The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1862-11-15
LETTERs FRoM MR. oAKF1ELp.


We make the following interesting ex-
tracts from letters received from our old
fellow-c;tizen, C. F. Oak6eld, who is now
serving his country in the capacity of Lieu
tenant, in the Engineers Department, at
Springfield, Mo-:
HEADo'Rs s. w. DIVISION Mo-,
~ CHIEF EEGINEER's OFFICE,
SPRINGFIELD, Mo-, October %, 1862.
The Rolla and Springfield mail, coming
this way, was robbed last night some twenty
FIVE miles from here-the contents appro-
priated, one Federal Lieutenant travelling in
| the stage taken prisoner, but the citizen
| travellers were left unmolested and arrived
here this morning. This outrage was per-
petrated by some 800 to 1000 bushwhack-
ers. an. their way from the northern coun-
| ties OF Missouri to Dixie They are in a
hurry, too, to get there, and travel as
straight south as wild goose ever went to
Canada. Some 200 cavalry were sent after
them last night, as soon as the telegram OF
the occurrence was received here. The
Federal forces lately stationed here have
the a arkansas State line, the advance being
/
battle ground, of bloody memory. Their
destination seems to be Arkansas in gen
eral, and Little Rock in particular Gen.
Schofeld is division commander, and Gems,
Totten and Heron brigade commanders.
Sc X x
never have been SO close to the 'sinsti-
tuition" as / am now, but have found al
ready enough to curse it, when before ]
s'iined the army" only despised it.
Think of man forty-fve years old standing
before me asking for certificate of ex-
emption,' after having worked twelve days
on the Notifications, and when asked, ''To
whom do you belong ?'' answering, "To q
a little orphan girl, six years old p This
may be all well enough, but it certainly
cannot be right-and while we are about il
we might just as well have things right
eternally right--as temporarily well enough
. It came rather hard for me to ask man
who he belonged to--as if he could, right
fully, belong to any one but himself; and
sincerely hope never shall get over feeling
ashamed of myself when have to ask /;
fellow man that question.
Poverty makes strange bedfellows:
venture to say war does the same-ont
more link between the two. At present
l am rooming with a Major of the Missouri
State Militia-as strange genius as l evel
saw. Ignorant as jackass Ito use tn,
phrase Of lady of Emporia), he had tn
presumption to run for the Legislator,
without an e, and had the misfortune t.
get elected. After that he figured in tn
Missouri State Nominating Convention
and is one of 'the immortal fifty fve," a
he expresses it, that elected Gov. Gamble
then recr uitedfor some two regiments, ant
finally received Maior's commission, b,
Gen. Bowen's recommendation-and he i
great on recommending the Sd Missouri
Cavalry, State Militia; has been Major sine
April last, but has never yet been inside 0
tent-always playing sick and drinkin!
whisky, and always getting place that i
r a sinecure, as the reward of politician
When the war is over he is going to run 70
Congress-has an idea that he can beat Elk
{ Gov. Bob Stewart in his district. and that j
} he gets elected his district will be well rep
resented When he and his future wifi
} our landlady's daughter, snuff dipping
: female, certainly not l0dy-are in Washing
ton, think 1 shall go and see them, to hav
some fun. Were you ever asked, at a table
J "Will you take any of these moEasses ?'' or
''Any of these cabbage ?" Shades of tn
| departed Webster who can say that mo
lasses is not plural noun ?'-'We are re
! called with such English ate table, an
when tie Major would like some cabbag
be answers, in true Missourian: "I'll tax
a few.
} You say you'll call me Esquire, no
knowing my new title. They call me Lieu
tenant, but my commission is mostly run
) ming about yet, with wool on his back-an
you know I'm too modest to assume titles