Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-01-29
OUR ARMY CORRESPONDENTS,
The 1lth Iowa Re.Enlisted.

OUR ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.
The 11th Iowa Re.Enlisted.
VlcKsBuRa, Miss, Jan. 7th, 1864.
EDITOR JOURNAL: AS the colored popula.
ton in this region would more forcibly than
elegantly express it, we shave been and gone
and done it," In other words, we have all
become veterans; or at least the larger por.
ton of US have.
Previous to last Sunday but little bad been
done for the veteran cause in this brigade,
and only very few in each regiment had
re-enlisted, although other regiments around
US had been actively engaged in the matter
for considerable time, and some of them had
already filled up the required number and
started home. But on Sunday the field cfi.
GERS of this brigade called their respective
regiments together, and directed their atten-
ton to the subject; and by appealing to their
patriotism, State pride and other important
considerations, they managed to get the
thing fairly started, which was all that was
required, and from that time the enrolment
rapidly progressed.
On Monday We were visited by General
Mcpherson, who gave US short, but very
good and appropriate, address.
Iowa has always been foremost in the war
when the country called for support, and we
resolved that, so far as we were concerned.
she should not now fall in the rear. We
rallied around the old flag when foes were
striving with strong and determined efforts
to trail it in the dust, and we are resolved
never to desert its standard until it is 20
firmly established on every foot of Southern
soil that no bastard traitors hand shall ever
again be raised to strike it down. We enlist.
ed to crush the rebellion, and we shall not
retire from the field with the work but half
completed. And aside from these considera.
tons, by bantering each other spirit of
emulation was excited between the different
regiments, which doubtless added a good
many to the list of veterans.
Enlistment still continued until Tuesday
evening, without obtaining sufficient mum.
Der to q low the regiment to 20 home as a
regiment. That was supposed to be the last
day, and all who had enlisted were anxious
to swell the number as large as possible, for,
laying aside all considerations of pride, ali
were 10Th to leave behind any of the brave
boys with whom they had daily associated
TOR more than two years, and with whom
they had stood shoulder to shoulder on more
than one hard-fought field. Therefore all
laoored hard to induce as many as possible to
enlist. In the evening, the regimental band
played patriotic airs, before the recruiting
Office, calling large crowd around it. The
excitement was running high. Cheer after
cheer rent the air, and which were answered
by ono after another of the other regiments
of the brigade, and the widest enthusiasm
prevailed. Many held back until the last
moment, determined not to 60; but when it
became evident that they would either have
to enl st or be left behind, to be assigned to
duty ia other regiments, of which they knew
nothing, they could not bear the thought of
seeing their cid and tried companions in
arms depart without them, and at last they
stepped up and took the oath.
But, in spite of all our efforts, we failed to
obtain the required number, as did the other
regiments of the brigade Gen. Mcpherson
set US all right, however, by extending the
time three days longer, and we have now got
our full number, and believe the other regi-
ments have, also.
So you may expect to see US amoag you
once more ere many days, or weeks at the
farlhest. 1t is thought that we will start as
soon as we can be mustered out of one ser.
vice and into the other, which will probably
take two or three weeks. Isuppose the whole
brigade will 20 up together, and we are
counting on one of the gayest times that has
ever been known in those parts, and we know
that our friends there will not be backward
in doing their part to make it so.
The officers of the 18th have promised to
send on in advance, and have the best dinner
that can be gotten up at the Burts House, in
Davenport, waiting for US when we get there.
If the re-enlistment has been as general as
we think it has, we believe the moral effect
on the rebellion, will be greater than that of
any victory that we have ever achieved on
the field of battle; for it will at once destroy
the hope which the rebels have cherished, Of
being able to gain decisive advantage at tho
time when the old troops were to leave the
field, and give place to new and inexperienced
ones.
l know that it will be great disappoint-
ment to our friends, who have been expect
ing US to come home in eight or nine months
to return no more to the field of strife, to
know that we may now have to remain three
years more, yet know that they will be
proud to hear that Iowa's sons have not be-
trayed the trust she reposed in them, but are
resolved to stand by their country so long as
she needs protecting arm. But We do not
believe that we will be required to serve three
years more, for we are all sanguine in the be-
lief that the war cannot last three years
longer.
As the secret Of my nome de plume has
leaked out at home, and AL here persist in
fastening it on me, it is no longer any object
to retain it; therefore. hoping soon to be with
you, am respectfully yours,
S. S. BozARrH, alias PAUL JONES,