, 1862-12-18
neglecting this portion Of the "army follow

neglecting this portion Of the "army follow
efs,n I propose to express It once more:
Judas Iscariot for thirty pieces Of silver
sold his Lord These men require higher
price, bit ere no less willing to sell their
speculation. Each train from the North
brings with it carload Of grasping spccu1a-
tors. They have authority from Washington
to purchase and ship cotton; and by implicu-
ton authority to pass aa al military g5ards Nth
yond our lines to places where no loyal citi-
zen wearing the uniform Of soldier can pen
trate. They purchase in safety and return:
Wagons loaded with their cotton arrive at
driver examines carefully the defenses, counts
the small number Of the defenders and goes
out, with an excellent idea Of our strength,
position, and probable plans. The next night,
perhaps, an expedition Is organized place
attacked, the bridge burned, and the cou-
1nanding officer possibly cashiered for obey
ing orders from Washington, admitting these
vagrants into our lines, and letting the inter
est Of the cotton buyer override that OF the
nation.
Let the government first seize the cotton Of
every rebel and confscate it. If q loyal man
| in Mississippi, and know from observation
that there are some such, has the staple to-
sell, after the army has passed through the
country and are fnr enough in advance to be
ont Of the pernicious influences of the spccu-
heaviest kind Of bonds and the strongest kind
evidence Of the loyalty Of both buyer and
| seller.
Ibeg gin to think that Gen. Grants plan Of
| dealing with the cotton question is the best
| after a1l, although first thought otherwise.
His idea and Recommendation was, as am in-
formed, for the government to seize all the
cotton i'll this region, paying to all citizens
who would establish irrefrasg;able evidence,
their loyalty, fair price for it, and to contls-
| cate the balance.
Let me give you an instance OF the injustice
| Of these permits being granted by the govern
| mcut. One day last week three or four un-
armed soldiers were captured BY Capt.
Mitchell's band Of gncril1as, and sent to thu
rear as prisoners. While there unsuspicious
murder them. Two were killed outright and
one escaped. Now am informed that the
father Of this same Lieut.. Powell is buying
cotton in the street at Holly Springs. Is it to
be wondered at that our soldiers are indignant
and dishcartened
There are few gentlemen whom hare met,
engaged in the cotton traffic, whom believe
to be honest and loyal, Of course these strict
ures are not meant for them, but the great
majority should be sent to the North, Fori
Lafayette, or some other place where their ct
forts for cviI are less conspicuous, and less
productive OF pc1niciOus results. Col Du
bois, tho coulmandant Of the post Of Holly
| Springs, issued tl,e following order few dayi
/ E1uce, WHICH appears TO ute 10 UE tlIlclY. at1l
just the thing For the reason. that it conflict
| ed with orders issued by the War and Treas
ury Department, Gen. Grant ordered its re
vocal:
"On account Of the scarcity of provisions
all cotton spectators, Jews and other VII
grants having no honest means Of support
except trading upon the miserics Of tllei
country, and III general, all persons from th
North not connected with the army who hav
no permission from the General commanding
to remain in Holly Springs, will leave in twen
: ty-four hours, or they will be sent to do dut
in the trenches
; The COTTON buyers, Jews and other "a
: grants7' are not allowed south of tie Talla
, hatclie.
noticed ut Abbcyille, as passed through
: that large quantity Of contlscated cotton
probably 200 bales, is gathered. It will b
sold for the account Of government. Gen
Macarthur and his brigade are accomplishing
5 4 good work in this direction.
\ The I'D and 1st Board of Trade regimen
r are af Oxford. Col. Dubois will resume hi
f old position as chief Of Gen Hamilt oue sta1
and will be succeeded in the command Q
: Holly Springs by Col. Marphy, Of HE st
= Wisconsin. / have just learned that the arm
8 will move forward as soon as circumstance
l will admit. This information is rather il
/ definite, confess, but it is the most feel Il
liberty to say tonight. I shall 60 to til
. front tomorrow morning