Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1861-09-12
Letter from Missouri fertile
State Of Affairs!

Presbyterian Church, who is emf
nent for his piety, usefulness, ard
intelligence. We know the writer,
bat do not deem it prudent to pub
fish his name. The editor of the
Banner of Peace is intimately &C
quainted with him, and vouches
for the truth Of every word herein
contained:--
Mr.. EDIToR:-We have had
no mail at this office for about
two months, and suppose we shall
have no more until this hcrrid
civil war is closed and the gov
eminent again assumes its regular
functions. I have an opportunity
of sending this into Arkansas to
to be mailed and therefore write.
About six weeks ago the Fed
eral troops marched into this part
of the State. There has been no
public worship Of God in most 10
calities, since their approach. l
preached the 4th Sabbath in June
for the last time, have attended at
the place and time appointed for
worship. on several occasins since.
without finding a solitary person in
attendance. The people are afraid
to go to meeting. At several pla-
ces east of this point, the Gov
eminent troops and Home Guard
have surrounded the place of wor-
ship and held the whole congre-
CATION in duress until they could
swear all secessionists whom they
could make take the oath, turn
ing Union men loose, and when
this operation was over, they
would graciously permit the con-
gregation to retire, holding and
carrying off as prisoners of war, all
secessionists whom they could not
compel or scare into taking the
oath to support this outrageous
administration of tn e General
Government. This catching and
swearing secessionists and robbing
them, has been a great bust,
ness since the Federal troops made
their entrance into this portion Of
the State. None regard the oath
as binding, and it is forced at the
point of the bayenet. The hold
ing of citizens as prisoners and
rohbing them, is the worst part
of the BUSINESS. They first take
ell the good horses, a seccssionis;
has, without compensation or any
instrument acknowledging that the
horses have been pressed. Then
all firearms and ammunition are
taken; then pell-mell everything
in general is seized which each
soldier fancies; sugar, coffee, pro.
visions Of every kind, wagons,
harness, saddles, brides, bed.
clothes, particularly blankets and
ready-made clothing; everything
which they cannot carry off is
often destroyed, such as table fur
niture, cooking utensils, female ap-
parel and the like, sometimes ut
terly. running individuals and
families. Often they tear away
fences, turning stock into the fields,
destroying unripe fruit and some
times the fruit trees, burning fen.
ees and occasionally barns and
dwelling houses. / pray that the
avenging hand of Heaven may
overtake these outragers! The
war is assuming a terrible inten-
sity in this State. You may resi-
assured, if. the people could obtain
arms these myrmidons would soon
be smitten down, and were arms on
hand, hundred thousand Mis-
sourians would be in the field In
a fortnight. Along up the Ar
kansas line the jay-hasckers and the
Union men have united and gone
into regular robbing. Vernon,
Bates, and Cass counties have sui.
fered greatly. Jacksonville,
county seat of Cass county, was
regularly sacked few day since
and tens of thousands of dollars
worth of property taken off
This is the legitimate fruit of the
unbridled license which the sol
diery enjoys. Liberty is nothing,
if a tyrant President, backed by
q corrupt Congress, may infict
such wrongs upon an innocent peo-
pie. The Government will have
use for its immense armies.
when these outrages are commit
ted in its name; for give this State