The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1861-12-14
FROM RoLLA.

FROM ROLkAs f#
RoLLA, Missouri.
Dec. 7th 1861.
DEAR Ep,aoR :-In nv last communica-
ton | believe promised you description
of tbs, portion Of Missouri, through which
| have travelled, on the various maraudins
excursions. in which have taken part.
The country round about Rolia, is compos-
ed of q succession Of broken, irregular hills,
varying in hight from fifty TO three hundred
feet. The surface of these hills is covered
with thick growth Of scrub oaks, inter
mingled with short grass, similar in appear
ance to that on the plains above Fl. kcar-
ncy. These bills are also covered with
loose stones, varying in size from one pound
to toms weight. Springs are abundant,
and the streams beautiful, and clear as
cry tai. In between the highest ranges OF
these hills lies the farm land Of the country,
the soil Of which is we'll adapted to the cul-
ture Of wheat. rye and fruits. Corn does
not do we'll here, 80 to 40 bushels per acre
being considered large crop. The South
ern portion of Texas, Dent, and those coun-
ties through which runs the White River, IS
much noted for its splendid groves Of pine
timber, which grows there in abundance. l
have seen pine trees in Texas County $50
feet in higth and straight as an arrow. This
together with stock, (cattle and mules forms
the entire source of traffic Of that section.
OF breadstuifs, there is not more than enough
produced to supply the inhabitants. a farm
of one hundred acres was the largest one
saw. This was owned by Mitchell, no.
ted Secessiouiss, and he had been thirty
tuo years getting it under cultivation
Schools and school houses are things almost
unknown, and the ignorance of the aborig-
inees is, IN consequence, extremely great
at least one half that cannot write their own
names. am speaking now of the inhabi-
lance of Southwestern Missouri. that be-
ing the portion through which have had
the best opportunity of becoming acquains-
ed, not only by travel through large SEQ
ton of the same, but from pers obser-
vat,on. Being for some length of time in
the: Provost Marshal's Office at this place,
have, every day, opportunities of seeing
and conversing with the refugees from that
part of the State, with which this place is
now Hooded) and can thereby form better
estimate OF the ignorance, and wretchedness
Of the inhabitants, than one could by mere
ly passing through the country. must say
that never before came in contact with so
much wretchedness and ignorance, in all my
travels, as is exhibited by the people Of
South. Western Missouri. No wonder then
that Secession, which is the child of igno-
rance and wild ambition, has attained such
deep roo. here. Some-and l believe the
greater majority-do not even know the
object for which they are carrying on this
war. The impression among them gener-
ally is that it was, and is, the Lincoln policy
to Immediately liberate all the slave popula-
tion-turn them loose in our midst and this
this is the only reason that have heard ad-
vanced from any Of them, for wishing to
dissolve the Union, This has been the great
argument advanced by scheming politicians,
and all the publications emana,ing from
.S.cessia." with which the country is food.
cd ,re Of the same type. AT the house Of
one Of he "sages" of Missouri, and one Of
leader. Of the movement. came across
work entitled S., alton is King" This work
contains some SOC pages, no., and the
whole ann of the auth,.,- was: First to provo
that points, econd, $50. hat the United
States could not exist a. u a. ton without
slaves" and lastly '.that it was the policy
and intent of the Republican party to des-
troy the nation by abolishing slavery. p
Thus much for South Western Missouri ana
its inhabitants now or news.
Our city is at the presen, time very live
ly, and filed with noted Military leaders,
with their Brigades. FIRST in order and
rank, comes Gen. Seigcl. His DIVISION is
composed OF 4ftD, A0tu auo ovtu Aegtmouts
Ilps VOL, 18th and 18th, and one Battalion
OF the Sd Mo. Vol, infantry, Artillery Bat
talIion major Barho8.) one company o.
attention Hussars," . Battalion Of Benton
Cadets, Battalion Of lips Cavalry, major
Bugsers) and pieces Of artillery. Act.
Brig. Gen. Ashboth, comes next. He is .
Hungarian by birth. and fought By the side
Of Kossush in the Hungarian var Of Inde-
pendence, and 10 one Of the many e1iles
from that country. Gen. Ashboth il about
s feat 4 inches IN hight, and is decidedly
the most military looking man have yet
seen, reminding one Of the knights Of olden
times. lie has under his command the Cd
and 18TH Mo. Vol. Infantry, LIST and "a U.
S. 4. Corps, (mounted,) lss Reg. West.
Cavalry Fremont Hussars,) Sd Reg, Ill.
Cavalry, Isl, Flying Battery, and Sd Ohio
Battery. Under Act. Brig. Gen. wymas,
are 18th III. and Major Wnghs's Battalion