The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1864-07-09
FORT RILEY CORRESPONDENCE.

FORT RILEY CORRESPONDENCE.
Fort RILEY, KANSAS. July 5, 1864. &
Msssrs. Blaksly & .4Mdrtin :-Thinking
perhaps few I" items of infornation frog
this Post would prove Of sufficient impor.
tance to insure its publication in your very
excellent journal, l therefore drop you the
following:
The Fourth" passed off here very
quietly, as no public demonstration was
made at the Post. Many of the people Of
the Post, both citizens and soldiers, went
to Junction City, Ogden, or Manhattan, to
participate with the citizens of those places
in celebrating the ever-gloriQus Fourth
day forever dear to all true and loyal
American citizens.
At present there is but few soldiers on
duty OF this Post-only small portion of
Capt. Malvin's company, H, 7th Iowa Cav.
airy. The greater portion of this company
are stationed at present at the Smoky Hill
Crossing, west Of Salina, and arc under
command of Lieut. Curtis Clarke. About
forty of L Co., 11th Kansas Cavalry, are
at this Post under command of I'd Lieut..
VIM. Booth. Capt. Henry Booth and Lieut..
Van Antwerp, with some forty-six men of
Co. l., are now on detached service at
Council Grove. Co. L has recently receiv-
ed part of their arms and equipments.
They are furnished with Starr breechload
ing carbine. These guns, from their ap-
pearance, will prove very effective weapon
for oovolrv sTbnso oro al tho orn,, 90 1,of
furnished this company, but they doubtless
will soon get their revolvers and sabres.
Capt. D. s. Malvin, of H Co., II. 7th
Iowa Cavalry, is in command of the Post.
The faithful, prompt and energetic manner
in which he discharges his several duties
gives universal satisfaction to all concerned,
and reflects honor upon his administrative
abilities.
1t may not be considered out of place in
this brief communication to give short
history of Co. II, and her officers.
The company was raised in Iowa in the
spring of 1868, and was mustered into SER
vice at Davenport, Iowa, July 18th, 1868.
The enlisted men are from nearly every
portion of Iowa, and with very few excep-
tions, are as fine set of young men as can
be brought forward from any State.
The Captain, D. S. MaIvin, was formerly
Captain of Co. X, 5th Iowa Infantry, and
as such has been in several hard fought
battles in the Southwest during this war.
He was with Gen. Fremont, at Springfield,
Mo-; with Gen, Pope at New Madrid and
Island No. 10; also, at the siege of Cor
inth; was with Gen. Rosecrans at the bat
ties of Iuka aud Corinth At Iuka his
company was nearly annihilated, and the
Captain was complimented by Col. (now
GeneraD Matbies, brigade and division
Capt. Malvin was afterwards Division
Quartermaster of the 7th Division, 18th
Army Corps, Army of the Tennessee, on
the staff of Gen. Quimby, of New York,
which position he resi- gned February 2Sth,
1863.
Co. H has been stationed at Fort Kear-
ney the past winter, from whence they
made successful change to this post in May
last.
The health of the garrison for several
months past has not been as good as usual.
Measles and the mumps have prevailed to
considerable extent for some time past, but
those diseases are now abating.
AS to political matters there is but little
said abont this Post, because politically we
are all about on one side-that is, for Lin.
coin, johnson and the Country. 1 really
don't believe there is Fremont man about
the Post. If there is, he is ashamed to
own it. As to Copperheads, they are a
reptile that is not permitted to dwell in
these Headquarters. OLD KENroN.