The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1861-10-08
Correspondence of the Guardian
WASHINGTON, Oct, 9, 1861.

Correspondence of the Guardian
WASHINGTON, Oct 9, 1861.
FRIEND RICH Since my last COM
munication, which | think was dated the
10Th ult., l have been up into the noun
tains of Pennsylvania, recrui,ing-not
soldiers, but my health, which had be-
come considerably impaired by confre-
ment TO the close air of the city. Your
readers, | presume, have not lost any
thing in the omission of my correspon-
dence, and OF course, it will be no par.
ticular qualification to them for me to
announce that my trip fully restored my
health, and that l will hereafter endeav-
or to give you regular weekly letter.
| returned TO the city in time to join
in the observance Of Fast Day, which |
am happy to see has been general
throughout the loyal part of the country.
That great and mighty nation should
bow with deep humility before the AL
mighty Ruler, and confess its sins, is a
fact of infinite sublmily. and of the deep
est significance, and it is to be hoped
that great good may follow this act oil
humiliation, to our distracted country.
Since that day, indeed. matters are be
ginning 10 look more favorable in all
parts Of the country. From all quarters,
the news is of cheering character, and
the signs are quite manifest that the
backbone Of the rebellion is broken, and
that, formidable as it is. its prestige
is gone, and ii must continue rapidly to
decline in strength and form, until it is
clean gone forever. About this city, as
you will have seen by The Geographic
news, things are changing much for the
better. The rebels, after making great
and terrific display of their boldness and
strength by the occupation Of points
o,..l--l.-e I:Aeant to the capital
nave a. length Abandoned them all, and
fallen back upon their intrenchments at
Manassas. Our troops are now in pos.
session Of all the advanced posts of the
enemy, and are quietly, though impatient
ly, awaiting the time when Gen. Nc
Clellan shall say ready" That will
not be for sometime yet. and we can
we'll afford to wait, for in the judgment
Of the best informed, every day adds TO
our strength, and diminishes from that of
the enemy. In the meantime, the great.
est activity is prevailing in the matter of
furnishing men and means to insure, when
the forward movement Is made, the most
complete success. The Navy, from which
SO little has yet been heard, is being in.
creased by the addition of large mum.
Der of the choicest vessels in the com.
mercial marine, and while am not per.
mitted to give you the details of contem.
plated expeditions, l will just say, con.
tidentially. that you may soon expect to
hear something drop" on the Southern
coast, tina, will shake the rebel Kingdom
to It's very centre.
There has been considerable talk with
reference to the movements in Missouri.
and Gen. Fremont's capacity has been
freely called in question. Ii is evident
that affairs in that quarter have not re.
suited, as we could have wished but |
do not believe that Fremont is particu.
larly to blame. 1t is to be hoped that
hereafter there will be no occasion TO
blame any one for such disastrous re-
suits. Before this reaches you, we shall
perhaps. have Intelligence that the gal.
liant Pathfinder" has met the enemy in
full force, and routed them from the
State. God grant that it may be so.
There is no little interest felt here in
Iowa politics, and there are many who
regret that a bona yJfde Union ticket could
not have been made, SO that the lines
might be drawn only between the friends
and foes OF the country. But under The
circumstances, believe it is as well ms
II is. The Republican State ticket, though
composed OF Republicans exclusively, is
yet not SO much the representative Of
Republican principles as it is Of devotion
to the Union, and the preservation of our
liberties. Every friend of the Union
may vote for il, and claim its success AS
triumph of the loyal people of the State,
without distinction Of party.
G. L. L
4 Il a ~.