The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-09-25
McGREGOR, IOWA, WEDNESDAY, SEPT. %, 1861.

here soon, and as we are not only getting
tired of doing nothing here, bst are anxi-
Gus to have hand in the impending fight
in Old Kentuck, we shall not be sorry
when the order comes. Our detachment
has lived on the top shelf here, and the
bill of fare at Potosi differs very material
ly from the rough "rations" provided for
us by Uncle Sam, we have thrown aside
the hard bread and beans and taken to
hoe-cake and molasses, peaches and cream.
As yet we have not received dollar of
pay, nor any Of our uniforms, consequent
ly we are independently poor in purse, rag
ged in rcgimentals and saucy as matter
of course. This is rather hard way of
serving the Lord but I suppose the good
Of the country demands it, and as long as
there is anything of Importance to be
gained by it do not feel disposed to grum-
bic about it.
1t would be impossible to picture to you
the state of affairs in Missouri. Every de-
partment Of State, every branch Of indus
try public and private interests, all have
felt the terrible s''~.L of war. Households
are divided, neighborhoous- ~-.--.,a,r.a in
bloody quarrels, towns and cities have been
turned from the resort of peaceful men into
camps and barracks, and all that was once
lovely and inviting has become frightful and
forbidding. A shroud Of almost impene-
trable gloom pcrvades the entire State
From the Iowa limo to Arkansas, from the
Kansas border to the Mississippi, the State
is one vast battlefield. Every county has
its military post, and the country is over
run by vandal horde of border ruffians,
who under the specious pretext of serving
jeff. Davis and Claib. jackson, are robbing
the farmers of horses, mules, grain, and
other necessaries of war, and open day
murders are as common at their hands, as
other deed of crime. A half century of
smiling peace with most prosperous times,
will not wipe out the foul stains now rest
ing upon the State. A ruined credit, a
bankrupt treasury, q robbed and tax-bur-
dened people, battlefelds Of saddening me-
mores, myriad Of graves of the murder
ed, and remnant of people maddened at
each other, ruined in fortune, in character
and in hopes-thesc are the relicts bequeath-
ed to the future by the reckless minions Of
the Southern Confederacy
The recent Proclamation Of Gen. John
G. Fremont has done more to bring Mis-
suorians to their senses than anything
which has been done yet. Thousands OF
men who before were inclined to aid the
enemy have now declared their sympathy
for the Union cause, and those in open re.
bellion have found it convenient to take
themselves to more congenial quarters. II
has drawn distinct dividing line between
rebels and patriots; it has lifted the veil o
neutrality which covered tens of thousands
here, and hereafter there must he no hal
way work in Missouri. 1t is one of thu
most severe evidences that the Government
is in earnest, and God knows there ha
been boy play about this matter lont
enough already. People now realize fol
the first time that there is no let up to thu
pressure which has been brought to beal
upon this terrible rebellion.
/ Yesterday the rumor reached here tina
Fremont was to be removed and Gen
Meigs put in his place. We hear that he il
to be set aside because of his stern ant
prompt action in putting down rebellion
in this State. will not credit either por
ticn Of the rumor, but will say that it il
my individual opinion, publicly expressed
that Gen. Fremont has more nerve, NOR
energy, more real appreciation Of the rRUl
issue here, than President Lincoln and al
his Cabinet put together. And Fremon
has brain enough to invent as we'll as tn
energy requisite to carry out the admirable
plans of operations but just opening il
Missouri. IL the Administration takes tn,
responsibility Of removing Fremont for th'
cause alledged, the people Of the North
west will continue to sustain it, because i
is the recognized head Of the Government
the head and front Of great and nobl'
cause, not because Of any love they bea
the Administration ITSELF Gen. Fremon
is exactly the right man in the right place
and of this fact none are moro thoroughly
convinced than those now on the field il
the Western Army. That red tape Officials
at Washington and elsewhere, both hat
and fear him, there is but little reason t,
doubt, and am sorry to sec so many evi
dences Of this contemplate red-tape inAu
ence in different sections of the army. -
Kid glove managers may do very we'll t.
talk in cosy Cabinet rooms at the Capitol
but thy are of no more account to an army
on the field than the fifth wheel to a wagon
That the rebels are in deadly earnest, tn
bloody fields of Bulls Run and Wilson
Creek amply and sadly testify. Tn
Western division Of the army has driver
Hardee, McCulloch, Price, Pillow and tn
nnumerable small bands cf rebels from
their retreats and forced them to d fight
it has placed a ch,in of Government troop
from the Northern to the Southern line o
Missouri, thereby depriving the enemy O
every hope Of an effectual resistance; it ha
unearthed, by stratagem, Pillow and Jack
son from their stronghold at New Madrid
> and forced them into position where the,
must either meet our forces in front, b.
harrassed by the people of a loyal State oil
the flank, or ingloriously retreat upon Mem
phis, or take refuge in the wilds of Arkan
: sas and besides all this, by one decisiv
stroke has taken footing upon Kentucky
and hronuht fO an iSsue Hk once the cues