Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-07-15
Correspondence Of the Nuscatine Journal
From the 44th Regiment.
CAMP NEAR MEMPHIS, 44rH REGIMENT
IOWA Infantry .IulY 1874 Z

| IOWA Infantry, July 5, 1854 J
There is little transporting since W,
wrote you last beyond the usual routine
of duty. A glance at the Chicago pa
pers has reconciled us to endure the CD
pressive heat-thermometer $50 in the
shade. Several cases of sun-stroke have
occurred, but only among troops on the
march.
The health of the 44th regiment i.
comparatively good, with decrease O.
late in the sick list. There are no dis.
eases OF dangerous or malignant char
acter, and the cases are mostly measels
Company B has but two upon the sick
llst-neither case serious. The tota
casualties and deaths since the Organi
cation Of this regiment, are:
Private James Watson, company H. died June
18th, in camp near Memphis.
prlvate Edmond Nutting company Z, died
June With, In camp near Memphis.
| PRIVATE Albert Reed, company l. wounded In
hand accidentally, (gun shot)
In hand accidentally, with an axe.)
Private Francis Drake, company c. died al
Camp Kinsman, Davenport.
Duty" gave us a pass to La Grange
few days since. Grand junction is
! now the terminus, as far as business is
concerned, of the C. e. NJ. r. r. The
ravages OF war are traceable from one
end of the road to the other; villages
burned and vacated, their blackened
chlmnles remaining as monuments
railroad depCts half in ruins. railroad
stock scattered here and there. half con.
cealed in rank weeds; switches torn up
steam engines, mill machinery, and in
fact everything that makes civilization,
Is nearly annihilated. Freight cars,
thrown aside, are used as officers quar-
ters or cook houses. Camps replace the
village; Notifications the depot; fences
are destroyed, plantations deserted and
lett to the weeds. In fact, there is a
death-like, sickening sensation creeps
over one, not rendered the less impress
sive by the recital Of 1.-THE Deserted
Village" or the biblical account of "the
last day." solemn as Sabbath funeral,
and rendered even more so by the bright,
blue sky and the sun rays reflected from
the clay banks, the yellow, cherries
earthworks. Contrabands, or the lower
| classes OF whites, sometimes make their
appearance, gawk, wonder and disap-
pear, while skulking guerrillas, hyena-
like, prowl through the woods at night,
lurking for the life of Union soldier.
Surely trip of fifty miles on this road
would make the most lukewarm Union
LIST swear vengeance against traitors.
There has been but little rebel demon
stration this side of Grand Junction.
There seems to be quite body of rebel
troops in that vicinity, but not enough
to make an advance. Some picket Skin
mishing has taken place of late in that
vicinity. The 45th and 10th Iowa regi-
ments are scattered along the railroad
without discrimination. We We're in
formed by some old soldiers that por-
ton OF the 100 days men had participa-
ted in quite lively encounter with the
rebels in connection with cavalry, and
were told in reply to INQUIRY, ''they
fought like the ID" The 35th is still
at La Grange, and the I'd Iowa cavalry
is in that direction.
The first apparent Sunday we have
had since leaving home was the 4th OF
July. During the day everything in
| camp was quiet A camp is poor place
for celebrations. The day was opened
by the roar OF cannon, and we are in
formed the Memphis militia, in connec-
ton with some societies, turned out and
paraded the streets of the city. The 44th
appreciated the anniversary, but made
no demonstration tillevening. Couldn't
find a copy Of the declaration in our vi
entity. In the evening the regiment
was drawnup, each man bearinga light
ed candle, using inverted bayOnets as
| sockets, and were paraded some distance
from camp into the city and returned
halting in front of the Colonels tent
The night was exceedingly dark, not q
breath of air stirring, hence it was fa-
| VOrable for hat kind Of an illumination
The procession was beautiful, the can
dies at distance resembling flaming
stars dancing through and through each
other like reflected stars in a ripping
sea. 1--WE are requested to state in pa
renthesis that company B, With three
string fiddle, brought up the rear. y
Short, patriotic, and sensible speeches
were made by Col. Henderson and 9th
ers, which were given much greater at
tention even than when ut home each
| listener, as civilian, stood close to his
| lady in white with her blue sash and
| sun-shade, under the maple. Several
! national and patriotic songs were sung
all joining in the chorus, when the men
quietly dispersed to their quarters, feel
| ing less guilty in thus commemorative
the glorious old Fourth, retire to enjoy
sweet dreams of the past, blue eyes and
| confectiOneries, and to awake with the
hope that ere long, upon any spot OF
| Southern soil, whether in the village OF
wilderness, we can peacefully cOngre-
gate, as citizens and friends, and have q
general old-fashioned Fourth of July,
where shouts both from the North and
the South will make the earth trembla
with cheers for the Union.
Respectfully, c. d. NJ.