The Daily Gazette City of Davenport Saturday Morning June 7, 1862 Indians About.-About a dozen red men arrived in town last night on the Western train. They belong to the Foxes and Ottawas, and live in Michigan. Bird Shooting.-The children of Mr. True's German school in the lower part of the city, took a trip to Weldeman's place , on the hill, back of the court house, yesterday, to have their second annual bird-shooting. They marched in procession to the place, preceded by Strasser's band, where they had a day's enjoyment such as the little ones only can have. Western Armory.-The prospects of yet securing a National Armory on Rock Island is brightening. On Thursday Mr. Grimes introduced a bill which was referred to the military committee, providing for the establishment of arsenals at Columbus, Ohio, Indianapolis, Ind., and Rock Island, Ill.; and for deposits and repair of arms and other munitions of war. The bill appropriates $100,000. Lt. Col. Sanders.-The following has been handed us for publication, by Rev. Mr. Kynett: A private letter, dated May 29th, from Rev. C. G. Truesdell, Chaplain 2d Iowa Cavalry, says: "Col. Sanders called on me a few days ago. He looks very badly, but will not own that he is sick. His big patriotic heart, and spunky spirit, are enough to kill such a little light body, and I fear he will be compelled to give himself a little rest or he will break down altogether." >From the 11th Iowa Regiment Camp Before Corinth, Miss. May 28, 1862. Dear Editor:--The army of the West is still moving slowly but surely; justice overtakes crime, law and order subdue rebellion. True conservatism, annihilates such radical heresies as assert the divine origin and necessary existence of human slavery. The army of the West is a great institution. Visit the camp, you shall see the hardy resolute Hawkeye soldiers sitting under the shady greenwood tree ("merry, merry archers we,") some writing, some reading, some dozing, a few studying the history of the four kings, and some perchance storing away in a safe place the two days' rations which we are ordered to keep on hand. The story, song, jest, and laugh go around, while away to the right or to the left, or perchance to the front, the boom of cannon and roll of musketry denote "heavy skirmishing with the enemy," and now none of us know how soon we shall all be called in. For a few days the cars have been very quiet, but yesterday, last night, and this morning, the whistle is constantly giving out its warnings of coming and going. Either the enemy are leaving Corinth or getting heavy reinforcements. Gen. Rosecrans landed at Crump's Landing last night 12 miles from Purdy, and to-day all our cavalry are ordered out in the direction of the latter place. Our forces have scouted to M.& O. RR. West of Purdy several times, and have torn up the track; it is surmised now that an effort is to be made to take and hold the road north of Corinth. Our division has not yet been assigned its place in the new lines, but is at present held as a reserve, sending out each day a regiment on picket duty. The Eleventh were out Friday night last on our right, and within half a mile of the rebel works; a small creek separated the armies, and it is thought the next forward move there will be resisted. Meanwhile wherever the army camps a line of strong entrenchments are thrown up, the underbrush cleaned and every thing prepared to overwhelm the enemy if they attack our camp. The work of moving such an army of besiegers is no slight one. We have now built over 25 miles of breastwork, of logs and earth, filling three to four feet high, and about four feet thick, rifle pits inside and generally ditching outside. Much of this work is now behind us, and we hope will never be needed, for we build new fortifications as we go, and unless Beauregard and Bragg have heavier guns than we have they must either capitulate or evacuate. Our army has opened over 200 miles of new road, bridging streams, cleaning off the timber, corduroying swamps, &c. We have a telegraph running all around through the woods from Halleck to each army commander, disturbing no doubt, many an owl and squirrel as the lightning track goes through their nests. I shall not be surprised any day to see the railroad cars, and hear the whistle of the locomotive tearing through our camp. Such is the power of a grand army that I do not undertake to limit its executive ability, and I believe that Gen. Halleck handles his command with consummate skill. Every move tells in his favor, and no impatient carpet knight at home is half so anxious for a more rapid forward movement as Black (I speak the language of chess,) Beauregard. A checkmate of this rebellion is sure in the southwest in two more moves. Every one praises the gallant conduct of the Iowa 2d Cavalry, at the skirmish of Farmington. "Diff" will of course give you particulars. It gets the greater credit from the fact that hitherto the cavalry has done but little good in this wooden country. The health of our regiment is now pretty good. Some 200 are absent sick and wounded, and we have lost at (sic) and since the battle of Pittsburg Landing, including the killed, died of wounds and disease there contracted, an aggregate of 40 men. Our assistant Surgeon, Dr. Lloyd, of Iowa City, is a man much liked by the men, and respected by all who know him for his gentlemanly conduct and kind attention to the sick. He serves promotion. Kindness and devotion to the welfare of his men is as honorable in the surgeon as courage and fortitude in the soldier. The sacred (?) soil of Mississippi is better than that of Tennessee around Pittsburg. The forests are really magnificent, and my conviction is, that free labor, free schools, and free speech would make this wilderness blossom like the rose. We are surprised and pained to hear of the death of our chaplain, Rev. Mr. Whittlesey. He was a good, brave man. He exposed himself freely to danger at the battle of Pittsburg Landing, to aid and relieve the wounded. Lt. Col. Sanders, of the 16th Iowa, is very poor in appearance as to health but still keeps up his courage, and thinks he is getting better. So of Col. Hall, who has been sick, but is again "on duty." Ira M. Gifford is here, and we were all mightily pleased to see his smiling face among us.-Maj. Van Hosen, of the 13th, and Capt. Foster seem to be bullet proof and sickness proof. Yours,---L. ~~~~~~*~~~~~~ Elaine Rathmann ACC Scott Co, IAGenWeb Project List Adm: *IA-CIVIL-WAR *IA-DANES