Year: 1861

| GRAND RIVER BRIDGE, Mo,


July 9Th, 1861.


Dsar Times Clayton Co. Volunteers
are stationed at this point, and whose i'm.
mediate and proper business it is to guard
the big and expensive railroad bridge which
crosses the river at this placc-ths being
their first introduction to active service. -
One Of Jackson's first edicts after his apos.


tacy was an order to burn this bridge, but
happily for the vigilant Intervention Of a


Company Of the 10Th III. Regiment, the
rascally trick was frustrated and one Of the


hireling incendiarics made to bite the dust


in an attempt to carry the order into exc
cution. We are right in the hot-hcd of
seccssionism, and extra caution is necessary
in apprehending skulkcrs and to signal the
approach of the enemy into our camp


Accordingly picket guard is posted on
either end Of the bridge and around the
camp, embracing circuit of nearly two
miles IN the woods ana on the fiat marsh.


Three Companies were cncampcd here when
we come, two belonging to the I'd Iowa
Regiment, the other Co. of the Home
Guard from st. Jo., who left on the follow
ing day to join their respective regiments.
An ezra amount Of duty is now performed
by this one Co. here, and this, with the
poor locality Of camp ground and the bad
water. together with the very greasy bacon
and the not any potatoes, makes it alto
gether not anything like getting married or
playing billiards for a living, this war bust
ness. On the other night we were called
out three different tines in frightful hur-
ry; the first alarm being caused by one of
the plckets firing his piece at man outside
the line, whom he had commanded to halt
but wouldn't stay halted. Nobody killed
or wounded this lick. All the company in
camp formed into platoons and at the COM
mand rush was made for the woods. over
logs, through brars and brush, and dark
as pitch or more so at that. The only thing
to be feared was the liability of being shot
by some Of ou, own number, some Of whom
were so spasmodicaily excited that they
wonld willingly have blazed away at any
thing which they might suppose was on the
secesh, and thus have the load off their
minds. The second time, we were reused
to arms by another shot in direction of a
picket and then another running through the
goosseberry bushes and over the logs and
stumps and through the tall grass. This
time the row was occasioned by faith.
tul sentinel shooting at hog who had
escaped the vigilance of his eagle eye and
got inside the guard line. The swine did mt
come to at the word "halt,' and paid no
attention to the rulabe interrogatory ''who
goes there more than stoical grunt, and
this was contrary to all rules of ancient or
modern warfare or any other kind of fare.
Third time similar to others-sentinel firing
at fence post which had just emerged from
an adjacent corn field and was slowly and
stealthi'y approaching, gun in hand, to pick
him from his guard. Another scene like
unto the first-"drums beating at dead of
nlsht'-cautious and grand rush,-false
alarm, striking disgust into the hearts of
the brave volunteers, whose Flanderian
expletives were not few, in denunciation
of this kind Of (ooling at time when all
well regulated and honest folks ought to be
in bed. On Sunday portion of the ''Ar.
ticles of War; was read to the company.
One clause relating to this business particu.
larly-which makes the penalty for shooting
at hogs and phantoms in the night time
very and Enthusiastically stringent-th con-
sequence is, that since the disclosure Of this
valuable piece of information, there have
been no more false alarms.


We of the Sd regiment have received our
uniforms, and they give great satisfaction.
They are Of fine grey, trimmed with blue
meat but not gaudy. We are to receive
yet another uniform from Uncle Sam-fa-
tigue suit-and our cartridge boxes and
other equipments are expected to arrive
shortly. 1t is understood that the lst and
I'd regiments have been paid off by the U.
S. for the month ending July lst our turn
it is expected, will come next. 1t is con-
summation devoutedly to be wished just at
this present juncturc. Boys must have
terbackcr, &C., you know.


1t was rumored here yesterday that Co.
of the Ill 10th regiment, encaped at Pal
myra, on this railroad, had been taken pri.
soners; and three companies from the Sd
Iowa regiment left yesterday for that place
anticipate fun shortly, for there are several
secession flags flying hereabouts in little
towns not a great way of. tbs highly i'm
portant that these traitorous rags should be
taken from the atmosphere which is not at
all purified by their presence consequent
ly allow me to observe, down with 'em!
Last night was Il fearful and stormy one
Thunder and rain with a perfect chainbolt of
lightning around our camp from o'clock
in the evening until o'clock next morning.
One or two of our tents were blown down
and mud and water shin-deep on our Ann
st. 1t was too bad tn ugh about the elcc.
trio fluid killing fine hog this morning.
Somebody found it with splinter sticking
into its carcass which had evidently come
from the stricken tree, and generously cut
his throat to save his valuable life. Result
was beautiful breakfast this morning and
enough left for dinner.


Your Fayette correspondent, Cruzan, is
mistaken when he states that the Clayton
Co. Volunteers were on the point Of strk-
ing at Keokuk, on account of money mat
ters. There might have been few disaf-
fected spirits, but the majority expressed
no sentiments Cf such nature.


Boys are as well as can be expected for