The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-03-30
From the Sixty-Ninth.
CAMP NEAR INpIANoLA, CoAsT OF TEXAS,
February 23rd, 1864,


CAMP NEAR INDIANoLA, CoAsr OF TEXAS,
February 2srd, 1864,
EDITORS PALLADIUM Another Storm
has passed, and the heavens are again
quiet ..Old Sol' in all his glory is
shining brightly down upon US again.
causing the feathered songsters to sing
and shout for very joy. We have just
passed week of most terrible storming
not from the firing mouths Of rebel
guns but regular northerner, just such a
one as can be got up in this country. The
weather clerk must have slumbered on
his post-and while charmed and soothed
by fairy dreams, his prisoner has escaped,
and been on regular spree ever since,
hoping the gentleman's salary is snfiici
emily large to inspire him to keep more
wakeful in the future, we will try and ex
cuse him this time.
The camp of the Goth, is a splended
affair indeed, almost as solid as house
floor, and much cleaner than some | have
seen, it is formed entirely of shells, and
cannot possibly get muddy. This layer
of shells is to the depth of from four to
ten feet. Our boys procure water, by
diging wide ditch gradually getting
deeper until water is reached, and when
found in this way it, is quite salty, al
though from a half to three fourths of
mile from the coast. and would be consid
cred entirely unfit for any use, in q
christian land. The health of our men.
and in fact the entire army here, was
half dozen sick in the Goth Every one
is in fine spirits and enjoying themselves
hugely, plenty to eat, good clothes to
wear, and no prospect of any fighting
to do very soon, 1t is very common
thing to say, 1.-The boys are actually
spelling for fight not, zee think
we have seen a very large portion ofthe
aforesaid elephant, and are not caring
very much whether Tee have any more to
do in that particular line or not But if it
must be done the latch string is out and
the Goth boys will be found at home,
and prepared to receive visitors.
Too much praise cannot be said Of our
Regimental Surgeons. Drs Evans, Witt
and Monteith they are first class men
professionally as well as gentlemanly in
their every action. DR.. Evans, an ''old''
and time worn veteran, whose health has
been fast failing for months past, and
will 1 fear soon be compelled to quit the
service. He has labored long and hard
for the good of the Regiment, has done
his work nobly, is well liked by all, and
will be missed very much. 1st Assistant
Surgeon, N. B. Witt, will take the place;
he is surgeon of great practical expert
ence and one of the best in our army
corps, and perhaps in the department.
No better man could be found to fill this
position, he is liked by tn Regi
ment, and will give general satisfaction.
Indianola is or has been quite little
village of perhaps three to five thousand
but should think at least
one halfof them have removed from
where they now live 'Tis thought by
the curious ones that perhaps the pres
ent Rebellion may have Tad something
to do with the sudden evacuation of the
above mentioned homesteads, and as
the nearest timber is thirty miles off. the
is the wandering tribe will
not find many of their houses left, when
they feel disposed to take the oo.a, and
return to Abraham's bosom. and their
deserted homes.
Indianola and Port Lavacca, town of
the same size, fifteen miles farther up
the Bay, have been points of considera-
bic notoriety; perhaps the best ports
Of entry for vessels on the coast of
Texas. Indianola is the point that Gen.
Taylor landed his force at during the
Mexican campaign, and marched down
the coast to Brownsville, distance of
sixty miles.
There has been no plantations cult
vated near here either before or since the
war. Cattle has been the sole article Of
.rade. The country back from the coast
Tor distance of from thirty to sixty miles.
5 one vast prairie, not solitary tree or
fence is to be seen. Locking in alnos.
my direction upon this plane, ten thous
md head Of cattle will greet the eve at
one sight This will probably set some
Of the croakers to thinking who n<rsr
-osid see why Gen. Benks: wished to get
of the Texas coast. talk about
starving the South into terms with such
resources IS these have been to them
he idea was preposterous
The 1st and 3rd Brigades under com
nand of Brig Gen Fitz Henry Warren,
Eere few days ago sent to Port Lavacca.
u ,nArecounoissauce- We found where tha