The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1865-09-06

Times Correspondsnes.-.Lst from
the James McGreSor Expedition.
NcsRAsxA CRY, Aug. 10th, 1865.
Eds. Tanes:-About o'clock P. NJ, on the
s7th of last month, after loading our baggage
wagon with the luxuries Of your city, we seat
ed ourselves in our spacious ambulance, fitted
up specially for comfort, and bade adieu to our
friends in McGaEoos. After riding = distance
Of about y miles. enjoying the scenery of the
surrounding country and trying our target-riaes
on the small game As We passed along, We dis.
covered that we had forgotten our lariat pins
At the Flanders House. We At once came to
. halt, and of course cast lots who should
mount the extra riding mule and 80 after them.
The lot fell upon L. T. vanderwerker, who in
double quick was vending his way towards
McGregor. We continued our jog towards
Elkader, the County Seat Of Clayton County,
making short halt in the village, shaking
hands with maay kind friends and getting some
information - to where we could best camp
for the night. We drove out of town about
one mile aod pitched our tent for the first time.
We felt the loss Of our absent companion, he
being on. of tho band. However, Robert en-.
tertained u very highly after supper with the
melodioas strains Of his superior violin. After
enjoying the music till . late hour. the beds
were made and all but one retired, he was
assigned 70 guard.duty, something We felt TO be
very necessary in these war times, some men
believing it their duty to appropriate everything
they wan, to their own use! In the morning
Of July soth, VAN. Joined Us in good season /;
We struck our tert and rolled on towards the
setting sun. Taylorsville. Fsyette County,
was the next village on our route. The face
Of the country between Elkader and Taylors.
vile was one continuous, beautiful, rolling
prairie, goodly portion Of which was under .
fair state Of cultivation. We were not particu.
lar a. to the distance We should travel, simply
consulting the capacity Of the motive power
that propelled us. We camped the second
night little vest Of Taylorsville. after having
taken our first lesson in crossing ono Of the
saVoSuS VI AVWoo "AASu was " w uaSouS
agreeable. Notwithstanding the muddy expe.
rience of the afternoon, our evening was spent
a. usual-"music by the band.'
After . good nights rest and = refreshing
breakfast, We proceeded on our journey towards
Independence, Buchanan County, the inter.
mediate country being rather low and wet
crops poorly titled, probably owing to the ex.
cessive rains. The next village Of any note
on our route was vinton, Benton County. 1,
is situated on the Cedar River, with surround
ing country somewhat varied, some of it being
very 6ne and some Of it poor, and but little oI
it under cultivation. Toledo, Tama County,
was the next point of note: this little village
is situated ON the Iowa River, it is also Rail
Road station, but our minds were 80 taken ur
with the muddy bottom of the Iowa River thai
we forgot to inquire the name of the Road
Here the country is beautiful beyond descrip
| ton, with more than usual amount of timber
for Iowa; owing, perhaps, to the refreshing in
1uence of the Iowa River; but notwithstanding
all its beauty and advantages, it is sparsel!
settled. Grinnell, Powsshiek County, was III,
next village on our route; it 10 also = Raj
Road station, the name Of which we did no
learn; the country very beautiful; considerabl,
settled but poorly titled. Newton, Jaspe
County, came next in order, with also a beauti
full surrounding country. DesMoines, til,
Capital Of the great State Of Iowa, came next
here We passed our second Sabbath. an
sorry to say We were not very favorably i'm
pressed with the business or moral aspects O
the Capital, although the farming interests o
the country adjacent are in . more fourishin.
condition than any We had seen. Monday
Aug. 7th. After mailing our letters, maxim,
. few purchases aud getting some repairs, a
10 o'clock A. NJ. We bade adieu to the Capital
Dalmanutha, Guthrie County, and Lewis, Cas-
County, were the next psints of note on ou
route.
The country all along from the Capital Il
thoee points, is truly beautiful and fertile, bu
sparsely settled and short of timber. The Las
point Of interest on our route through the grea
State Of Iowa, was Sidney, aourishing littl
village. within Is miles of the Missouri River
the County Seat of Fremont County, with
Court House costing $4,000. Here We wer
weather bound for days. but finally, as 20
see by this letter, We have been safely lande
on the peaceful shores of the Territory q
Nebraska. Nebraska City is probably one Q
the most business points west of Chicago. I,
population 10 fully seven thousand, and over i
millions Of dollars have been paid to freighter
within the past months; something over on
half Of it was for the Government.
Notwithstanding all the bad roads and il
element weather, our whole party have enjoy
ed themselves exceedingly well; perhaps non
Of u more 90 than JAMES McGREaoR, Jr. Hi
custom At home, as you we'll know, has bee
to carry cane, but he has long since laid tn.
aside. and participates a. cheeriully as boy
all the labors pertaining to the camp; he wi
even take . pail and step OF with the alacrit
Of . youth, for 80 or 80 rods and bring wate
or chop wood or anything else that he finds
do; all Of which anticipated before starting
having 20 often seen the effects Of the climat
and such trip on aged persons.
But what to mo is most interesting Of a
that pertains to the outfit, is to see with VII,
superior skill and ability J. N. Eddy, Esq
and L. T. Vanderwerker, Esq, perform a
the culinary labsrs Of the camp they hav
given entire satisfaction to all concerned, frol
the first meal up to the present date. Ou