The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-08-19
Letter frem AN Exchanxed solaies
of the 10Th. 40

L.s.er rem an Ezchsnsed soi1.sr
Of the ls,h. 40
Editors of the Cots City:
+. DEAR SIRs:-Of the prisoners ex.
changed At Red River Landing on Jul,
22d, the 10Th Iowa formed conspicuous
part. some ITS enlisted men and eleven
officers being exchanged. iss
OF our disastrous engagement Of Sep
sember 49th, 1868, on Blyou Teche, sour
readers will no doubt recall .ll particulars.
will therefore not annoy them with .
repetition. As fast as captured, We were
sent to the Atehafalaya river, crossed
over and corraled q short distance f,om
the opposite bank. l. had been raining
slightly since tho evening OF September
18th, but now it actually poured down,
making it almost impossible to keep VI
nres, which were very desirable, as the
nightwas exceedingly cold. Our supply
OF clothing was very scant; many of shs
men were in their shirt sleeves, and come
without shoes Morning came, bu,
brought no relief. Our whole camp pre-
sented one bed Of mire, increasing durip,
the day, as it did not ceass raining until
after midnight ofthe 3esh.
% the morning of October LIST, bow
ever, the sun awoke US with all its spien
dor; its bright rays lvened the boys Il,
oheerfutness again. After hsviug par
taken OF some mush. prepared in everS
available Vessel, but mainly in Tin ours,
We started toward Aiexludria, marchin.
some twenty miles lhe FIRST day. T6s
road led mainly through swamps, and va.
exceedingly muddy, making it a hare
matter for many to keep up. On tn,
subsequent days marching was easier. ti,.
roads being in excellent travelling cond,-
ton. Ga The 9th of October we arrived
at Alexandria, and we're confined on the
second floor of the Court House. Along
the march from the Aichafala,a a. to Alex.
andrls, we we're greatly amused By the
many questions asked us by rebel soldiers
as We passed their camps, such as i
"Why don't you-uns all let we.uns
alone r :" Amt you-uns all tired Of this
war? - " What lay out do you-uns all be.
long to!" !" You.ns all going home
now z and hundreds of other questions
with the same you ms all" attached |
to them.
on October 7th We were started fo, |
Shreveport, and We were told that v. |
would be parolled there and sent acroe. !
to sicksburg. Our guards consist.a
Louisiana State Guards, aud ,hsy o.
US very decently. We reach, !. Sea,eo
ae' On the ~ II, and rece;vea go.
0''' until Monds.y. O. sunday
-"'ns vehicls loaded w::th candy made
Its appearance IN CAM, when one If the
guards caught the reins of the horse and
gave our boys. hint to "pi,ch in," which
taey did, cleaning out the wagon in
double quick time. Shortly afterwsrd
load OF melons shared the came fate,
Eassy7os Monday morniug we resumed
our journey toward Shreveport. We
passed through Pleasant Hdi about SIM
rise on the morning Of the I4th, and
reached Mansfield at o'clock the same
evening. As soon as We arrived in can .
the ladies and children, aud some man %
Mansfield paid Us visit. They treated
us very respectfully. and seemed to SYM
pa,hize with US in our condition. A Ger.
tain Colonel Alexander sent Us load Of
sweet potatoes and beef, but ii was taken
by the guards. On hearing this he sen,
another load, Which vas dals rseeis ed,
He said that he wssa Union man, aud
not afraid to own it. No doubt whep Our
army advanced it would destroy his prop
erty, but they wonid be ~slcome 70 il, As
oil be possessed he owed TO the Uuit. d
States Government. He was Colonel
during The Mexican war, and lost ! leg
il the service 80 asaR~ So
Ga the morning Of the 10th Of Oe,o-
Der We started out bright and early. ard
reached SHREVEPORT st three o'clock P. n.
Of the same day. A. We psssvd through
the city ue we're iusuilsd BY many Of lie
eitissss, calling usd-d Yante sons II
49,, piggsr thieves, d., bas - -
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