Muscatine Weekly Journal

Quarters Company "A,"

Keokuk, May 18, 1861.

Dear Journal:-

Being nearly dead with ennui and having nothing else to do I shall relieve the tedium by writing to you. Do not imagine, even for an instant, that I am about to be so green as to bore you with a long letter, as I shall do no such thing.

You have published, I perceive, the statement that a secession flag is waving at Alexandria, Missouri, a point a few miles below here. This is a hoax. No such flag has been there since our occupation of Keokuk. A report to the effect that a flag of this description had been flung to the breeze at that point, created a big muss among the companies rendezvoused here - from two to three hundred men volunteered to go and tear it down, and would have done so, had the report been true.

We boys here have great times over the provisions sent down by the Muscatine ladies, than whom, by-the-way, there are none handsomer, more charming or more patriotic. As long as the provision lasts, we are to have a lunch every day. At the present time, I have a big chunk of cake on the table beside me, and I write a line and take a bite alternately.

I attended a ladies' fair and festival, night before last, and had a splendid time. A large number of our boys were there. The Rev. F. W. Evans, of our city, was present and gave all of us an introduction to the ladies, he formerly having been pastor of the church which gave the soiree. It is needless to say, we all cut an extensive dash and would, if he hadn't been a preacher, declared him to be a perfect "brick."

The regiment has adopted Hardee's tactics for drill, which is universally liked by the boys, particularly the "double quick time," or, in other words, the dog trot." We are exceedingly delighted when Lieut. "Ben,"
The boys are all well except a few of us who have had our heels barked by the clumsy feet of the men behind, in "double quick time." Sergeant Wm. Fessler, Esq., of the pony squad, grows fatter and fatter day after day, and can do the "double quick time," on a hot day in the handsomest style possible.

We were astonished and delighted to-day by the advent of our friend King of the Review, who, we are glad to see looks as hearty as a buck.

I have been writing this letter as it will probably show for itself on "double quick time," and as my cake has run out I will stop writing and go out and practice "double quick time." We drill altogether now in "double quick time," it being so pleasant these hot days.

U.

P. S. Our dog, Union, is all right, and can beat any other man in the company on double quick time."