The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1862-01-21
Neyvspaner RIoeknae-

The following letter addressed to the Cap
tain and Clerk of the steamer Courier by th.
Provost Marshal of Louisville, was handed
Us yesterday. We take pleasure in laying
it before our readers. 1t will be seen from
this letter that, so far as our intercourse
with-points on the river is concerned, we
are virtually under martial law without the
ordinary warning of proclamation. The
reason for this singular proceeding of Gen.
Buell. is not very apparent. 1t cannot be tina
he designs preventing improper informa-
ton from reaching the rebels, because he
leaves the mails undisturbed. Indeed no
plausible reason can be given unless it be a
mere desire to vex both the publishers and
readers of their publications.
Gen. Buelrs attention was respectfully
called to the fact that communication with
the rebel States was uninterrupted through
that part of Kentucky lying between Hem
derson and Smithland, and that the rebels
were roaming over that section collecting
hogs, cattle aud forage with perfect i'm
punity. Instead of sending force to occu-
Ply the country, which could easily have
been done, as several hundred men stationed
at Shawneetown all the fall and winter were
anxious for something to do, the General
mas responded by suppressing, or materially
interfering with, the very papers who urged
his attention to the matter How the ston-
page of the Louisville and Evansville ma
pers is to accomplish what he seems I'M
willing to send a force of men to do. we
are at loss to conceive. The pen is said
to be mightier than the sword, but we do
not think our pens are sufficient to keen the
rebels from stealing stock in Southern Ken
tnel1E and communicating with rebel s4.a
pathizers in the loyal States, especially
when the General shuts down on our circu-
lation.
The following is the letter mentioned:
LOUISVILLE, Jan. 10, 1862.
Captain and Clerk of Steamer. Courier-
GENTLEMEN Your favor of the 18th is at
hand Enclosed found your affidavit that
you would carry out all the provisions set
forth in general order No. 26, which issued
from headquarters of the Department, ON I
the 2eth day of December, 1861, regulating /
the packet trade south of Louisville. The |
order makes it your duty to furnish me
with the days of arrival and departure /
(which you have not done,) as we'll as with /
a list of ports or landings you wish to make /
on your various voyages. This becomes ne
cessary from the fact that some of the points
may be interdicted by the military authority.
1t also becomes your duty TO see that no |
person whatever shall travel on your boat
and carry with him or her open let
tiers, newspapers or other parcels, so that
they may finally reach the rebel States, and
to enable you to carry out this order the
General commanding directs that all letters
and newspapers must go through the regu-
lar mail of the government. Newsboys are
prohibited to sell newspapers to passengers
aud If they do sell them before thew reach
your boat, it becomes your duty TO see that
they are given up or destroyed. as-%
BY your observing the within rules as
we'll as these set forth in the aforesaid order
your boat will be permitted to make her
regular trips as heretofore.
Respectfully,
HENRY DENT
Provost Marshal