From The Second Iowa Cavalry [continued . . .]

CAIRO, April 20, 1862.

ED. GAZETTE:– From the midst of rain interminable, mud unfathomable and disagreeableness supremeable, I write this. The City of Alton arrived here on Thursday, and left on Saturday, as has most of the fleet for Tennessee river. I am detained in charge of stores in this, at present, most extensive mud hole.

Since last Wednesday there has been in this region one constant, incessant rain. The river is higher than ever known, and is only a foot below the top of the levee. This afternoon it commenced in places running over the embankment. During the day families are engaged in removing out of the city up on to the levee. The post office was removed this afternoon. War news is a secondary matter here at present. The first inquiry on the arrival of the papers is, What is the river news? And the columns are hastily [glanced] over to find the status of the river at St. Louis and Cincinnati. – Think of a city with the surging Ohio and Mississippi walled up fifteen feet higher than the levee of the town, only kept out by a frail earth embankment, and the water beginning to trickle over the bank, and you may have an idea of the interest the inhabitants have in river news from the up country.

The Illinois Central RR is submerged. Passengers and mails take a ferry boat from here up the river eight miles to Mound City, and then take a skiff a mile to the railroad.

Most of the boats with troops have gone from here. Col. Hatch and four companies of the 2d Cavalry are yet here, but will get off to-day. This is hard weather on soldiers. One battalion of the 2d Cavalry has been with their horses, for nearly a week in open barges. With water pouring down on them, wet clothes, wet above, below and around them, you can imagine what soldiers have to endure. And unless it accidentally clears off, this state of affairs must be endured at least three more long days and nights.

Chaplain Truesdell expressed home for the regiment fifteen thousand dollars. – Such an army flocking past and through Cairo the past week has eaten up all the substance of “Egypt,” but have left in lieu thereof full payment at fabulous prices.

In haste,
DIFF.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, April 26, 1862, p. 2