Year: 1861

From Company <


Correspondence Of the 0Axsrrn v


r KIRKsvILLH, Mo. 2Sd 1861.


Would you like to know where company
K is at the present timer Last week on
Thursday orders were given to I" fall in /" with
our cantecns, ,haversacks filed with pilot bread
and bacon, and our blankets If we wanted
them. In few moments We were ready
for march. Some Ave hundred Of tho Rsgi-
ment Immediately took the cars and arrived
at Macon City at about dark. Here W slept
until midnight when we commenced march,
ing northward taking along with IN three
field pices, accompanied by about seventy Of
tho Illinois troops. We marched till daylight
when We made halt until tho middle Of Tho
afternoon, when we marched until evening,
then VIC halted for the night in . grove.
Tho next day we proceeded to this place.. I
have not time to write you Of the exhibition
Of union sentiment exhibited on the way
We expected to have to brush our way
through, but saw no rebels until after we
arrived at this place. a


In this region there have been encampod
somo two thousand rebels. and for two. or
three days they gathered around US and we
were in hopes that they would venture an
attack. But all that has happened has been
little scouting in which l regret to say that
we lost one man, DIX from company G. DIX
was fine fellow and was shot after We had
laid out three Of the enemy. At one time
they ventured near enough SO that we had
two shots at them with cannon, tho result
OF which was that they fed with three or
four oftheir number not present but account
ed Jor." We succeeded in taking two of tho
rebel pickets. The affair was managed by
Lieut.. CALL, who is proving himself to be
one OF the most daring and active men in tho
Regiment. At present the rebels are some
twelve miles distant from us; they have two
field pieces with them. Previous to last
night it has been thought that we were not
strong enough to make an advance upon
them and were in hopes that other forces
would come up behind them, but instead Of
so doing our reinforcement, the Illinois 10th
with Brigadier General HURLBUr came direct
to our camp, arriving last night, and probably
if we should advance upon them now We
should find them in their corn fields, all
union men. There arc some four or Ave
hundred home guards here. They furnish our
Regiment with any amount of fun undiciplin-
cd as they arc, and when an alarm is givcn
they give many indications of want of pluck.
They arc armed with rifles and shot guns.
In all there are some two thousand troops
collected at this place. Our regiment behave
themselves we'll and receive much credit
from the people on that account, but last
night the Illinois 10th, went into the town
and in accordance with their usual custom
entered stores and houses and "fross" to
anything they wished. The consequence 10
that neither Regiment are allowed to enter
town to-day, and we are deprived Of the
freedom our own behavior won for Us, by
the misdceds of others. &


How long we shall stay hero it Is impossi.
bic to tell, We may be called up to march to,
night and we may stay here for q week..
We are all here without our tents, coats, and
a most Of our cooking utensils, sleeping upon,
the ground as best we can. Kirksville 10 ..
healthy place, it is situated upon the divide,
of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, the,
water upon one side of the town passing into.
the Missouri and upon other into the Miss.
issippi. The water is good and the appear.
ance of the country fine.


DIX who was shot in scouting party,
was buried by moonlight in the burying
ground at this place. 1t is a lovely place,
the grave is situated under some oak trees
and no more pleasant place could have been
found. The face of the corpse wore a smile
in death. He was loved by all who knew
him. 1t was sad to his friends to bury him
on the land Of the enemy, far away from the
friends that loved him well. But he sleeps
the sleep of hero, and of one who died
bravely and in defence of the country he
loved so well. The enemy took from him
| the miniature of dear mother that he always
carried with him. No act could they have
done that would have gricved his companions
more than this. Yours in haste,
.s r.....l ........ UNDoxoRo.