The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-02-24
FROM ct. LOUIS.
BErroH BAHlAcKs.


St. Louis, No., Feb. Is, 1854.
This place is now what it has been, and |
Wilt while this war continses-a place
Of considerable importance and interest,
being the depot Of recruits, (whits and
colored) camp Of instruction and parole
camp. The 9th Iowa Cavalry il here yet
and is making fine progress, and drill I'M
der the management of Col. Trumbull.
This regiment now bids fair to add new
splendor to the already bright record Of
Iowa troops. The object, however, of
the greatest interest at this time, is the
organization of the troops of A. D., Il. 9.
all dark or all democratic as there are
many points in it intimately connected
with the emancipation Of slaves in Nilsson.
ri. Never having seen q description of
Brig. Gen. VIM. A. Pile, who has done as
much, ifnot more, to bring the system of en-
listing negroes in this State to efficiency,
than any other man, it may be well 10
speak of him before passing to the troops.
At the commencement of this war he was
an earnest Methodist preacher in the Mis-
souri, Conference. Hating the system
which gave rise to the rebellion, be con-
nected himself with the 1st Missouri In
fansry as Chaplain, under the amented
Lyon. His regiment participated in the
Camp Jackson affair and afterwards at
Bonneville and Wilson's Creek. At
Bonneville he, with detail of fifteen
men, took charge of the wounded, and in
his search for them, with four Of his de-
tail, captured t,centy-sir rebel prisoners,
besides gathering all the transportation
Gen. Lyon had when he left Bonneville.
After this affair the sobriquet of "Fight-
ing Chaplain was conferred upon him,
oy which name many of your readers have
heard of him. After the expiration Of
their three months service the LIST Mis-
souri, was reorganized as an artillery regi.
ment, where we next find him a veritable
fighting preacher, being Captain Of bat.
terry. His battery was engaged constantly
in the advance on Corinth, and was the
one so highly spoken of by Gen. Halleck
in his dispatch to the Secretary of War
as Pope's twenty pound parrots on the
left, the day before the evacuation of
Corinth. From this he was promoted to
the Lieut.. Colonelcy of the SD Missouri,
which served as heavy artillerists at
Helena He was soon promoted to the
Colonelcy of the regiment. aud had charge
OF all the artillery in the attack on Green
wood and Fort Pemberton, in the Yazoo
Pass. He was in charge of and built all
the Notifications at Helena except Fort
Curtis. With such record as Chaplain
and military man, be was placed in charge
OF the organization Of colored troops. In
social intercourse he is mild, affable and
Courteous; on Questions of principle he is
hrm and immovable as the hills, believing
In do'ng has duty, iearing consequences to
tie God of all. He has kind word and
an open hand for suffering humanity of
all colors or conditions. Determination
and lndomitable courage is stamped on
every feature. His perception and iudg-
ment is marked with a GOODNESS and per-
severance which has enabled him Ito see
far into and thwart the schemes of the
traitors of this State, even when hidden
beneath the plausible cloak of conserra-
f'sm. In short, the saying, 'sthe right
man in the right place. was never more
appropriately applied than when applied
t. Brig. Gen. Pile. Since the commence
ment of enlisting negroes, the Sd Arkan-
sas, LIST Iowa, LIST, ed and Sd Missouri,
have been completed with negroes from
this State with but few exceptions, and
the 4th is now commenced with fair pros.
poets Of filling very soon. When the on.
position which has been encountered ;s
taken into consideration, the enlistments
have been rapid. Rebel masters and con.
perheads in general are still resor,ino to
schemes to prevent enlistments, which
devils might we'll be ashamed of. Fo,
Instance, the wives and children of men
who have enlisted are shamefully beaten
and misused, evidently with the intention
to prevent others from enisting Patrols
are travelling through the slave district,
shooting and driving back those who are
trying to make their way 10 the recruit.
ing stations; and all manner of false rem.
reservations are made 10 relation to tbei,
pay and treatment.
Every day numbers of the poor unfor.
tunates come to the Office with their black
faces believed with tears, telling Of the
cruel treatment visited on their families
Think oft. Americans, in your boastines
OF your free institutions; you have sol,
diers IN the field fighting YOUR battles