Arkansas true Democrat., 1861-09-19
Letter about Missouri Affairs.

WoRsHAM HoUsE, MEMPHIS, Sept. Huh, lo6l- EDITOR TRUE DEMOCRAT
 Dcqr Sir: Having just arrived from St. Louis it may De interesting to you to know what s going on in that section of countryjust the present time as it is impossible almost to carry letters or bring papers from Lncoln's country now, few items which picked up may be of information to you if you have not heard of them before.
 l arrived in St. Louis on Monday morning, the 3d inst. 1 got into the city us any ore can without difficulty, and after attending to some business ar rangement5, left again Thursday afternoon at o'clock. In order to leave the city was com pe.lcd to procure a passport The ordinary pass port in use there at the present time describes the height of the applicant, color of hair and eyes, and any peculiarites, in addition to which he is com pellcd to sign form in which he states that he is, and ever will be, loyalto the United States, other wise the penalty is death As British subject, I was not required to sign the formula, merely got a written permit to cross the Mississippi While in the city had not time to see much of what was going on, as my time was limited but visited one fertilization n the ne ghborhood of Camp Jackson. It consists of fire earthwoIks or entertainments pylamidal n shape, with deep ditch in front run ming the entire length of the embankment--the earhworls are in circle. Not being very familiar with military works, 1 could not make out what these works were for, nor could find any one to enliehten me. The ditches are on the side next to the city, and the plateau for guns the outside. There were two hundred aborers working at these works night and day-twO hundred come on at day light and are others ill the evening. From what little conversation 1 could hear among the men at work, l should judge that their sympathies were for the South-they are mostly Irish, who must work or sarve, but I overheard several nut tering good luck to Jeff. Davis, etc, etc.
 Above St. Louis there are some four or five gun boats building and at least forty fiat boats, the lat ter probably to be used in retreating across the Mississippi from St. Louis to the Illinois shore l wonder that these flat boats and gun-boats are not set fire to, but l am told they are vigorously watched night and day. The number of troops in the city, from all l could learn, did not exceed fifteen thousand, and was told that 10000 men could easily take it at that time. Itwas generally believed that Ben. McCulloch was for several days in the city. and that he drove dray into the arse nal. The very house at which he stopped is point ed out and most southern men believe that he was there.
 And now with regard to matters of another de- scription in the city itself The most fearful state of things exists. system of espionage is carried out every where at all the hotcls boarding houses and public places. Agents are employed, who pre- tend to be southern men, who go about talking se- cession and learning the feelings of parties, by which many are arrested and sent to the arsenal. The merest expression of opinion unlavorabe to the North is dangerous and sufficient excuse for arrest. Such reign of terror exists there existed, except in the French revolution. Ere mont knows that nearly all Missourians will rejoice the day when Missouri is freed from the iron heel of oppression and wrong, and that even many of the prominent Dutch and German families in the city sympathise with the South. Such state of things cannot last much longer. Lyon, the m- tator of Haynau, the Austrain butcher, is dead, and Fremont, it is to be hoped, will soon follow him. That the city ere long will be relieved from the tyranny and oppression of the North, have no doubt, for their miscreants will never h9ht, as will the heroes of the southern army. 1herumors and infamous lies that are circulated all over the northern States with regard to the position anu nrospects of the South scarcely be imagined. Intelligent men whom met and even southern men, believe that our army is starving for want of food and apparel, while l saw myself with my