Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-02-26
From the s.h Iowa Cavalry.

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From the sah Iowa Cavalry.
St5efE A&l-E sat al bTBP-
CAMP OF THE Sra Iowa CAVALRY
Waverly, Tenn, Feb. II. I
FRIEND MAnIN Once more will let 20,
know that the 9Th Iowa is in the land of th'
living. .'%A
We marched from Nashville on the lst o
December, and after tedious march Of 81
good while," we came to anchor in this place
This guarding railroad is gay" and nc
mistake. The I'd Battalion, under command
of Maj Thompson, is at Camp Gillem, Popla,
Springs, about 80 miles from Nashville The
North and Northwest r. R. is completed to
that place. The Sd Battalion, under command
of Maj. Price, is stationed at Section 49,
about 40 miles from Nashville, where they
are doing the "heavy" guard duty, and pick.
ing up "growlers." The Battalion, i. g., the
tsstive Firsi "is right here" and the way we
make things howl is sometimes mysterious.
There are from one to three scouting parties
out all the time. and you ought to see the
traitors and bushwhackers they 'bag."
think since we started from Nashville we
have taken about 800 prisoners, and sent
them to the Capital, to be dealt with as their
conduct merits. But whether they get justice
or not, I am not prepared to say. Iguess not
S We have constructed huge "slockade,' -
cobla 80 f,yrosoh;nr Arhfivrp roov,n Gov E00
men, and If the rebs. in this vicinity ever
feel like giving us a fight, We can assure them
we will give them "a fair rattle" Wake,
snakes, and stand from under; we are just
"spilin' for muss," and the sooner they
commence to drive US poor degraded beings
from Humphries county, the better we will
like it. "Lay on, McDutfy." ,...-... ...
e. see by the Upton Advertiser that they
think VIM. H. Ives had rather hard time Of
it. That he and Harvey A. Bryant were cap
tured, is most true. The circumstances Of
their capture are these: Capt. Dance, of Co
K, was returning from a scout, and when
within about five miles of camp, Ives and
Bryant thought they would show their smart
ness, and stopped at a farm house to get
something to eat. When the Captain and his
men got out of sight, they mounted their
horses and started to catch up, but were
brought to rather an unceremonlous stand
still with four double-barreled shot guns lev.
eled at their heads. To about face was the
work of moment, and they were off for
parts unknown ''quicker n scat" Ives says
they were taken across the Tennessee River,
''but he is such fellow to joke, one hardly
knows how to take him." He says they
were taken out to be shot by band of drunk
en- growlers, on Christmas day. The word
was given to fire, and ihe gun that WAS in.
tended to give him 'sweet home" snapped
the cap, but failed to do any other damage,
and he started for "taller timber" amid .
volley of (oaths, / presume shot from the
enemy. He says he heard Bryant hollow
when he started, and / have no doubt he
1Bryant] was killed at least we have heard
nothing from him since. Ives did not seem
to be much fatigued when he was taken in by
Co. D, who were out on scout at the time Of
his escape. They took him along as guide,
as though he had not lost any flesh. He re-
ports that he was never used better in his life
than when in the hands Of the guerrillas.-
Plenty to eat, plenty of whisky, and good
place to sleep. What became of his clothing
'Thats what's the matter" Thereby hangs a
tale. Time may give US some account of his
escape, &C., and then I may be able to say
more on the subject. .o7 .,..- -e-.'. =.
Contracts have been let to number of
citizens to furnish ties to complete the North
and Northwest Railroad, and from present
appearances the road will be finished and in
running order by the first of August next.
As a general thing the regiment is in good
health and spirits, (not intoxicating spirits.)
There have been few cases Of small pox,
but mot enough to do any good" There
are no cases now in camp.
All, or nearly all the negroes in this vicin-
ity, have been employed by Uncle Sam, and l
can assure you the most of them are good
workers. and save the boys" a heap" of
fatigue duty.
Some time since company X received
package of papers from the Young Ladies'
Loyal League, of Muscatine. At meeting
held at "the Captains Office" on the 9th
instant, it was voted that the thanks of the
company be, and they are hereby, rendered
to said ladies', for their kind remembrance of
the soldier boys" We all sincerely hope
to receive similar favors from them when it
is convenient to do so. 1t is the first pack
age of anything to read' we have received
since we have been in the service, and their
kindness was no doubt duly appreciated by
the favored few" who had the good fortune
to be the recipients Of one or more papers.
Hereafter if-papers are sent to any particular
persons the fact ought to be stated, and then
common soldiers will not think they are enti-
tied to read and gain any information.
I am glad to notice the election Of my
friend, w. F. Davis, as Clerk of the State
Senate. "7hey might hacs gone farther and
fared ,ooyss" If he don't do his business in
good style, then am no Judge of warefare." !"
Yours for the Union, NIP.