Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-03-13
ATcnsoN, KANSAS, Feb. 26, 1862.

ATCHlSON, KANSAS, eD. 20, lOOZ.
| don't suppose that Kansas news is now
very eagerly sought for, still there is something
now and then turning up which will not be
uninteresting TO few readers of The PHOENIX.
My time the past quarter of year has been
SO occupied that have been obliged to defer
letter writing, but you will continue TO hear from
me as often as anything worthy of note turns
up and have time to write.
The winter we have Just passed through has
been the most severe of any that has been
known in Kansas for years, even by the Oldest
inhabitants. Snow has fallen several times to
the depth of five or six inches, and once in the
month of December we were favored with eight
inches which was the deepest have seen during
four winters residence here. We are now
being favored with warm and delightful weather.
The white carpet which has for weeks covered
the praries has entirely disappeared and the
rich, dark sandy soil is now visible no matter
what direction the eye may be cast. The Mis-
souri, and Kansas rivers are both closed up and
teams and footmen can still cross in perfect
safety, but not many days will elapse ere they
will both be clear of ice and the navigation of
the Missouri resumed sat all hazards" The
people of Kansas suffered drcadfully the past
different points by the rebels and the freight for
this State having to be shipped by railroad and
three or four prices charged.
How times have changed within year. Last
winter Kansas was visited with famine, but
now she has recovered, and was never better
provided with grain and provisions No one
knows what would have become of the people
of Kansas had not Cen S. c. Pomeroy, one of
our U. S. Senators went to work as he did, Just
in the nick of time TO save the country from
starvation and ruin. He was chairman OF the
Kansas Relief committee, and by his hard labor
and diligent perseverance, saved the lives of
hundreds if not thousands of our people. lie
was one of the first settlers of Kansas, was ia.
miliar with the whole country, and knew that
starvation would stare thousands in the face
unles something was done. By his hard work
thousands of bushels of wheat, thousands of
bags of flour, thousands of bushels of potatoes,
hundreds of boxes of clothing, pork, beans,
and everything in the line of eatables were
brought here and delivered to almost every
family in the State. There is hardly a man,
woman or child in Kansas that is not familiar
with the name of Gen. Pomeroy his name is
in every household and ought to be held sacred
for it was him that relieved Kansas in the dark
est hour of her sad history.
Gen. Pomeroy was the first free Stae man
that settled in Atchison. At that time the place
was little miserable border ruiIian hole, con-
tanning only few rough shanties, but since
then it has been growing like mushroom,
and in the spring of 1860 before the Pixies
Peak fever broke out, col tained 5000 inhabi-
tants. Last spring all over the State Atchison
was called the secession stronghold of Kansas,
but we have driven every avowed secessionst
out of the place and have furnished between
three and four hundred Union volunteers foi
the war.
The second session of the Kansas State Leg.
islGture is now in full blast at Topeka. Three
of the highest officers in the State are mplica.
ted in the bond swindle, but whether any O
them will be impeached remains mystery. /
seems hard that Kansas, so late pauper
should have her pockets picked by the Cover
nor, See of State and Auditor but it is no les
! fact.
There was considerable talk short time age
about the Lane expedition from Ft. Leaven
e worth into the southwest. That has prett
/ much died away, and if any expedition leaves
that post it will be commanded by Gen. Hunter
unless the latter is assigned a command on th
Potomac or in Kentucky, as it is rumorcd il
Kansas just now. Gen. Lane is the choice q
!. the people of Kansas to command the oxpedi
ton so much talked of, but he will return /
: the Senate unless an important position is give
,, him.
Kansas has been put under martial law
put an end to "Jay-H Hawking" which has been
r. curse to the State for some time past. Th
y plan OF jayhawking in '55-6 worked well, bu