Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1865-02-11
For the Sioux City Register.
HOW THE MAJOR GOT IN JAIL.
HOW HE GOT HIS CLOTAlN(s--
AND HOW HE GOT OFT AGAIN.

FRIEND FRENZY Being released from
my incarceration" in Libby" alias
" Blue Eagle" alias Sioux City Jail, but
what would be deuon,inated amongst re.
fined soldiers as " Guard House." / think
few words Of e1plana.ion are due, not
only for my own bene6. but also for those
who "incarcerated' me. The following
letters will, perhaps, throw some light on
the subject:-
"S1ovx Cry. Iowa, Feb /, 1865.
To Lieut.. Co.. Iattee, Commanding
Ios!, Siour City, Iora: Colonel-A An,ici>
pa'ing that you contemplate sending me
to IN, Company in few days, take the
l.bs,ty to say that in the summer season
it would be no very difficult. task for
man to ride in q covered vehicle one hun.
dred and Fifty miles clad in a shirt and
blanket, but at this inclement season Of
the year, when the thermometer ranges
from l2' above to 90 below nothing, | do
not feel equal to the emergency in ex'
posing myself to the piercing blasts with
so scanty a wardrobe.
II have drawn no clothing, excep. a
few articles Of under -c'o'hing. since let,
Dubuque las. April, and consequently one
shirt is all the clothing that can boast Of
having obtained from Government.
Since landing here have made re-
peatrd applications for clothing, but fail
ed. applied at The time my Company
did, and authorized friend TO draw mite
when it reached camp and send i, TO me-
but if it was drawn i, was issued to tie
men Of the Company.
81 applied to Lieut. Rutan, who inform.
ed me that in order to get it must have
my descriptive Roll Immediately wrote
to Captain Cooper for it. Thus went in
NY rags, no. pair of drawers, or sock
to my feet, my boots tied together with
strings, until the first severe cold weather,
when ! fr' ze my feet iu going to and from
NY meals, aud from the effects Of which
am still suffering.
IL then applied to Mr. Gross, Chief
Clerk in the q. NJ. Department, stating
the circumstances OF my being LEFT here,
who Informed me that Lieut.. Rutan could
easily arrange it SO that could get cloth
ing. | saw the Lieutenant and made him
| acquainted with wha, Mr. Gross had told
me, but he said it could not be done with
out my descriptive Roll
II then addressed q second letter to
Captain Cooper. as be did not answer my
first, asking for my descriptive Roll,
stating to him that l was suffering for
clothing aud could get none without it,
At about the time Sergeant LELAND came
down. received reply from the Captain
which is as follows
"a Descriptive List will not be given
you unless specially ordered.
Soldiers absent with leave are not en-
titled to Descriptive List Respectfully
yours, I. H. COOPER,
Cap. Co. "k.'' 7th Iowa Cavalry"
"Anew feature in Army Regulations Of
which was totally ignorant One says
must have = Descriptive Roll, and the
other says am no, entitled to it, and be.
tween them both = lellow would stand q
pretty good chance Of freezing mos, essen
tally. Hence l was compelled 10 purchase
some clothing ION .ime), and for which
reason you see me clad IN citizens clothes,
and nol to put on "style' a. many might
suppose, ard this il the reason Of my not
making Connection on the morning
was ordered to report to my Company
| a friend Of mine went TO his boarding
house for some drawers, shirts and socks
for me, but did not get back till the am.
balance had gone. This was my reason
aud not any nnwillingness TO leave here.
"Hoping that this vii! be satisfactory
and that you will provide some means
whereby may be comfortably and more
becoming'y clothed as soldier, am.
Colonel, With high regard,
II. JONES,
Private Co. ''K,' 7th Iowa Cav
Ny being arrested and going to the
Blue Eagle did no. take me BY surprise
oy any means, and in justice to Colonel
Pa,tee | attach no blame to him for Civ.
ing the order, (and suppose | did I'm
only priratej but do believe, and am
certain that had he known that 10 point
Of clothing ! was - nude, almost, as our
ancient parents before they resorted to The
6g Leaf experiment, be. would have very
soon found means to clothe me q beeom-
eth soldier and , "cbris.ian,'' and given
ms more than half hours notice to pro.
coed 70 ny Company. Ofcourss b would.
The only thing I regret i, | Va oblis.