The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1864-02-02
Correspondence of the Guardian.
HEAD QRs. 27th Iowa, MEMPHIS, TENN.l
January 10Th, 1864. !

January 18th, 1864.
FRIEND RICH:
/ Ny long silence is occasioned only b.
the great dearth Of news. My last raj
down in date, to Christmas eve. Christ
mas was not spent, as we should hav
spent it at home. Many sleigh ride
and mirthful parties, appeared only il
memories of the past. Some OF the boy
were reported to have got high. and
patrol was sent out to gather in all VIII,
were to be found in the city.
On the eth, the rebel general For
rest was reported Swelling from Som
merville, Tenn, westward toward Mem
| phis, and on the goth, it was reported
that he fired into a train at Lafayette
Tenn. Serg't. Geo. E. Lang, Co., D, o
our regiment was in charge of the train
guard. From him l learn that the train
ran Immediately up to the depot and had
well nigh stopped, when Forests men,
who had at this time, remained in am.
bush, sprang up from their places ol
concealment, and fired. The conductor
at once, ran the train backward, our men
in the mean time pouring volley after
yolley, into the well filled rebel ranks,
and miraculously escaped, arriving safe
ly at Lagrange, Tenn. The conduct of
all aboard the train, was admirable, and
each soldier deserves the highest praise.
Only one of our men was wounded and
that, only flesh wound. Forrest FIVE
thousand strong, crossed then. The
matter was reported to Brig. Gen. Tut
tie, Commandant at Lagrange, but per-
haps not in time for him to successfully
meet the foe at that point.
Our men are yet being occasionally
called away on temporary detached SER
vice. On the Goth, Lieut.. j. w. Gran
ger, Co.. A, with thirty-three enlisted
men, was detailed as guard over pris-
oners at Alton, Illinois, and to.night, Co,
/, lst, 1t. John E. Peck, commanding,
is detaild TO report at M. and G. r. r.
Der rot, to Lieut.. Smith. A. A. @ M. at
Z a. m. to- morrow, as train guard to
Corinlh, Miss.
An assessment of $50 .65, has been
made against the regiment by Captain
Co., H, the officer appointed
for that purpose for damage upon the
property of Mr.. w. ]. Littlejohn. This
amount is stopped against each officer
and soldier, proportionate to pay proper.
For each Captain, 32cts; each first 1t.
26cts each End 1t. 94cts; each order.
ly, or first Sergeant, l0cts each Serg't
oscts each CorpI. or private. 07cts.
On the evening Of the 3lst, Decem.
ber. there was select party. at the
Gayoso House. 1t partook largely of
the militaire, and is reported to have
been brilliant success. On that last
evening of 1868, it was cold and windy.
What a year, 1863 has been to U.S.
How many noble ones, burning with
patriotism, battling for the safety Of
their homes and the honor Of their ma.
ton, have found final resting place
in the thrice hallowed graves, dug in
the wildernesses Of the South, this year.
When in the annals Of time, have nobler
sons, or ,ruer patriots. been found, than
those who have this year, carried the
flag OF the free in triumph amid the
clattering cars of war. Who shall ever
chronicle the events OF '63? Count up
the sorrows, and enumerate the pangs.-
Welcom '64. May the bloody page of
'63 be whitened by thine own hallowed
streamlets ofpeace.
Lieut.. II. G. Hemenway, has been re-
turned from duty, as A. A. A. G. Brig.
II. Q. and Captain w. P. Moore, assign.
ed 10 that position.
Several recruits have arrived for our
regiment from Davenport, Iowa. Co.,
H. has two, James w. Logan and Chas.
Kantz. Furloughs are being granted
in urgent cases. Quite a number Of
those who went home and whose time
has expired, have not yet reported; be-
ing, | presume, snow bound, in the cold
regions of the North. 1t has been quite
cold here. for few days past. though il.
is again pleasant now. Ctizeus say
that il was never know to be as cold in
this place before. Navigation above
here has been sn impossibility--ths riv-
er being frozen over or filed with ioe
A Lieut. and several men were frozen to
death while on duty at Fort Pillow, and
a number are said to have perished on
Presidents Island. little distance from
here. But il is warmer now, and we
hope that chill winter has passed beyond
the sunny South 10 pinob the foes