Thursday, 23d To day we commenced building a fort here. Some very large cannon arrived last night. Engaged in drilling, had battalion drill. Wrote a letter to my father, Oliver Webb, Roscoe, Minn. My Bro. F. D. Webb, Plymouth, Ind., Miss Helen Rayhill, Mascoutah, Ills. I then went to the depot and remained there till the cars came at 11 1/2 P.M. and several Masct. folks came. Mr. A. Fike, H. C. Fike and others. I took them to my quarters. Staid all night.
May 23rd Received a letter from W. Price Mascoutah, Ills.
May 23rd Received a letter from C. Gibbs, Mascoutah, Ills.
Record of letters written by L. Webb to…
May 23rd, Miss Hellen Rayhill, Mascoutah, Ills
May 23rd, Mr. F. D. Webb, Plymouth, Ind.
May 23rd, Mr. Oliver Webb, Roscoe, Minn.
For the Advocate, Trip to Cairo
Mr. Editor : - On the morning of the 23rd ult., as a violent wind came up, bringing dark and rain portentous clouds from the South, a committee of gentlemen left our town for Camp Defiance, situated as Cairo. The generous and truly patriotic ladies of Mascoutah having made a splendid silk flag for the 9th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Militia, appointed the above named committee to execute the very pleasant task of presenting the flag.
The first point to be reached was Summerfield, on the O. & M. R. R. As we sped our way along the road in a fine hack generously tendered to us by the gentlemanly proprietors of the Mascoutah Livery Stable, Messrs. Curtis & Bro., we regaled ourselves by inhaling the balmy breeze, into which had sunk the incipient shower that threatened us at the moment of starting. We observed and conversed up on the various prospects of growing crops, especially the oceans of wheat that lined both sides of the highway, and in many places stretched as far as the eyes could see, and whose richly stored heads yielded in submissive nods to the passing current of wind. The scene in many places was truly grand, the wheat crop upon the whole was never more promising; corn and oats look somewhat backward.
After a pleasant ride of two hours, the sonorous "whoa" of Julius, into whose experienced hands had been consigned the management of the "lines", brought us to a halt in front of the large manufacturing flour mill of C. Eisenmayer, which is situated immediately on the Railroad. The very polite and open hearted proprietor conducted us to his residence, situated on a fine eminence in the South part of town, which commands a splendid view of the country to the Northward. Here when the sun attained our meridian, a hospitable board was duly spread with viands that were partaken of by the new guests, with a gusto which indicated that the culinary abilities of the kind hostess were such as would coincide with the taste of the most fastidious epicurean. Indeed, all seemed to be so well relished that some fears were entertained relative to the tenacity of the “Judge’s” gastric department. However, subsequently nothing of a serious character occurred. A stroll through the out-door arrangements by Mr. Eisenmayer, revealed the fact, that he is in a course of preparing what will make his location one of the most pleasant and attractive retreats in Southern Illinois. At 3:22 we obeyed the injunction “all aboard,” and were soon whizzing away to the East at a rate peculiar to express trains. – The farms all along the road were beautiful, and becoming extensively cultivated and nicely dotted with good comfortable farm edifices of all kinds. One car in our train was occupied by soldiers from the 12th Illinois Regiment, Col. McArthur, located at Caseyville, seven miles East of St. Louis, and were being detailed out at the various bridges and trestle-work of the Railroad, to act as guards. The guards are relieved every twenty-four hours. The policy of such a course of strict vigilance over our Railways during the present momentous times, will appear evident to any one who appreciates their importance in the speedy transportation of troops, munitions, &c., from one to another. As we sped our way along over the iron road, our ears were duly regaled by the locomotive whistle, when the train would suddenly check speed, and from the intruded head of the all important brakesman, proceeded successively in loud yells, “Trenton,” “Aviston,” “Crlyle,” &c. So far as we traveled on this road we saw any reasonable amount of floating bunting of the “right stripe.” From this and other indications one would judge that disunionism here was at as low a figure on political exchange as the State stock of rebellious Virginia are in Wall Street New York.
Only a few moments elapsed at Odin, our point of exchange, before we were safely ensconced in a car on the I. C. R. R. bound direct for Cairo. Crops looked well along this road, as long as we could see, for just as we arrived at Da Quoin, the old Lord of day sank to slumber in his vesper couch. But we were not left desolate long to grope our way in gloomy darkness, for the silver queen soon was seen ascending her throne to exercise her mild scepter over her nocturnal dominions. – The evening was peculiarly pleasant, and all attractiveness without, combined with a flow of good feelings within, conspired to ender the passing hours ones of pleasantness. And another thing that added wonderfully to our fund of enjoyment, we had along with us that requisite so necessary to the proper completion of a company on a trip like ours, a corpulent man. For a crowd to ensure a successful enjoyment of their trip, they need only secure the company of one such fellow as “Pete.” We were lucky enough to have one such along whose source of wit and good humor seemed to be as inexhaustible as the contents of his capacious saddle-bags, which he had well stored with an extensive variety of culinary productions, &c., upon which he most generously allowed the company to pass judgment.
At Carbondale we stepped out for a moment upon the depot platform, and mingled with an enormous crowd that had collected for the purpose of hearing "the news." Upon inquiry we ascertained that the army worm has been, and are still doing a vast deal of damage to the interest of farmers in that community; entirely stripping meadows, cutting off corn and doing serious injury to the white wheat.
For the last twenty or thirty miles of our downward trip, we passed through a portion of country so flat and low, and in may places so overflowed with water that we felt like exclaiming : "Here on a narrow strip of land, Twixt two unbounded seas I stand."
If a person once sees this part of Illinois in the wet season, he will fully appreciate the application of the name Egypt, to it. At 10,45 we landed safely in Cairo and had just emerged from the cars and were holding a caucus for devising plans of operation for the balance of the night, when Lieut. Webb, of Capt. Van Cleve's Company, tapped us on our shoulder, and extended us his friendly, patriotic hand. At his request, we "went into camp," although the hour was very late. Here we found everything profoundly silent, and still, except the regular back and forward tromp of the faithful guard. Considerable stir, and any amount of shaking of hands occurred on our arrival at the quarters of the St. Clair County boys. After general salutations, and answering myriads of interrogations. We 'all turned in,' for the night, with "our boys," and soon found our weary limbs permeated with somnolent sensations; and our dreams, as we lay on our beds of hay, were as sweet as those that come to us when our heads are resting on pillows of down.
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