The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-04-14
From Little Rock.

LITTLE Rock, ARK. March, %, 1864.
Editor Courier: - The stiffness of All inactive
winter has at last been broken, and our vic.
torious army--now tired Of waiting fors de
monstration on the part of the rebels, struck
tents this morning to assume the offensive
Only one short week has been employed in
fitting up for the spring campaign which
promises to be one Of interest-one that will
accomplish something.
1t H. generally understood ere, believe
that this Expedition will act in concert with
/ q movement up Red River, and probably a
demonstration from the direction Of Texas :;
il so it is not idle to predict that the gallant
Army of tie Frontier, with General Heron
at its head may assist in re administering
the solemn rites so heroically performed at
Prririe Grove, = little more than year ago.
Admit this to be the case and I'll wager
there won't be enough rebels left together to
conduct respectable retreat. which, hereto
fore, has always been their Forte" The
greatest obstacle with which the Cavalry has
to contend is the scarcity Of horses, as web
as forage AT least half the cavalry Divisi
on is dismounted, and that portion Of each
Regiment has been organized into "Foot
Battalion and will share the fortunes II the
Expedition 'a..o..E"3 " 'a
1t viii not be difficult to ina CINE their hu.
NOR this morning upon starting to march on
foot, and the friends at home have heard Of
the GOODNESS with which they INDUCED in a
little profanity; they must have readily co.,
cluded that our Chaplains were rather la x
in the performance of their duties, aud IL
Marmaduke would save his ridi: g stock,
would advise him not to come within range
Of this Brigade, for I am sure they wouldn't
stop te discuss the right of own ership.
Recruits continue to arrive daily in large
numbers, and from present indications all
the old regiments here will be filed to over.
flowing. The LIST Iowa already numbers
1900 men. and intend filing the companies
to 100 men each, which will leave full reg
linen, when the non veterans are mustered
out. t.a '55
Billy Caldwell arrived a few days ago
with As recruits for this Regt., and quite
number for other Regt sal! fine looking
soldiers. 1t was quite an amusing time
when they entered the eneampment; as they
passed the barracks they were saluted with
shouts of "Three Hundred Dollars and
bayonet at your back - And the boys gath
cred in crowds around them, with apparent.
~ as much curiosity as though they were
guests from the moon. Billy's friesds will
be happy to learn that he has been promo
ted, for every one knows that no ono merits
it more than he 7Htn ..a's caw
Matters in Arkansas begin to assume
quite settled condition. The election
passed off as peaceable as could be expected
and everything indicates speedy reorgan
ization of the State Government, which
with free constitution, and Governor MUIR
ply at its head, promises something Of in
interest in the future. Surely more
thorouguh and more fervcnt union loving
man could not have been found in this
State, or any other. He is now enjoying
the reward Of his firmness and patriotism
displayed at the convention that severed
Arkansas from the Union-and he it was
that piloted the Union army into Little
Rock.
An agency of the Treasury Dcpartm ent
has been established here to superintend the
confiscation of Rebel Property, and the
leasing of Government Plantations. The
latter promises to be one OF the most rcmun-
erative pursuits now within the reach Of the
Fortune Seeker. There is nothing to pre-
vent any man ofan ordinary business Ca
pacity and small capital from making
himself rich in very few years. A great
many citizen. and resigned army officers
are improving the golden opportunity,
1t may be Of importance to the friends
to know that the veterans Of the 1st Iowa.
will not be at home so soon as was antici-
pated, as they accompany the expedition
south. think however they will start
home as soon as they reach Red Bive,, IN.
less the boys presence should be absolute
ly necessary with respect:
aa.. y, 49, Al, G.