The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-03-09
THE GATE CITY.
WEDNESDAY. MARCH ..
AnnY cosR.sFeNDEnCR,
a visit % Berwick 0sasaons
Nsw O1iaANs, Feb. 30.

NA0AS - 0Ok WIZ OtoUAOAe
Nxw OsiaAss, Feb. 20.
FRIEND GATE 1T 10 we'll known to |
The readers Of the Gate City, and sspe-
oially those interested in the welfare Of
! he 10Th Iowa, that on the 2oth Of last
Septenber about $50 Of III reginsnt. to.
gether With the same number Of the s6th
Indiana and about IS of Coles let Mis-
souri, light artillery, we're surrounded and
captured BY the enemy. / was among
that number and although wounded was
taken prisoner With the rest. We made
a desperate resistance of one hour and :
half, but the enemy outnumbering us SIX
to one, We were compelled to surrender
after loss Of ID killed and 40 wounded.
The snemJ's loss was 81 killed and SO
wounded. Our entire force amounted to
only 5S5 men and two pieces of artillery,
while the enemy had 5000 men and 19.
field pieces. After our capture, 46i in
number, all who were able to travel we're
sent to Tyler, in Texas, 4 distance Of 400
miles, where they still we're at last ac-
counts. was sent to Alexandria with
the wounded rebels, where I was kept,
suffering many hardships until December
18th, when under superstition Of general
exchange / was sent with others to our
lines where We arrived December 25th.
Since that time, not being entirely able
to resume duty, l have been staying iu
this city, and wishing to take an excursion
by railroad determined to visit Bsr-
wick City, the present station of Lieut..
Col. s. B. Guernsey, 4th regiment en-
glneers. "Corps de Antique" You will
no doubt recognize in the Colonel An es-
teemed and valuable contributor to the
columns of your paper Accordingly on
the 18th inst. | started on the morning
train for Brsshear City, and passing
through Varied extent of country arrived
there at 4 P. IN. that day. Crossing the
bay TO Berwick City made my way
to the Coloners headquarters. and on my
arrival there found him inst the same
good natured. whole-sculed, jovial cor,
of fellow As when he only boosted of
"single bar" and was connected with the
Iowa 10Th, and bearing bis silver leaves
As gracefully and naturally as thousb be
had worn them for term of years. 1
also found several other Of mr. former
friends there, from whom | received =
most cordial welcome. Among them
Rev. D. Murphy, Chaplain of the 4sh
Engineers, formerly Chaplain of the 10Th
Iowa. also Dr. Lathrop. formerly Assistant
Surgeon in the 10Th Iowa. now head
Surgeon 4th engineers, and also mem
Der of Co. |. 10Th Iowa, Hospital Stewart,
4th engineers. After an exchange of
the news of the day, &c., the converse
ton naturally turned upon the affairs of
the Corps de Antique, and the Colonel
was fully sustained in his praise. of his
men by their department ant soIdierly
appearance. A person who had been for
merly acquainted with those sable sons of
the South would scarcely credit with what
aIacrlty they perform their evolutions
and the Improvement in their general ap.
pearsnce &c, &c. The Colonel ha. don.
much toward the improvement OF the men
by a mid yet strict discipline, and when
we take into consideration that it is not
lighting regiment in its organisat;ou.
having to perform manual labor from 7
A. NJ, and from p. NJ. until s p. NJ.
their perfection in drill which witnessed
on Sabbath afternoon, 18th met. would
have done credit to any of our white sol.
diers.
but while We are giving due praise to
the Colonel and his regiment We must not
forget the worthy Chaplain, with whom
no doubt many of the readers Of the Gate
City are personally acquainted and to
whom great deal of the efficiency of the
regiment is also attributable. He not
only makes himself useful a. a minister.
but also has established school for the
education Of the members of the rec;man.
and has already many of them tauub, tn
read and write to a considerable er,an,
The building used for school is a frame
one about lOo feet in length which il
also used for divine services and ia cana-
ole OF seating nearly the entire regiment.
US walls are adorned with Bible and
mon views. and everything is done BY
Tue Chaplain within his power to nd, ,,cs
s"e cause OF truth aud civilization. The
4.n engineers are at present, owing to Ii.
efhcieney of the Surgeons, in an eYcell.n.
sanitary condition. only sbme ten c.... :,
present IN the regimental bo.n;t.l ..a
every attention is given them no;.,hl. !.
times like these, and most Of ,bsm 49,
favorable symptoms for the futur. ~,
regiment il now epvaoad -