The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1862-11-05
Letter from Major Jones.

OF my-chiidren, "discOurasing' en-pro
motions as everybody says, but for the lif
Of me can't see how I do it, for Go,
knows and so does ''any other man." tina
promotions have gone as bravely on as en-
listments; which everybody knows ha
taken everybody out of our town but tn,
women and children and infants born ant
unborn--a few "seccsh" who swear they'll
wait for draft" and several "skeery'
ones.
"Dick" Arthur is charged with eds
couraging enlistments," but he says thai
there are only three sccesh in town, viz
the old man Daniels, Uncle Mary and Tn
derwood. l don't believe all that Dick
says, for the first named CDR. Daniels) wen,
with the 'srey boards and Of course he's
loyal, and the other two spout" just as
loud as anybody dare to. Twenty five
Grizleys went from this town. "Bully" 70,
the "G,iz"
There was threat made before return
cd that the major" had better keep away
from the ''holy city" for if he showed his
face he would be arrested as sure as--well
he'd either be arrested and sent to -
won't say where, or to Mahoney, but as
had lived in this country for the last four.
teen years and being the "oldest inhabi.
tant,' | wasn't afraid to appear to the folks
unless they took it into their heads to
lynch me as they did that young man a
couple of years ago, but as | happened to
| know who were engaged in that transac.
ton, and being an old soldier ha no fears
and governed myself accordingly"
This town isn't under martial law" as
a great many suppose, and neither is it
incorporated andboasting mare as a great
many wanted it to, but is (at the present
time) rery unpretendins little country
village, just as it should BE-. But do sup
pose if we had Provost Marshal it would
be an 'aborted' St. Louis I understand
that they have committee appointed to
keep an eye out and report, the Lord knows
where; but your correspondent has never
been let into the mysteries Of it,. / hops
they'll do we'll at the business.
Enlistirg men for the neu regiments has
been "bully y but recruiting Cor the oil
ones has been on the spring blowing by
oxen order. Who can blame men for vol
untccring when one months pay, and one
fourth of the government bounty is paid in
advance, thereby guaranteeing the balance
of the bounty money and $4,000 county
bounty, besides appropriations for the sup
port Of soldiers families. And then again
there's good chance for an Office, which
is worth looking after and the very second
that man enlists, his property can't be
touched for debt, no master who he owes or
how long he's owed him. That isn't bad
is il? An. then the "draft" is terrible
''bore," for man can only go as private
and his wages will be greatly "rtjuced"
and no bounty.
According to our smart.st enes here,
this may be construed to mean "disloyalty,"
but will let ser rip" till Mahoncy has
his trial, and then I'll know better how to
perform.
see by late papers that our old Sd had
brush, but it don't interest the people
here much, for Go. "F" only had one killed.
An old gentleman Of this place, died quite
recently of old age, and the bells tolled,
but when the news came that Frank Ped
dleton was killed while CALAMITY fighting
at llatche bridge, there was mary toll,
but merry peal! "Only one killed." and
he died ''like man." I've no comments
to make. Let it make it's own comments.
| think will remain "in and about" this
''burrough' this winter, for it don't cost
much for provisions. The only articles in
demand are men and black Grape. For the
latter, the supply is not equal to the de-
mand. Widows and orphans are abundant,
and soldiers widows, who hav'nt died (the
soldiers l mean are ''drefful'' numerous.
| suppose those who have left their f.mi-
lies and gone out on the last call, expect
them to be provided for just as those Of the
old regiments were. Ihope they aciW be,
and then they'll know how good it seems.
Providing for soldiers families is about
played OUT in this region, if it ever was
played in, which it never was to nv
knowledge. e..
The election passed off as no other cleo
tion ever did in this wilderness, for it was
all one way-alrnost, for everybody voted
one way but a few who voted the other way
as ''rebuke," and they were afraid to
speak only in loo breath. The only
warmth exhibited was in the election of
assessor, and the regular nominee was so
badly beaten that he's afraid to tell what a
pound Of nails is worth, as it puts him in
mind Of his duties as assessor-providing
he'd been elected. ..... ..
We've only had one sale of "rcd tape"
here on large scale, which was in the case
Of one Of our retired merchants, who was
going to make all of his friends clerks in
the establshmcnt-and would, only for
some interfering Of "Old Abe" or SOM
Of his pi,nps.
- What pity IL Is that this HES hut a span,
For my grand was, such a wonderful man.
Politics are not dis cussed at all now, and
our great authority" Dan Webster and
Henry Clay "xpounder," has retired with
in himself and drugs. and fear, has taken
to '2G per G." "Bay Rum" and "Kero-
sene OIL" guess he'll survive but its GO
ing hard with him. | shan't tell you who
he is, but zoe know here.
BY late telegram brought by soldier