The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1864-10-19
Letter from, the 11st. EsFT Trr
OFFlcs 4 g. NJ, 2lsr Iowa INr.,

ST. CHARLES, ARK, Oct LIST.
Col After u protracted silence Of neal
~ six weeks, during which time you
servant has made several high and low
summersauln. but dnally lightingira good
easy position, with enough Of the a h nit
staire around to keep ones mind reireset
with the idea that he is still soldier Blu
the psinciple struggle ingwhich We are en-
gagged is the keeping track Of the loos'
mules, old wagons, together with clothing
camp and garrison equipages Of the rces
ment. In the meantime we have plenty o
leisure for reflection on our past, present
and future prospects, which oft times af
fords us many homs aof, sad merriment
with here and there dark spots, so thai
when the balance sheet Of this past life is
struck, it is in much the same fix the
IIoosier pork merchants books were ate,
forcing balance, "al paid in, all paid OUT
l will never tcll'you how or why we came
here, save that it was by steam, and what
We are to accomplish by this campaig, is
yet hidden in time, to guess at watch would
only submit ones self to tie probability 81
being sadly nurse d in, but as the thing d, .
velops itself | will from time to time keep
you posted as best can with true history
ofIur part in the crushing out Of this re-.
.bellion.
A description of this country would, l
nave no doubt, get the best writer in tie
army into trouble; his first appeal would
be for you not only to lend hin your ears
but your Imagination. and after borrowing
them he would start off through an almost
unbroken wilderness Of nearly eighty miles
without one ray Of civilization to light the
dreary wilds, and this, too, along the banks
OF the famed White River, a Stream that
lnomdts many winnings one would be led
90 THINK that when its bee was made they
had but little regard for straight lines, and
on your arriving at this place you would be
introduced to what is here termed a series
OF bluffs, but in fact they are nothing more
than gentle slopes Of about 20 feet above
nigh water mark, on the summit of which
Is erected what, in military circles, is term
Cd Fort, or earthwork, the shape Of which
- best gwen by breaking the right hand
corner of from loaf of hard brcai leaving
" with SIX points of defence; but in case o {
an attack It will serve very good purpose. |
much better than the open field.
ny this time you no doubt would be |
somewhat wearied and would REQUIRE food
and rest With all the hospitality of the
true soldier his haversack is opened and
you are invited to partake Of his frugal meal
furnished BY the hand Of some stay .a,.no,ne |.
favorite Of the Government who has stood
behind his Shoddy contract aud hallooea,
sStrike, till the last armed foe expires"
but at the same time cvnccs no disposition
e be shot all to pieces in order to save the
Union. Alter supper he prepares his hum.
Die couch which is soon made BY u,.buck
ling the bunch that he has been carving
on his back which gave him so much the
appearance Of beast Of burthen, and TAX.
ing therefrom what has once been U. $.
blanket, together with shelter tent which
in its first days was intended for canon,
but which has long since bcrn shreied hy
the winds; finding smooth place on the
ground, the aforementioned bedding is
spread out and you are invited in tie
plaintive wor,is Of the old Scotch Ballad
..Come lie down beside me,
yJn0 uuueF my p00Qle. ~#sA1s .& & e,
And kiss the bright moon as it dances in the cast,
Geastcars should be takes,,nats,au., i,e n,s.
take cold, as it lis 10 be- presumed y,h
would have been IN the saywy l. your he,a.ss
would have permitted: In the srsioririnE
you are. arou sed from your, sium5ers. b,
your friend the soldier, at tn, same time
giving you sound poke ip. the ribs, tell,rg
you that breakfast Is ready. besides he
wants to take care Of hi, hedlEg and Pre-
pare for the events of the day. You vii!
find no home cotEforts in making s0ui
toilet, nothing but the plain. unabrmget,rc
alities OF lite. After breakfast you take "A
stroll through the several camps and ON
every hand your imagination drinks in all
that Is beautiful, until after puzzling his and
your own brain with seven or eight sheets
Of foolscap paper with description OF same
beautiful bend in this mighty river, and
while you are all attention admiring his
studied thought at scription, he is proha-
bly, laughing to himself at the idea OF how
he has entranc d you with his lip salve.
and having got you away dawn here amid
the wilds Of Arkansas, he will leave you TO
get home as best you can at your own ex-
pense. So therefore have thought it best
not to deal in descriptions Of the cnustfS
through which we have been called TO pass
latterly, but would sim ply say that this
country is not in keeping with the descrip-
ton furnished US in Holy Writ as the one
intended for Gods people s.saoss
We are her now, and for aught know
will remain for some time. 1t is q dreary,
lonesome place, but for all that the rsgi
mcnt is getting along finely under the g,,d
ance and care Of Lieut. Col S. G. Van Aida,
who seems to be most at home when bis
men IS best cared for, and woe be,ide the
officer that cvinces a wanton neglect OF
dAtY in the way Of providing for his .ms,,s
TIE Colonel HISS been made to dryfhE
clothing around the log fires of adversely,
and now that he has got his corner squared
he proposes that the other corners Shall
come up at right angles from their base.
leaving. only those that are gone to be
rounded. so that our history, as a regiment,
when it is handed down to future genera.
tons, may show justice for ITS line aud
truth for its plummit -saass4 -aV+
The health Of the regiment is good as
could lie expected for this climate, Blu, we
all hope We may 60 down on the coast this
winter; We will suffer here from cold.
"a : With respects to all. 4 ID Il. ~ r..~-a~
!. ri. ~ LINE McKINNlext
The CoMIsG ELECTION. Every body IS
watching for the day when he can offer his
vote, and lay it down on the altar Of His
country, thereby expecting D gainl-his
choice and benefit the country. 1t is
everybody's duty to use the right Of SUI.
irsge, let his views be as they may. ard at
Tbs. same time iti>,hs, duty to buy hi. d, v
A., u