Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1865-02-02
Charles City, Iowa, Feb 2, 1866.
From the 9th Iowa Infantry.

We are permitted to make the fol-
lowing extracts from private letter,
written to his parents in this town, by
Eugene Brown Of Co. @, 9th Iowa In
fantry, and dated at Eastport Miss
Jan. 18th, 1865: ..r., .,.q
- > Could you have seen us,
day after day, plodding along through
the rain, snow and mud, embarking on
boats and disembarking, you would
cease to wonder why you have receiv-
ed no letters for SO long time. 1t
would take many pages to relate the
many changes and scenes we have pas
sed through since leaving our breast
works at Nashville on the 18th of last
month. The best of all is that have
come through all right My health is
uniformly good, and can endure a.
most any hardship but starvation.
YOU, Of course, have cen all the
particulars Of the Nashville bystG II
was the grandest scene ever witness
ed but it cost many poor soldier
his life. We faithfully performed the
duty assigned US on both days of the
fight, but fortunately we were not in
the thickest Of the engagement. We
could witness the mastery generalship
of our COMMANDMENTS massing OF
troops, first on the right, then the
centre, then the left, and so on, as cir
cumstances required. -.
In our regiment twelve were wound
ed. One Of our company had little
finger shot off, Our army achieved
one Of the greatest victories on rec
ord. We, (Gen. A. ]. Smiths com
mand.) followed the enemy as far as
Pulaski. There we left the 23d and
oath corps and came to the Tennessee
river at Clifton, some eighty miles be-
low here, where, after a few, days de-
lay, we embarked on steamboats, for
this place. Passing Pittsburg, thirty
miles below here, we could see moth
ing which indicated that a battle had
ever been fought there-and yet what
q terrible conflict was there, and to
you and me how sad |! + ! 4
We arrived at this place on the 9Th
inst, disembarked on the 7th and went
into camp, said to be winter quarters
That was on Saturday, and on Sunday
Capt. Slocum Of our Company (G) and
q Lieutenant of Company X and my
self started out in pursuit Of some
lumber to build with. On coming to
the picket we were forbidden to cross
the creek. The Lieutenant went to
Brigade Headquarters and procured a
pass. I went back for more men.
While was absent they crossed the
creek and left word for us to follow
We were intending to 60 to the little
town Of Chickasaw on the Tennessee
river, distant one and half miles
having to pass cypress swamp
The Captain and Lieutenant found the
way there and were "gobbled up" by
the johnny Rebs. We returned safely
to camp. We have since heard from
Capt. Slocum, and he says he is well
treated. The rebel officer who has
them in charge wishes to exchange
them for two men who were taken by
us short time since, and are now al
Paduca. 1t is possible that an ex.
change will be Effected hope So
Since coming here nearly every man
in the regiment has been on duty dai-
ly, building breastworks. These are
now completed and we expect an east
er time Owing to SO much duty the
boys have made slow progress in build
ing their ",shebangs." The Orderly
and have ours nearly finished-have
a good brick FIRE place-an shall be
situated quite comfortably. We are
daily expecting our knapsacks and
convalescent boys from Nashville.
Lieut.. Reiniger was left with them.
shall be glad to see him. -
Lieut Rupe is on detached service
rs Inspector General to the Third Brig
ade of our Division; SO we are now
for the first time, left without a COM
missioned officer. t,..E2
Letters for us should be directed to
Orxh Yorro Doc:rork "a p.;roJo o.