The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1864-01-27
OF the N. 4. Times.
CAMP 3RD Iowa INFANTRY,

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camp llebron-the very worst we have Gu
countered in the business. 1t derives its
distinction from small and isolated church
once standing here; but since the Yankees
have come into the country 1t has been
torn down, and converted by them into
sleeping hunks, boot jacks, checker-boards,
ana other shantle fixtures; and, alas ! there
now remains not enough of the modest and
goodly cdifice to make tooth pick. This
will appear like sacrilege; but it is said
that Guerrlilas were wont to make this a
place OF rendezvous, and subverted the
horse of worship to their unholy meetings
-henc, its destruction. We are ten miles
! east from Vicksburg, and about three from
the 4azoo river; obliged to carry water by
hand distance of nearly two miles-a
thick yellow mixture, drained over the hills
and settled in shallow mud -puddes in the
gullles and wash outs; this plentiful lack
of water renders it popular drink in the
reg lment, and almost too expensive to be
used for cooking and washing. The poor
citizens, inhabitants of this desolate local
tty, are forlorn looking people. Their
houses and plantations present sad pic
ture of the havoc Of War rails, not any
visible, and darkics, likewise. Government
rations are still issued to those who &C.
knowledge their loyalty to Uncle Sam, vet
there are some who would let their bowels
mortify with hunger rather than suffer their
pride to be humblcd in taking the pre-
scribed oath of allegiance. OF this class is
an old man, full of years and obstinacv, on
whose plantation we are encamped for
thirty years he has raised cotton on this
ground and reaped the benefits thereof, but
when Gen. Grant marched with his troops
IN the rear of Vicksburg this perverse old
man refused to place himself within the
pale of the Federal protection, and to re.
celve papers that would render himself and
property safe from damage Now he finds
himself ruined and beggared The Brig.
AIDE Commander and staff occupy the sit.
ting rooms, and in fact, the greater part of
his house his plantation is devastated, his
rails gone, and his niggers-aye, even to
his OK and his ass. We pity the men who
are thus deluded to such state of things,
and pray for a speedy retribution principal.
ly around the necks Of those political and
religious leaders who are its instigators.
Since last wrote you, like the ilustrious
FlEnegan, have been fiat and got thin
again" In other language, have had a
tour through the Confederacy to Richmond
Va, and like others who have tasted the
inhospitable fare Of Belle Island, come back
into our lines not resembling in any rartic
ular my gastric friends, Jack Falstaff or
Daddy Lambert. 1t was among nv mis-
fortunes to be captigated at jackson, last
summer, by lot of Breckenridge :aen Of
the ultra stripe, who resisted rather spirit
eddy an attempt by brigade Of our infant
ira a hot Al
morning, by giving us such terrific well |
come with grape and canister as we never
had seen before, resulting in the unneces.
sary slaughter of many. the repulse of the
brave and shattered brigade and the unfor-
tunate bagging of one hundred and four
prisoners, Among whom was your humble
servant. We all swore loud and deep at
the very unmilitary, not to say ungentle-
manly manner in which we had been gen
eraled into such scrape; and our captors
gave us pleasure in concurring with US by |
calling our General "Mitey big fool for
ordering charge with only 500 men against |
force of 4, 900 behind breast works." |
will pass lightly over my experience while
in durance vile. In the first place the SOL |
diers were very kind to US, and as soon as |
we were inside the works rushed to us with |
canteens of water-it was warm day |
anxious apparently to make themselves
agreeable in our unpleasant situation, and |
with nothing like snecrs or impairment |
questions. Shortly after we were taken to |
Ih if proroet H tssta io a., "; was =: bv ,Is
man we were officially robbed of our green. |
backs, gum blankets, and, shame be to him!
of our canteens After this interesting
procedure we were conducted by Lieut.. |
and file of men to the train en- route for |
Richmond. We were eight days making |
the trip, and although remember it as a |
tough one, yet 1t was not without little |
sprnkling Of pleasant associations For
instance, as we were changing cars at a
small town in Mississippi, and marching to
the station, brawny female with a snuff |
swab inserted in her mouth stepped sud- |
denly from the crowd of spectators assem-
bled on either side Of the road to witness |
the menager'e of live Yankees, placed her
self directly in front Of the column, put
her arms akimbo, and with most vnegary
and SARCASTIC Ihysiognomy let loose with |
"Oh! but you nasty, good. fer-nuthin',
sheep-stealin' Yanks, you've got it now,
blast We, haint ye!' AS may be guessed
this vituperative and very unteminine dem
onstration was answered on the part of the
boys, with boysterous hootings. and with
many not overgallant expressions, all Of
which served to eXasperate her to a fearful
state of effervescence and when one of
the boys yelled /" For Gods sake, somebody
spike that gun y her rage knew no utter
ance, and she darted at us with all the fury
of Wildcat, and | presume some of us
would have been badly scratched, cor one
thing or other" if the guards, who rellshed
the exhibition highly, had not interfered
and made her "Inove on" At Montgome-
ry, Ala. had the satisfaction of devour.
ing an ear Of corn frem the estate of Hon.
VIM L. Yancy. Though blush while |
write it, confiscated it from his darkey
who was peddling the same for the mode
rate sum of ten cents per ear. | acknowl-
edge the corn but was hungry 1t was
at this place disposed Of my pocket-knife
for So Southern money, and having an ex-
cellent appetite, augmented somewhat by
two days fasting, Immediately induced a
guard to accompany me to one of the
stands near by, and where had been in
formed chicken pies were to be obtained
for money. II would like to get chicken
pie, if you please" said to a female in at,
tendance at one of those establishments.
|aYaas," she replied, I've got two knes,
ones two dollars and tother one dolar'n
four bits they ar mtey slick pie-I know
what they ar for made EN- myself, and
chickens is mitey costive nova days, you
bet" Well, then" said I, "give me your
largest and best pie, quick" for was anx-
ious to. be enjoying its savory contents, and
| considered myself at tho moment equal to
any pie Of whatever size, that might be set
before me. Judge Of my disappointment,
may safely say my horror, in beholding,
] not Tie dear nhiect my imarina.inn had