Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1862-03-12
Camp correspondence.
LEAvENwoRTH, Feb. II, l66:

on Tree SOIL ana among loyai peopie.
We left Weston on Saturday last, great
ly to the relief Of the dear people there.
I am very sorry to say that the l2th did
not grow in the love and esteem of the
rottcn-hearted citizens of Platte county.
We knew what Missouri loyalty was be-
foreband, and we were not slow in learn
inc the names of those who lent aid to.
CIV Gordon and Price, and their ac-
quaintance was assiduoas'y cultivated.
But, though we found little that was
lovely about them, their chickens and
turkeys were of the best quality, as |
myself can testify, and some of our boys
declare that they found several farms
that were ''sound on the goose question:
The following little incident give as
it was reported to RE by mulatto slave,
and fully illustrates the state of feeling
among the would-be secesh:-
"Missus was in the sitting-room, and
we heard somebody open the gate.
There comes one Of them cusSed There's
said she; but he'll find me enough for
him. Then there was knock at the
door. Missus opened it, and n soldier
came in. He said he was sick, and
wanted some milk. Missus told him she
would give it to him Oith pleasure. lie
wanted to pay for it, but she said he
was welcome to it and more, and he left,
thinking her model Weston lady"
And that is the way they all feel
Processing loyalty loudly to our faces,
they were ready to stab us in the Lack;
and when the boys made the secesh hang
out the stars and stripes, cheer for the
union and Abe Lincoln, they grew very
uneasy.
But who can tell what their feelings
were when, to cap all the rest, the al
mighty. the precious, the adorable negro
broke loose. In q single night, nine
slaves left Weston. OF course tho L" Gus
scd thieves " did it, and two muIattoes,
belonging to the regiment, were suspect
ed. They were missing at the time, and
it was reported that they had been ar
rested. Our boys looked into every
calaboose in town, and if they had been
there we would have torn down all Yves
ton and burned it up, but what we would
have had them out. When they did re-
turn, no man dared lay hands on them.
| made the peculiar institution my
study while in Missouri, and while each
hour my adherence and detestatcn of
the system increased, |, at the same time,
found my prejudice against the race Civ
ing way. | have talked with colored
men, bond and free in the streets and in
their lowly cabins, and never yet have |
found one contented, never yet seen one
that was loyal to his master; and the
stories of their careless happiness are
forgeries, [ firmly believe. A great
grief seems to rest upon them, and
cloud is on their brows which is seldom
lifted save when tie prospect of froed' m
is held out before them. There was one
exception, quadroon named William, a
wild, joviaI, happy fellow as ever lived,
with a good place, chance to earn
money for himself, and wife and chii-
dren as fair as any niger, or "any other
man." could wish. The day before we
left " eston, l was out with some COM
vades scouting for apples and chickens,
and met him driving his team. [ stop
ped to talk with him, and rs soon as We
were alone his manner changed. We
spoke Of his plans for freedom. his long
| inc to have lis W ife and children where
he could feel that they were his own.
They did not belong to the same planta-
ton with himself, and they had such a
hard time Of it." The next night he
would risk everything for freedom. My
feelings were aroused while | listened,
and | forgot that l was only union
SAVIOR, forgot my constitutional obliga-
.iops op1 aycl. ip,aI T p,uct lao,o