Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-01-15
H9M Recruiting has cPregressed-
The Oraft NOT yet Ordered-Ltst
OF Alien ExNmptn.
DAVENPORT, Jan. 6, 1864.

| .t. .e., DAVENPokT, Jan. y, 1oV1.
| DEAR JouRNAE-I have not dared to write
you for fear that the snow blockade of the
Federal mails would make the contents Of my
letter old and valueless. We are at last in
communication with the outer world by the
way of Chicago, but when intercourse with
the inhabitants Of the inner, by the way Of
Grinnell, will be announced is extremely diff
ficult to imagine. Was there ever such q
storm since the West was populated by white
menP res " sA's
| 1t was rather amusing to see the persever-
ance Of snow bound travellers in the hotels
of the supposed "hub' Of the Universe. On
New Years day they sailed forth, and so
eager were they to 60 west, that they fell and
stepped upon each other in their struggles to
reach the car platform. After getting well
warmed, although the car had not moved an
inch, the good natured conductor politely In.
formed our anxious travellers that the train
would 60 no further. Nothing daunted, they
sailed forth again on Saturday, and having
taken pleasant ride of about five miles, re-
turned in time for supper. Sunday the thing
was bound to 20 off, and the passengers took
their seats as usual, proceeded to Walcot,
took dinner and returned in time for supper.
On Monday their forms again disappeared,
since which time nothing has been seen of
them. 1t is supposed that the through pas
sengers are safe in Iowa City and Muscatnr.
I trust my friend Marsh, Of W ashinston, will
arrive home in time to get his recruits into
camp under the next call of the President.
Notwithstanding the severity of the wealth
er, four men walked distance Of twenty
miles TO be enlisted under the banner of
Uncle Sam. Recruits have been quite nu-
merous the present week. The total number
mustered into service up to the present writ
iEg IS one hundred and thirty, of which num-
Der about twenty-three are credited to Musca-
tine county. These. added to the number
recruited by Gapts. Beach, Shrope and Pal
mer, will make a total Of about Thirty. Rather
4 small number for our patriotic county, but
might have been increased too, had not the
editor Of the Cou7ie' persisted in discourag-
ing enhstmcnts. ...... ...,
By telegrams from Washir gton it is prob
able that the time for enlisting recruits will
be extended to February 9th. For one I re-
gret it. If the time for veterans in the field
to re-enlist could be extended none would OBJ
ject. But the time for draft has fully come.
Our armies should be reinfoi ced by the able
bodied men Of the country, not from pecan
ia y considerations, but from an obligation of
duty. The draft should no longer be post
poned. The country needs men, and she can
have them if she will There is no good
reason for procrastination. If the men are
forthcoming by early spring the war can be
closed before the leaves of autumn fall. Speak
ing for myself and a host of others. I say let
there be no extension Of time for volunteer
ing but draft ordered at once.
Adjutant General Baker has about con-
cluded his annual report. With it he pro-
poses to publish list of all persons in the
State who claim exemption from military
duty on the ground of alienage. attach
he et5 list Of thess beautiful creatures who
claim home in Muscatine county and the
protection Of our laws when in limbo.
suggest that they be surrounded with black
lines, and the record BIZ preserved by every
reader Of your paper