White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1862-08-07
Correspondence.
(For the ChieE.)

70 miles rom COr1ntn, mississippi,
July 9Th, 1862.
Eprroa CalES:-I have the blues, or the blue
devils, or something equally as bad, and some
person is to blame for the condition of affairs;
but Who il Is, am unable 70 say. The fact is.
the Chief has not been received here for the
past three weeks. The consequence is, the
privates have become melancholy, the Corpo.
rails blue, the Sergeants Hoorose, and the com
missioned officers desperate. Nov, if you have
any regard for the future of the great army Of
the West, send us the Chief. If each man in
the Regiment would take and pay for a copy,
Dr.. Berghof and his "catartic" pills might be
mustered out of the service.
gave you general description Of Corinth
and its surroundings, in my last; so it only re-
mains for me now TO chronicle the progress of
events for the past three weeks. The old 2Sth
has been engaged, since June 18th. in building
Eve batteries for the protection Of this post.
They form the segment of circle. the right
resting upon the Memphis and Charleston, and
the left upon the Mobile and Ohio Railroad.
They are permanent works, erected under the
supervision Of experienced engineers, and are
to be mounted with six heavy siege guns each.
The guns are at Corinth, ready, and will be
placed in position as soon as the works are suf-
iciently advanced. To 60 into a description
Of their positions, and the manner of their con-
struction, might be considered contraband; but
l assure YOU, that if ever attacked, the enemy
will End that last ditch which they have talked
so long about, just on the outside of the breast
works.
But, would ask, what is the use of building
Notifications and garrisoning posts, if the reb-
els in the vicinity are to be permitted to fur
nish aid and comfort to the enemy with perfect
inpunity-making drafts of our works and en-
canpments, and giving all the information reb
ell leaders can desire7 One of these accommo-
dating, loyal Mississippians was picked up,
few days ago. But do you for a moment sup
pose that he will be punished7 "Nary time"
it would damage the prospects for a recon-
struction. Rebels as rank as any that can be
found in the State, are occupying and enjoying
all the comforts of their homes within our lines,
and guard is kindly furnished by our COM
manding Generals to protect them and their
not even permitting q Union soldier
to get drink of water out Of their wells 1t
is not enough that We have left our homes, our
families and our friends, to crush out treason;
that We work Gay in and day out under the
broiIing heat Of Mississippi sun, to construct
breast-works and batteries for the protection of
our flag. But We must also be posted as SEN
tries at the doors and gates of the rebels them
selves, to protect their sacred persons and pro-
perty. Then. let our men stray out three miles
in front of our picket lines, and they are sure
to be assassinated BY some gentlemanly guerril-
Ia. l tell you, Mr.. Editor, We may fight the
Southern rebels until doomsday, and accom-
plish nothing, if the policcy upon which the
war has been carried on is continued. The
only way to fight the Devil, is to fight him with
FIRE; and if we're General commanding, in
stead Of little Corporal, would
'Cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of wsr.''
and however eioil this war might have been at
he commencement, would demsnstrate to the
satisfaction of Southern rebels, that it had be-
come devilishly uneiol as it approache- its ter
nination.
Our Government has already expended over
i've hundre millions of dollars, and tens of
thousands of valuable lives; the best blood of
he country has been freely shed in defence of
'ur good old flag; and the end is not yet But
,od tho l,lows hp,p ,i,rcd .t tho .oot ,e a..
vii, at the start, how different might have heen
he present situation of affairs. have always
'een Free State man, meyer an Abolitionist;
tut since have seen our concliatins policy
nut to the test, l am free to confess that nv
pinions are entirely changed-salisfied that
ut one course is left to the Government, and
hat is to annihilate Slavery, the cause of all
he difficulties We are now laboring under. The
fective force in the field under the rebel flag
> probably As great as our own, (deducting
hose who are necessarily left to garrison cap
ured forts and towns,) and that force is back.
d up BY the labor Of four millions of slaves.
an zoe, must zoe contend against that immense
uxiliaiy force, without one effort to DESTROY it7
Is we'll might We return the captured cannon,
s to return the fugitive slave to his rebel mas
sr. Annihilate Slavery, and you take away
he foundation Of the bogus Confederacy, and
ebellion will be known no more forever.
The glorious Fourth was appropriately OBJ
erved BY our Division. A salute was fred, by
pecial order from Head Quarters; all work 7.
nd drill we're suspended for the day, and the !,
boys" we're permitted to enjoy themselves a.
,ey thought best. Some took on an extra
usntity Of "tangle-foot," rendering them de-
dedly lively; others contented themselves BY
tting under the shade Of some spreading oak,
king friendly game Of !" draw" but the
'ature of the day, in the 2sth, was barbe.
,e gotten up BY Capt. Rumbaugh and Lieut..
hurtle6, of Co. X. An invitation was exten-
ed to the "field and STAFF" and company off, ,
rs generally; also to your correspondent, the
orporal. I. Of course. accepted and was tIs,
o enumerate the luIuries nnder which the
lstic table groaned, and describe the manner
which they were served up, Is task have !.
1t the ability to execute; and I fear you would
''eS' " ~ oSSoPy'nS u ssr8o space IN your
Iluable paper, should attempt to give even
, outline.
Our Major Nichols presided, and il is unne-
'ssary to state that every thing was done in {
:cordance with . strict construction Of the q
gulations, and the "moal jurisprudence of :
70 military law."-(Doran.) On the Majors q
n sat one of Mother Ewes fairest daughters, {
ho greeted al with kindly smile, and brought
'ck visions Of by-gone days. A number Of
|icefl II Other cosnnaniea ~ .sonnd ~. e..