The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-05-25
From the Seth Iowa.
ST. CHARLES, ARKANSAS, Ma

ST. CHARLES, ARKANSAS, May 5.
DEAR BROTHER-As am idle at present
l thought l would write you few lines in
order to kill time, as I am somewhat lone
some. have my usual health, at least as
good as when was at home, but not SC
good as had in Texas. All the forces al
this place were paraded en- masse at ten o.
clock this morning, and prayer offered by
the Rev. Chaplain Hare, in:commemora-
ton of the death 6f our lamented Chief
Magistrate. We had thirteen guns fired al
day break this morning, and one every
half hour through the day, and at sun
down, will have 36 to close the ceremonies
on the occasion. t~Ai .. .
/ first heard of the death Of the President
at st. Louis, about sun up the next morn
ing. I never heard Of anything that made
me feel just as did on hearing that news.
l felt as though something was gone that
never could be replaced, or in other words,
vacancy made that could never be refill
ed, and on reflection don't believe it ever
will or can be filled by another of equal tai
ent or ability. I may be an extremist or
attach more worth to the man he is or was
entitled to, but don't think there is, or
ever has been i'm America since the landing
of the Pilgrims on Plymouth Rock, SO
great, so wise, so good a man as Abraham
Lincoln. Yes ABRAHAM LINCOLN! the
preserver and maintainer of the best Gov
eminent ever instituted under the sum-
George Washington was sufficient for the
day in which he lived, and is worthy of the
title Of "The Father of his Country He
was great man, and a good man, but
just as far behind Abraham Lincoln as the
day in which he lived, is behind the pres
ent day. I am a hard hearted, wicked
mortal, but as pen these words, the tear
in spite of my hard heart, steals from my
eyes, not merely for Abraham Lincoln but
for my country, for which my life is in
peril at the present time. Just to think
that the almost immortal man should be
struck down by the hand of foul assassin,
just as light was beginning to dawn from
the darkness Of the most gigantic rebellion
the world ever saw; when all eyes were
turned upon him, all hearts trusting in his
wisdom and sagacity for the restoration of
a lasting peace, and for reconstruction on
a sure basis, that would guarantee to us,
our natural rights, and the freedom of
We just learned last evening of the sur
render of Johnson and the capture and
death of the assassin, Booth. Our BOYS
sent forth shoat that made the forest ring
upon the reception of the news. We all
count on "a speedy termination of the war
the boys are all in good spirits, as it were
in the midst of grief.
Perhaps you would like to know how
this place is situated, and the number of
troops at this post. st. Charles is situated
on the west bank of White river, 81 miles
from its mouth is on high bluff bank,
slOping off to the west. 1t contained at
the commencement of the war, some 800
so said by citizens here, but
was burned to the ground by our men i'm
retaliation for firing into one of our trans
ports by the rebs, and then firing at our
men while trying to swim ashore. Our
regiment is camped on the bank, inside
the breastworks. Ours, the 126th Ills, the
LIST Penn, all that is left of them, $50 men
Ihe 9Th Kansas with about the same num-
Der as the LIST Pa, and one battery, compri-
SEES our entire strength. This post is COM