Year: 1863

OF the pi pioprietors Of the TINES but hav,
anxiousy waited for something to turr
up" like Wilkins Micawber, the hopeful. -
Nothing of startling interest has transpired
however, as far as the 1st Iowa is concern
ed, since last wrote you except the big
chase after Marmaduke in which our regi
ment bore conspicuous part OF on,
operations at that time you are already ad.
vised.


We are out on a raid again; not under
Gen. Vandever this time, but under the
"auspices" Of Gen. Davidson of Camp
jackson memory. 1t is to be hoped that
the present forward movement Of this Cav
airy Division will not result in as grand a
fizzle as a former movement conducted by
him from the same starting point, last win,
ter. That army marched out as far as
West Plains, and then marched back again.
We are halted here for the time being and
are engaged in throwing up fortifcations,
doubtless to serve as protection against
the predatory band of Tim Reeves es-sa,d to
be nearly one hundred strong! But such
march as we have had to reach this place,
we've traversed the cypress swamps-cut
out out new roads-built corduroys,-laid
down pontoon bridges, and waded mud
whose depth was past finding out. At last
we are on dry ground, though We have
planted good many horses and mules
along the road in a soil so prolific that we
trust they will "sprout again. and the ten
der ones thereof shall flourish The STRAIT
egy which brought us here may keep us
indefinitely (which signifies stay till cur
horses resemble Don Quixotes old charger
Rosinante. We are now obtaining forage
sufficient to feed our stock regularly tcice
IN t,co days. If the horses fatten on that
system of feeding there will be streak Of
ia. and streak of lean; avery good way
to fatten pork, but not quite so desirable
when it comes to horsehcsh, inasmuch as
we are not yet reduced to that kind of meat
as diet


The force at this place consists of caval.
ry and artillery alone. We are not very
well prepared for seige, yet we regard our,
selves adequate to any emergency that may
arise. There is an artillery force sufficient
to repel any guerrilla attack, and appre
hend that no heavy force can be sent
against us at the present juncture, for the
trans Mississippi army Of the boasted
Southern Coniederacy is pretty effectually
used up. Yet We are fortfying. The cav
airy boys complain bitterly of blistered
hands since axes and spades have super
ceded revo.vers and sabres


The lst Iowa is composed CT very in.
dependant, self-reliant class Of men, and
the strained discipline to which they are
subjected under the present regime sets
pretty hard Al d often provokes expressions
entirely unwarranted by the orthodox
school Of morals. We are always ready
and willing to do our duty as soldiers, but
when orders fIom the Multiplying Sher.
bang" comes so thick and fast that We are
unable to keep pace with them, we are
somewhat befoggcd as we try to follow out
the line Of duty. Our boys are very fei tile
in expedients, however, and often escape
punishment for slight delnquences, when,
were they less self reliant they would sure
ly suffer the consequences Of every little
indiscretion.


A rather amusing incident occurred not
long since, which is d case in point: Some
of our boys went off to Rolla on little
spree and did not return to the regiment
till We were on the march to Pilot Knob
They overlook the command the second
day out from camp, and as punishment
for their absence, they were ordered to
march on foot in the rear Of the column
This foot marching for cavalry didn't take
we'll with the boys, so they slipped off in
the brush and hid till the rear guard had
passed, then went on to town close by
and hired citizen to take them to camp
in hack. They rode in fine style all day,
and after coming in sight Of camp they
paid the hackman and sent him back
than walked into camp apparently very
much fatigued.


Company *" still holds it's own very
well, notwithstanding the boys have en-,
countered the enemy in force, guerrilla
squads, cold, heat, storms, mud, swamps
and starvation. The health Of the COM
pany is as good as could be expected in this
malaria district. Capt. Freeman has been
absent from bis company ever since Decem-
Der 1862, so we have been under command
Of Lieut.. Barnes from that date to the pre-.
sent. Lieut. Barnes is a very efficien, off,
Ger, but under thu circumstances is COM
PEELED to do Captains duty on Lieutenants S
pay.


Furloughs are played out for while, so
you need not look for any Of *" boys at
yuor place till there is change in the pro-
gramme. Wa are looking for "a change
! soon.


The latest news is having cheering ef-
feet, and gives hope that brighter day is
dawning upon us. The heavy clouds are
rolling back from our social and political
horizon and many bright spots are visible
beyond. The war-worn soldier now fondly
anticipates the speedy fruition Of his dear
est hopes, and realizes that our Govern
ment will safely pass the terrible ordeal and
stand firm as the rock of ases-proof against
civil dissensions at home or invasions from
abroad, however formidable. Heaven grant
that We may not be deceived, and that our
fond hopes for the speedy restoration Of
Peace may not be rudely dashed to the