our state of captivity, and
again, to our JOY and satisfaction, fully
armed and equipped for service, with the
blood of our brothers and associates who
suffered and died in prison, calling loudly
on US for revenge upon those who so will
lingly and maliciously inflicted upon US
their hellish designs.
We left ST, Louis last spring on the 9th
of April, Just one year from the time We
were taken prisoners, and come down the
river, and were assigned to Gen. Tuttle's
command. Since that time we have acted
our part in the great campaign about
Vicksburg. We have participated in both
battles of Jackson, the siege of Nicksburg,
and the fight at Brandon. In all these
engagements, although we have suffered
some, we were very lucky.
General futile has also been home on a
visit as you are well aware, but he has
returned. And as his name now appears
in public as candidate for Governor of
Iowa. in the election in of which we all feel
an interest, and deep interest, will give
you a few of my sentiments, which ] know
to be the sentiments of the whole Brigade,
with but few exceptions. Ever since the
outbreak of the rebellion, Gen. futile has
proven himself to be a true and patriotic
soldier. / have conversed with some from
the gallant Second, whom he led at the
charge upon Donelson, who say there was
none in the whole Regiment who were
more highly esteemed, either as Captain or
Colonel, than was Tuttle. And since we
have been under his command we have
had no occasion to doubt his ability. He
has always shown himself to be competent
for the position he occupies. But 1 must
say, that in his desire for fame he has taken
false step, and one that has plunged him
cial point of view, or, in other words, Tut
tie is politically dead. Laying aside the
good he has done, it might be said of him,
cit were better for him had he never been
born" His name is scarcely spoken, but
with scorn and contempt, throughout his
own division. There are few however,
and but few, who adhere TO him, more from
old party feeling, I am persuaded. than
anything else. l have heard both officers
and men denOunce him and the course he
has taken in most bitter terms. His plan
to gain the soldiers vote, by making
platform of his own, after accepting the
nomination on the Copperhead platform,
'front.' Wil here, I tell y0u. The course he
has taken won't bear inspection by the SOL
der. Yet I have no hesitation in saying,
that if Gen. Tuttle had come out on the
straight forward Union ticket he would
have received great many votes from
both parties where the other candidate
would not, and in all probability would
have been elected. But instead of this he
is spurned and rejected by those who were
his friends. Gen. Tuttle perhaps is good
man and means right, but he has got into
bad company, and suffered himself to be
led away, and consequently is but little
hot how, nft 10 No NV
in the world for whom the soldier enter
tains such perfect hatred as the Copper
heads. 1t would perfectly shock the finer
sensibilities of our Northern friends to
hear the oaths and imprecations that are
heaped up on their heads. An open armed
and have heard the boys say time and
again that they would rather shoot Cop
perhead any time than Secesh. They are
looked upon as traitors, and traitors of the
deepest dye, and should be treated as such
wherever found, North and South. Any
one who can be so contemptibly mean as
to oppose the Government which has pro-
tected him and under which he has lived
in peace and prosperity all his life is not
worthy Of a government, and the sooner
he is out of it the better. The Government
should protect none who are not willing to
protect her. The Copperheads have proven
themselves to be Rebels and traitors at
tied to our sympathy or protection than
those in the South. Therefore say, con-
fscate North as Well as South. Seize upon
the property of every man who is known
to be engaged in conspiracy against the
Government.
Some may think that am toosevere, but
l say what feel, and what l deem to be
right and proper, and what know to be
the feeling of the soldiers in general, and
especially from Iowa. Many are the threats
made against those who are firing on US
from the rear They had better take time
ly warning and ''fee from the wrath Of
the returning soldier. Veal expect some
day to return home, and then we will have
a chance to call and see those who are do
ing all in their power to oppose US, and
who say ''they hope We will never get
back" "Woe unto you, we COpperheads,
for if the men of the South had had the
warning you have had, they would have
repented long ago in dust and ashes."--
Therefore they shall rise up in judgment
against you, and condemn you, because