The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-04-11
The War In Southwest Missouri.
The following private letter gives a
graphic picture of the condition of South.

The following private letter gives a
graphic picture Of the condition of South.
west Missouri:
SPRINGFIELD, Mo-. March II, 1862.
My companion and lett ST. Louis on
Iast Tuesday morning. Our ride to Rolla
was tedious. and marked by no incidents
worth mentioning. At every station we
passed tents and soldiers, who looked rough
enough, and as unlike holiday troops as you
can we'll imagine. At Rolla, several frag.
ments of regiments were encamped. 1saw
the Third Missouri, under COL Sheppard,
parade through the town to exhibit their
beautiful new banner, with the word
"Springield painted upon it. This
regiment was in the battle of Wilson's
Greek. The town of Rolla is situated on a
rolling prairie, and composed almost entire>
~ of unplaned board houses, erected almost
entirely for the temporary accommodation
of the Railroad Company and of the army.
met several of my friends there, who were
unwashed, unshaven and unshorn, and whose
clothes looked as if they might have been
picked up in the woods. Everybody seems
to wear his boots outside of bis trOwsers,
and to have belt around his waist with
revolver in it. Some men also carry large
knife on the other side. -s....
On Wednesday afternoon we started
West. The day was perfectly lovely. 1t
was as warm as May, and by the roadside
the green grass was peepiDg up, while the
hazel bushes and maple trees were in bloom,
and the whole air was vocal with the sougs
of birds. We passed several fields without
rail of fencing to inclose them, but no
burned houses, think, until the next day.
We stopped that night at the Widow H s,
where we had clean room up stairs, clean
beds and cheerful fire. 1t was sad to see
Mrs. HIS large wheat field, perfectly ver-
dant with the springing blades, made thor
oughfare for every traveller. Fifty two ar.
my wagons, with supplies for Gen. Curtis,
had just passed through it, and were en-
camped on the open ground near the house.
The Transfers had unloosed their mules,
thrown the harness down by the wagons,
and were cooking their suppers by score
or more of fires, kindled, doubtless, by the
rails taken from the widows fence. These
fires made very picturesque scene after
nightfall.
The next day we passed burned houses
enough. We rode through the ashes clone
and my companion checked his horse upon
the very spot where he had spent many q
night in bed. He remarked that he little
thought, fifteen years ago, when he first
slept there, that be should ever live to see
that house heap of ruins, made such by
our own army. For Mr.. D., the owler,
was always, and perhaps is yet, a Union
man thoDrh ouch froa mont ono monld
think, would shake his steadfastness, if it
could be shaken. We seemed to see the
family flying from the house in the middle
of the night, to hear the cries of the chill
drer, the angry expostulations of the owner,
the fierce shouts of the lawless soldiery, the
cracking of the flames, the falling of the
chimney and the whole fresh scene of ruin
and dtsolation. And where are now the
houseless, homeless wanderers Who
knows? who cares?
We passed another melancholy sight-a
wagon filled with emigrants and all their
worldly goods. By the side trudged little
barefooted fellow, ragged and dirty. My
companion said to him: "Well, my little
man, where DO you liver" He sadly an
swered
1--WE don't live noaohere, only in a a0aggin."
We met another party on horseback. One
of the men told US how bis house had been
attacked in the night by gang of maraud-
ing Secessionists, and how be had made one
of them bite the dust with bullet which
he said, "iOOk him spat between the should
ers."
Such things are common, War has de-.
velOped the wiCkedness of men, and fostered
all their evil passions. Men swear and lie,
and steal and kill, who were never guilty OF
such acts before. The Sabbath seems ut
terry disregarded. The churches and schools
are closed, end the Devil seems to reign su
preme. A Christian man, who retains his
religion, is worthy of all honor or, rather,
bis thanks are due to that Divine grace
which could alone preserve him.
We slept the second and third nights 10
lofts, The rain beat through the roofs upon
our faces. At one place we had to climb
up into the garnet by ladder,
We reached Springfield on Saturday. In
some of the houses the windows are all
broken, doors have been smashed, and the
floors and walls are covered with filth and
grease. Many of tie yards have been used
for keeping horses, and the young fruit trees
are completely barked. The groves have
been cut down for frewood.
Soon after We came, 300 or 400 prison.
ers, tatkeD in the battle of Pea Ridge-the
first instament from that bloody field
were marched into town. Among them were
three Methodist preachers and number of
Indians. l saw them marched cut toward
st. Louis this morning, and such set of
ragamuffins l never before beheId. They
were all without uniforms, clad in home.
spun, blue or butternut color, with the od-
des hats imaginable, Of all sizes and shapes.
Some of them looked detected but a greater
number seemed jolly, although cannot say
whether their cheerful locks were really nat
ural, or assumed for the occasion.
1t is now almost year since l left
Springfield and Southwestern Missouri---at
that time peaceful, prosperous and happy
though even then the war-cloud had begun
to appear, and the distant mutterings of
the coming strife could be family heard.
What year, and what scenes have inter.
vened Five different armies--two rebel