The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1865-11-08
McGREGOR IOWA. WEDNESDAY, NOV. g. 1865

upon horse and mule meat, having been out o
rations for 10 days. UPON receipt of this in
formation, the General at once returned to Fl
Connor, with the intention of making anothe
raid, but gent with two stars upon eithe
shoulder, Gen. Dodge, had visited the Fort il
our absence and changed the programme en-
tirely.
Col . Cole and Walkers commands suffered
severely from want Of rations and clothing
and their commanding officers are censured 70,
their manner Of conducting the campaign
They also came upor village of Indians
(Sioux and Cheyennes) Of about 1000 to l5Ot
warriors, but instead of going down for them
the two commands returned up Powder River
the Indians following for several days and
worsting them at every pont-at least this i.
the general report Of the affair; but perhaps
when an investigation is made Of the campaign,
as there doubtless sciH be, the commanding
officers of the right and center columns of the
expedition will bel.able to show to "commit
tee" that "nobody was to blame" the "Indians
were of the friendly order," &c, &c, but the
men Of those commands fail to observe it in
that light. They are only soldiers, however,
and incapable Of telling the truth, and the
affair with the Arappahoes will be termed
another massacre, Gen. Connor brute, q
beast, &C.. by the intensely loyal, the Govern.
ment officials, traders and jealous officers of the
Sfor nrI~ =. L..
hope, when these fault.6nders, knaves. swim
dlers, yea thieues, who are bleeding the Gov.
ernment openly and above board in this section,
will be bp0nght to an account by these same
so diers. whom they have 20 shamefully treated
while under their command, and their society
stunned by all honest men. 1t is a notorious
fact that the majority Of the military officers
tvolunteer) of this region, are incompetent,
dishonest, corrupt, and Intriguing in every
possible way to remain in service after their
respective commands have been ordered mus.
tered out, in order that they may continue to
draw large salary for services never rendered
and "stealnss in," which amounts to no incon.
siderable sum to any commissioned officer. and
the majority Of them are nothing 10th to take
advantage Of the "stealings," ] assure you.-
There are exceptions, it 10 true, as regards
officers hereabouts, yet they are ytew and can
accomplish naught against their wire pulling
superior. The 7tl Cavalry, for instance, has
been ordered mustered out, so it is generally
understood, but by request of Col. Heath, or
Misrepresentation, or "schuldusgery" on his
part-most likely the latter, as you very well
know that he never did, since our residence in
North Iowa, (and we we're pioneers there.)
practice anything but political chicanery and
roguery--we are yet retained here. II cannot
believe that three years service in the army
has tended to reform him in any par:icular-in
Iscs If his csndpct Shile Acting Provost Mar.
[shMf General u mo Department of Kansas.
was closely examined, it would reveal the
worst kind Of black mailing. HEATH is fair
sample of the commissioned officers of the
regiment, with some exception; it has been
asserted, and am inclined to believe it, that
the regiment was organized by fraud and de-.
ception, and nothing but this has been practiced
toward the men composing it since that time.
But enough of this for the present. WAIT!
Col, you and JOHN should have been with
us during the late campaign; the sport enjoyed
by the command was huse-hunting, fishing,
exploring, &C., &c. Well, its no use for me
to try to give description, for cannot give
you the faintest idea Of the reality, or begin to
Go the subject justice. The greater portion OF
the country over which we travelled, was of
the most worthless characters continual reach
as far as the eye could see of sand and sage
brush, here and there The dry bed of stream.
few stunted cottonwoo1s, the grass dry and
withered, while away in the distance the snowy
range Of the Rocky Mountains wss seen.-
From Powder River to the Tongue. and return,
was pleasant. Game Of all kinds, from
grizzlie to jack rabbit. Not day passed but
buffalo. grzzlie, cinnamon or black bear, elk,
deer, antelope, grouse, sage hen, or fish OF
some kind, was brought to camp. All fear of
"Reds" were banished. and. though liberal
display Of buckskin was made by majority of
the command, especially upon the rear portion
Of their unmentionables, all were in the best
of spirits. The General was humane in his
treatment of the men, and all enjoyed the trip
to the utmost. The scenery. as you approach
ed the mountains, verged towards the sublime.
Huge ocks-clitfs-crags-gOr
perpetual snow-stalwart pincs-and all that.
causing fellow to feel trife chilly ut sight
OF snew in mid summer, if the effort to produce
sublime thoughts upon sight of such scenery,
was a failure! Sone of the Pawnees, failing
to be convinced Of the presence of snow At
that season Of the year, squandered several
hundred in greenbacks to ascertain the facts of
the case, and returaed wiser but poorer men,
.'fnancially, to the Pawnee House-ie e. their
village.
How long We are to remain at this dreary
out.ofthe.way place, know not; until the Sd
Of June next if our officers can succeed in do
ing so, expect, but am in hopes that Gov.
Stone, or Benton, will take our case in hand
and get US released from farther service this
tall. Capt. O'BIien has gone east on leave of
absence, and is most likely at McGregor ere
this Lieut. Brewer has ''passed in his chips" "
and his resignation will be accepted without
doubt. He is now absent on the South Platte,
leaving US alone with lst Scrgt. Brown in com.
mand. The Improvement in company affairs
is perceptible, even to recruits. within day or
two past. Brevet Maj. Gen. Wheaton is now
in command Of the District Of Nebraska, for.
mer'y District of the Plains, Gen. Cornor being
relieved and sent to Salt Lake to assume com.
mand there, Gen. Dodge having the general
command Of all. Headquarters in the Field
Gen. Cohnor has proven himself to be skillful
Indian fighter; as to his ability to run the mill.
tary machine over large extent of territory.
believe there are men better qualified than
he for that position. We may get down to-.
wards civilization when Gen. Wheaton returns