Iuka is a pretty little town twenty-five miles east of Jacinto,
Mississippi, and is on the Memphis, and Charleston railroad. It is
twenty miles south-east of Corinth, and is pleasantly located. The
country is rather better than any we have seen in Mississippi, and the
improvements are good. The town has some very fine buildings, for
private residences, and one fine large hotel. It has several mineral
springs in the neighborhood, which have obtained quite a notoriety for
their curative properties. Iron, sulphur and salts, characterize the
water of these springs. The chalybeate spring is highly impregnated
with the medical properties of iron, and is no doubt admirably adapted
to some cases of disease. The sulphur spring is also strongly tinctured
with sulphur. On account of these springs, Iuka has been a favorite
resort for invalid planters and their families, and perhaps, some day
may become a noted "watering place."
The regiment went into camp half a mile south of town, on a pleasant
piece of ground, formerly used as a play ground for the scholars of an
academy located there. The academy building was yet standing, but had
been used as barracks for soldiers, and was very much abused. Doctor
Maynard took possession of it now, for the use of the sick.
The regiment had now marched in its advances and retreats, over two
hundred miles since coming to the State of Mississippi, and the men
were willing to rest for a short time at Iuka.
Rumor now has it, that one Brigade is to remain here during the balance
of the summer. The men are thereby encouraged to erect some more
pleasant bowers, to protect themselves from the excessive heat.
A day or two after coming here, two of our boys, while scouting through
the country, stopped at a widow womans, and in genuine guerrilla
fashion, proceeded to rob her of all the money she had, some forty or
fifty dollars. The woman followed them to camp, and reported the affair
to the Captain of the company. The boys were arrested, but what
punishment they received, deponent saith not.
Two other cases of a similar character, only on a much larger scale,
and perhaps with more justice, occurred while laying here. A rich old
planter, living about two miles from town, had the reputation of being
a rebel, although he remained at home, and apparently minded his own
business. General Mitchell, however, supposed him to be a fit subject
for arrest, and to have the law of confiscation applied to his
property. He, therefore, sent a squad of men, and brought the old man
to town, together with horses, mules, wagons, cotton, and negroes, to
the amount of twenty thousand dollars. All the property was taken for
the benefit of the Government, and the old gentleman was held for the
safety of the commonwealth.
The other case was that of an old planter in Alabama, about twenty
miles south of Iuka. He, too, was rich, with negroes, cotton, mules,
etc., and was tainted with disunion sentiments. General Mitchell deemed
it necessary to clip the wings of his riches, also, lest they should
fly over to the rebel cause. Accordingly, a detachment of two or three
regiments, the Fifty-Ninth included, were started out one evening,
about sun-down, to make him a visit. After marching all night, they
came to the plantation at sun-rise, or just before, but not early
enough to catch the old planter. The negroes, cotton, mules, horses and
wagons, were taken in possession. Other plantations were visited, and
many bales of cotton were found hid away in the brush, the hiding
places being pointed out by the negroes. The expedition returned, with
ninety bales of cotton, besides other property, to the amount of
several thousands of dollars. These three cases were somewhat similar,
but with this difference: the one was in accordance with guerrilla
warfare, the other according to the law of civilized warfare.
The health of the regiment continued good while here, although some
cases occurred from the excessive use of green corn, and other
imprudent indulgences. One patient, (Nathan Logue, of Company B,) was
taken sick on the morning of the 18th, was sent to town to general
hospital on the morning of the 19th, and died that afternoon, at three
o'clock.
The First Lieutenant of Company F, (John Kelly,) was here compelled to
leave his company, and attend solely to his own afflictions. For
several months his eyes had been affected with severe inflammation,
which now became almost insupportable. The Surgeon, (Doctor Maynard,)
had frequently advised him to resign his commission, and leave the
army, until he could get his eyes restored to a healthy condition. This
he persistently refused to do. His love of country was above all
considerations of self. Said he: "My country needs my services. I was,
also, instrumental in getting the boys of Company F to enlist, and they
were generous enough to give me the second position in the company, and
now I will not desert them. I will share their toils and hardships as
long as it is possible for me to do so." Now his eyes had become so
much inflamed that he could not see. The pain was excessive, his whole
system became deranged, fever set in, typhoid symptoms soon made their
appearance, and he became prostrated. He was taken to a private house
in town, was well nursed and medically attended; but nature could
endure no longer, and, in August he was buried at Iuka, Mississippi. He
was beloved by all belonging to his company, and highly respected by
every officer and private in the regiment. His love of country was only
excelled by his love of virtue.