Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-11-27
LETTER FROM PARSON BRoWNLOW
CINCINNATI. Nov. IA, 1869.

To the Editor of Tie Press:
Sir: Since / wrote you two days
ago, have been to the Covington Bar
racks, where Ispoke to the new recruits
in from East Tennessee, about three
hundred of them. They were well
dressed by the government. and are
well fed and comfortably lodged. They
were glad to see me. Two Of them
were in the rebel service and assisted in
guarding me while in Jail. eleven
months ago. They whispered TO me
then that they were Union men, and
that they would desert il ever they got
chance. They say they are now just
where they desire to be, in the Union
army. fighting rebels. These East Ten
nesseans are eager to go into East Ten
nessee. and promise to fight with will.
equal to anything that ever came off
since the war was inaugurated.
The East Tennesseans, so destitute,
have all been paid off and clothed by
the Government. and are now eager to
march upon their own State. About
the time they were paid off, and when
il was known they were flush with mon
ey. two or three Jews went up the
river, presuming largely upon the ig-
norance Of Tennesseans and their off,
GERS. with large supplies of galvanized
je,celr9. They no sooner opened their
stocks, than the Tennessesns forced
them TO pack Up and wade the Ohio
river, drenching themselves and their
brass jewelryI Served them perfectly
right
Before the Tennesseans got their
clothes, and whilst they were naked and
barefooted, objects Of pity, the free ne
groes Of Gallipolis undertook to make
sport of them, and denounced them as
"poor white trash" They carried
their insolence to an extent that no men
on earth would submit to. and provoked
an attack upon them they will never
forget. The Tennesseans came down
upon them with vengeance, killed
two, and chastised the rest, after
style that they will not forget as long
as they think Of "poor white trash"
from Tennessee! The Tennesseans
swore they had been driven from their
homes, and starved on forced march
to the Ohio river, on account of South
ern negroes held in bondage, and that
they did not intend to be blackguarded
by Ohio negroes, who had escaped
from bondage and set up claims to
superiority. Served them right!
The public expect active operations
on the part Of the army this winter.
They demand it. and If something is
not done, wo be to this Administration
The country looks Tor something to be
done, when so many men and SO many
millions of money are furnished.
The whole country is cursing the Ad-
ministration. and the do-nothing gener-
ais who have been in charge Of the
American forces. Action is the word
now, and nothing less than vigorous
prosecution Of the war will save the
party in power from an overthrow at
once ruinous and disgraceful. The
opinion prevails widely that there have
been a set Of men in command Of the
army who desired to either favor the
Southern rebellion, or protract the war,
with a view 10 break down the party in
power, and to build up another party,
with an eye to the next Presidential
contest. But the friends of the country
blame the Administration for keeping
such men in the front ranks of the
army.
There is large influence in the
Northwest in favor OF protracting the
war, with view to make money out of
it, and swindle the Government.--
There are thousands Of svindlers hold
ing contracts, and army officers are
partners in these thieving operations,
cheating the Government out Of millions
of dollars. There are some swiudlers
in this city who have made hundreds Of
thousands out Of the Government, and
are voting against it, denouncing it
daily, and complaining Of the weakness.
mismanagement and culpable remiss-
ness of the Administration. Mr.. Lin
coin would do we'll for bis Administra-
ton, and for the country. il he would
initiate General Jackson, by calling on |
bis friends to gil the offices Of honor
and profit within bis gift. In Illinois,
Ohio, and Indiana, be has crowded