The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-02-15
Arny CerrespsnAence.

Cape Fear River, N. C.
Arny correspondence.
EAsTPoRr, Miss, Jan. 81, 1865.
Easport is but . landing place with
three warehouses, .somewhat the worse the
lcear. A gravel pike runs from here to
Corinth. l, is geographically favorable
position for offensive and defensive oper
ations. It is not at the head Of naviga-
tion, but Gen. Thomas has selected it for
the security it affords our communications.
1t is Naturally strong place and has been
made more so by~a line of bresstworls
thrown up on our arrival here. The men
have built
WINTER QUARTERS
from the abundant material afforded by
the fine chesnu. and oak which covered
these hills. The log cabil the thatched
roof and stick chimneys n 7 be seen in
every direction and for a me Easiport
is quite metropolis. H. pleasant is
rest after harvest is over. r. is true the
soldiers harvest is that of aeaih and des-
truction, aud the grain be sgarners il VIC
tory. The graineries are nov full, but hope
is preparing large one next years har-
vest.
PAST YEARS woHE.
Many Of the troops cens osing the ar
my OF Tennessee. have d nng ,Ee last
year traversed nearly four susand miles.
Their work commenced ca 10 the year,
and their leader was Bill s rman. From
vicks5urg to Meridian. Vioksburg
to Alexandra. La, and RET Sed to Mem
phis. From Memphis to ] leilo an D re.
turn, to Oxford and teturn | up through
Arkansas und Missouri Price, and
last st Nashville in time 4 anticipate IN
the battles of the 18th ans s,h ult., and
follow up Hoods defeated ID demoral-
lied army.
Our leader has left US, | his star has
been onward and upward, today no
doubt, the hot bed Of seceS , is gitdled
about By his devoted band heroes.
sgIRIr or THE TR0cPs.
There is nolLing more gratifying u an
that the army is full Of hopes and that
perfect confidence and content r4igus
throughout. Good tidings greet US from
every quarter the air is TILED With jubi-
lsnt hurrahs for the three lights OF the
Republic, Grant, Sherman and Thomas.
They have no cause for jealousy for they
are proud of their own achievements.-
But there is one thing which temporarially
cooIs the ardor of the men. A fat and
we'll fed dog will wag his tail in toksh OF
good feeling, and it is 80 to certaid eI-
tent the case with men.
"eRuB" as. CORN.
The river is nsvigable-there is no
blockade-there are plenty of transports
under the Govern nent's control--the
| Government has abundant-we have been
here nearly month--and yet have had
10 i've on half rations, and OF late upon
corn. The mules Jared better than the
men, for they were allowed ruffness and
drew more corn than the men. SOMEONE
is to blame for this, for after the faisues
of the past campaigns, the many depriva-
tions and sufferings they have undergone,
it is not to be supposed they are to be de.
| prived of the common fare of soldiers ra-
tons. have seen men live onons hard tack
per day, and one-fourth rations Of coffee
aud sugar, without murmur, for they
knew how important it was to reduce the
enormous trains it would like to supply J
them with iull rations yet here they see
no necessity for submitting to such regu
lations and there is none. The Chiei
Commissary must bear the blame. Wheu
any Ge4eral passes by he is greeted with
"Give me three grains Of corn,
aSowbelly, hard tack" Coward Il
victory and starvation" and ths
sonorious notes of donkey is often heart
as indicative OF the result OF living OF
mule feed. / think had there been les
corn on the brain there would have been
more rations 10 the Commissary.
PREPARATIONS ToR AN ACTIVE cAMPAIGl
are being made with all dispatch possible
and BY the middle Of February We shal
likely be on the move. The frat aggres
sive point it is hard to determine Hoo
lis said to be near Morristown, yet LIE
may need al the available force he cal
t muster to repel the heavy blows that ar
t scon 10 Be dealt ID that quarter, and cnl
t ! garrison may be left at Mobile. whic
. viii change our base OF operations Me
are being clothed, wagons rspaired an
. ambulances, batteries, &c., put in read
9 ness for services
4 The country hereabouts Is thiniy settle
! and displays the same indications Of VI
J aud desolation that is 10 be found whe'
! ever eontendiDg armies have been. Som
9 few refsgees hsve como IN Of late IN
J. destitnte condition.
q J. WV. walls,
ol S3d No. Vols.