The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1864-02-03
From the Iowa 2lst.

SAhf of -lST IOWA,
Matagorda Bay, Texas, Jan. l, ga.
Another year has dropped out of the
clap of ages and rolled into eternity with
| all its joys and sorrows, and given place to
one that already shows the silver lining of
peace; and should our hopes be realized,
1854 viii he long remembered by those that
are in the field.
was invited this morning to make up
party to pay the last tribute due the Old
Year, and to be among the first to receive
| an introduction to the New. In accordance
with promises made, We all met at the APP
pointed place; after few remarks by the
President of the affair, as to the cause Of
the ass, mblage, We took our seats around
the tent, that we mi ght the better partake
OF the blessings that had been showcred
upon US by the Division Cummissary,
(countersigned by Major that is much re
spected,) IN the way of spritrous blessings,
and at 8, the canteen hau made its first de-
tour, Finding every thing lovely and the
goose hanging high" | will here state that
for the benefit Of some of the weaker ones
the whiskey was warmed and p, rtion of
condensed milk with sugar, was added to
take off the sting, but some Of US construed
the object in another way: that Of enabling
them to drink longer and more of it, Be-
that as it may, there is one thing id GER
tain, it don't take long to load up with this
mixture By 10, the canteen had made
over 90 rounds, finding every sentry at his
post, and all quiet within the lines: when
gentleman, q judged him to be one by his
remark: ''let's drink,'O informed us that
the hour was drawing near when Old EIGH
TEEN SIXTY THREE would have to take his
depar, u,e, and that We might in some way
enable him to get along faster by helping
him to pack his knapsack. Accordingly
committee was ordered to wait on the old
chum to offer our services, which were not
accepted, but we proceeded to inventory his
effects as he placed them in his knapsack
that it might be forwarded to Washington,
along wi, his final statement. The first
thing that was laid in with care, was Abra-
hams Proclamation to the Ephramites; the
next in order was photograph Of the ef,
iects Of said Proclamation ON one Of Aries
sons after taking it it had produced I'd
Lieuts. straps on his shoulders, and gave
| him very much the appearance Of a man,
but of a distant relation. Article No. 3
was a moving panorama of Banks Gum
Blanket Expedition against Texas. The
remark was made by one Of the party that
| there was a good many boys in the coun-
| try tina: he was going to that would recog
| niZe the most Of the scenes, and would aid
him in his efforts to make the people Of that
! region believe the story connected with the
! exhibition. The paintings were got up by
an artist Of unsulisd reputation who accom-
panied the expedition. The paintings are
made on shelter tents and gum blankets,
except the portrait of Brig. Gen. MICHAEL
KEARSEY LAWYER, which, on account Of its
being lie siZ., had to be painted on one Of
the large wagon covers, resembling the an
Gent picture Of Rip Vanwinklc on drunk
One Of the party remarked that when Law
Ter was commissioned Brgadier they mus,
have been looking for meat instead Of mi"d
a. thare i, a large predouiinance Of the for.
mcr in his COMPOUND. After taking last
lon /. look at his portrait and heartily with
,ng him safe in HI, the whole was care
fu ly Iai away as nice thing Next came
the different improvements in breech load
ing cannon with their different shot ant
she'll At length he came to Greek fir
shell; b. took it up and carefully examined
| ", FtbnlIpi5 Jaw ~ hc"u, bk, as
did so, that 'there VS. no need OF takin,
any Of them along as there was plenty o
fire where he was going" On hearing hin
, make this last remark, several of the part,
requested him to take few lines to thel
!, friends which were stopping there, whc
he said he would be happy to do, but "aI
: papers would have to be put up IN shec
/, iion envelopes" After few more pulls u
the canieen. he said tina, he wouId 20 dow
to the Sanitary Storehonse and fill his hay
y crsack for the march. but on his return hi
] face and haversack plainly indlcated tina
the fiji :crs had been there first, and tia
he must content himself with hard hreao
y lie showed box OF the best Bost,n biue
!. some of which were as hard as the tablet
0 that were handed doyn to Moses, all ,
!. which were in state of perfect prcserva