Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-01-25
From the First Cavalry.
PINE BLUFF, ARKANSAS,
Dac 2O;h 1862


The old year is fast winding up Its
mortal career. No turn of the key by |
old Father Time, or skillful adjustment
Of its works can possibly prolong its life
but one day more. Christmas has come
and gone and New Years Day will soon
usher in. 1864, and to the soldiers of
1861 twill be the year of Jubilee, as in
that year our term of service expires.
But l would not have you think that |
intimate that the First Indiana is tired
Of the service, and willing to quit at
any price or on any terms" In fact,
large portion of them had re-enlisted,
and two thirds of them would have done
so, if orders had not been received from
Gen. Steele politely informing US that he
could not spare us just now, and of
course no furloughs would be given at
present, which effectually stopped the
whole proceedings If we could have
been certain of from 80 to 60 days to 90
home and see our mothers, sisters, wives
and sweet hearts, many of US would have
been out for another three years cruise.
As it is, we will have to wait until our
time expires, and then. after rusticating
for a short time, if our services are still
needed, we will be ready to give Uncle
Samuel another lift. tF
We are trying to enjoy ourselves, and
came as near having old fashioned
Christmas dinners as we possibly could.
We sacceed more or less according to
circumstances, and generally less than
we wish in many cases. Il -.
However, while some sing "Hail &C.
lumbia,'' and others the q Girl left, be-
hind me- there are others again, who
not only sing but have actually, found
the "Girl that went before me" and are
now swimming in bliss and luxuriating
in all the happiness of q blissful honey
moon, and that, too, in Christmas times.
Caesars celebrated message II come, l
saw, I (was) conquered " is the motto
adopted by our HBold Soldier Boys, and
although he was, as matter of course,
treated to an old fashioned serenade by
the Boy-hoys, no harm was done, and
the bonds of Union are again strongly
eemented between portion at least oil
Indiana and Arkansas. So mote it be,
and may they live to see their children S
children rise up and call them blessed
On Christmas Eve the officers had a
ball, and Crlstmas night the privates
had theirs. A scout or two was out on thai
day, and from all accounts made, more
than one Christmas dinner suffer, much
to the disgust of the getters up of said
dinners. So you see we do what we car
to remind ourselves that these are Christ
mas times, or would be if we were only
up in Gods country.
Lieutenant Greathouse, ofcempany II
got in yesterday from three days scout
He was out on the Saline river He
had with him twenty men. While out he
heard of ball at which several rebe
soldiers were expected to be present
So taking five men with him he started
on foot, walked six miles through mud
and water and arrived at the house
about midnight. The lighted halls and
sounds of revelry and mirth within told
him he was on the right scent After
carefully accommodating the premises
around, he approached the house-his
little band divided-three coming up to
the back door and himself and two 9th
ers going to the front. Without stopping
to knock or wait for an invitation to en-
ter, revolver in hand he opened the door
and both astonished and surprised the
gay and festive crowd by the appearance
of Federal officer in their midst
"Good evening"" said the Lieutenant
chow do you all do. The company
when the Lieutenant entered, were all
standing up, each one with a cup OIL
wine in their right hand, Just in the act
of drinking a health to jeff Davis OF
somebody else, and Cor a minute were
completely paralyzed There they stood
some with the glass as they held it wher
the wine was poured out-some with tbs
glass half way to their lips, and some
with it Just touching their lips. Not an
atom did glass raise or fall
but motionless they stood and
gazed with mingled fear, surprise, hate
wonder and astonishment on the bold in
truderss The cheerful voice of the Lieu
tenant, as he uttered his greeting. broke
the spell. The rebel soldiers rising in
numbers were quickly made prisoners
Among them was a Captain who was
home on ten days furlough, which il
likely to be heightened out to an indef
mite period. Our heroes now concluded
it was their. time to sup, their long marcel
having made them hungry. The wine
was excellent, the women pretty, the Wand,
delicious, gand after an hours feasting
they returned to camp, and yesterday
brought the provisions safely in to the
post -
Major Weathers returned from scout
ing expedition this evening. He went
within eight miles of Arkansas Post
captured rebel captain and quarter
master and several privates.
The river is slowly rising. Boats are
running between this point and the Rock
although none have come up the river
as yet, but we are anxiously looking fol
them.
Tomorrow is muster day with US wher
we will again have two months more pay
due u.s. =.
Wishing you, Mr. Editor, happy. New
I ear, we will close by hoping that the
30th of December, 1864, will find u,
again in the old Hoosier State.
SPENCER CoUNTYr
Our Ship OF War on Lake Erie.
| Ru the farms of our tro,t,, ,,,;.l q.