The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-08-12

| hteHsely southern. In C0urtland Du
one man is known to profess Union sym
pathies, and his life has long hung upol
a thread. One planter, whose estate lie
near the bridge, processes attachment 70
the old flag, and has offered his negroes
to the number OF sixty, to assist in throw
ing up defenses. Recollect, this is North
ern Alabama, said to be so strongly Un
ion in sentiment, and yet but two mer
can be found in all this part of it 10 ac
knowledge themselves our friends.
Now let us look little at our manage
ment here. The guerriilas have in thu
mountains, fifteen miles south, force O
some twelve thousand. There is also 8
regular force Of nearly Ten thousand
There is nothing between them and thi:
railroad but our pickets. We have 6
long line ofroad to guard and but few
troops with which to guard it. There
are numerous bridges to be protected, ,and
our forces are cut up into detachments,
one Of which is stationed at every impor.
tant bridge. In many cases but two oil
three companies are stationed in place
with perhaps small body of cavalry fol
scouting. The consequence of such
rashness is exemplifed in the capture ol
the force recently stationed at this point
They can quite safely capture us by
squads.
Again, white northern soldiers are
compelled to perform drudgery and Sc
we're labor of every description, which
the thousands of negroes belonging to
secessionists in this valley, would be glad
10 do. The force here consists of the
AID Illinois Infantry and seven compan
les of the 9TH Illinois Cavalry. We have
chosen our positions, and are hastily for
tifying them, working day and night.
1t is really Nearing out our men. The
work before Corinlh was poetry in com
parison. Here are thousands Of negroes
to be had by simply taking them, and an
abundance of subsistence throughout the
country to support them. We might
easily have had three hundred negroes al
work on the very day of our arrival
But no, the commandant of this post
(Col. Harrington, of the eth ILL.,, )could
not think of the thing. We must not
harm our enemy, even in feeling-he
might not like it. should we use his ne
groes, so we will kill off our own men as
rapidly as possible, and In addition, con
siderately guard every secesh well, Or
chard, corutield and onion patch make,
forsooth, this war a-humbug and farce
We guard rebel henroost at night, and
in the morning receive a jeer, curse,
or bullet, for our pains. The army is
becoming sick of such tomfoolery. We
do not wish harm 10 the innocent; we
would protect the helpless wife and chill
dren of the guilty rebel, but we would
deprive him of every thing that could
possibly aid him in waging war against
US. Bitterer aud bitterer grow the feel
ings Of the soldier as he worries along the
highway thirsty and hungry, TO find I'm
ion bayonets thrust into bis face, as he
seeks drink of cold water at the first
well, or ventures TO take ripe, lusc ious
peach from an orchard Of n thousand
trees. He perchance questions the ne.
gro, grinning hard by, as to the where
abouts OF his master, the owner of these
touch me nots. 90 massa he be wild
de seceshers in de mountains missus
say he soon clean out desc nasty Yan.
KEGS" And those bayonsts are to guara
his property Would not your blood
boil :? THIS milk and-watsr policy is
rapidly making milk and water army Of
our once spirited and enthusiastic sol
diers.
Our position here is precarious We
are liable to attack at any moment by an
overwhelming force Of the enemy. and in
view of the fact that our boys have been
rapidly worn down by negro work 10 the
bitches, we may be compelled to hau
down the colors. but never till resistance
is helpless. We can at least make an
ether Lexington, though we may no
boast Mulligan.
j. l.. LOOMS.
United States Arms in New York.
From the N. Y Tribune, 81