The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1862-11-21
Letter fire. m Bolivar, Tenn

We are permitted to take the folio wing
Larsh to Mrs. Jane Dill, of this city, dated
bolivar, Tennessee. Nov. 9th, 1862
dear Friends at Notwithstanding to
promise. l send you a letter cannot tell
you all l have seen since l left you-that,
indeed l could not do, for history will ut
terly fail to give true picture Of the aw-
full consequences and horribleness of this
rebellion.
We had pleasant time travelling thro' to
this place, and found all our friends enjoy
ing good health. and camp life seemingly
very well; yet they would all. of course.
like to be home; bat they have bright hon
or to maintain, and they would suffer all
manner of privations and death itself ere
they will forfeit that.
| never knew before what genuine patri
otism was. We can talk about the soldiers
life, and sympathize magnanimously; yet to
see thousands in the employ of Government
stampede. 1t is enough to make angels weep
over the wickedness and folly of man!
am more and more opposed to the South
ern Confederacy' as it is cal ed. II any one
admires ignorance, laziness and pride, full
qualification with the inhabitants of Bolivsr
army, l learn the town was the head of all
the aristocracy and tomfoolery. 1t is very
pleasantly situated on the Hatchie river,
and ere the day of Railroads. i, was proba-
bly, the head of navigation; but now there's
not steamboat to be seen. One year ago,
it boosted of twelve hundred inhabitants,
now there's not more than six or eight hun
dred. Quite a number have Joined the
rebel army; those who are left have sworn
themselves to be loyal, evidently being ac-
tuated more from policy than principle. The
chief source Of the wealth of the inhabitants
consists in cotton. negroes, mules and lazy
women. The latter seem to regard our SOL
diers with fear and hatred-scarcely going
out in the street and never visiting the hos
pitfalls, where their presence and kindness
would be appreciated. ! have been around
several times to many different hospitals,
and was everywhere treated with the most
marked kindness and greeted with Joy
The patients were all glad to see a lady
who would talk to them on subjects most
suited to the time and their circumstances.
| Witnessed several scenes in hospitals well
calculated to melt a heart of stone l saw
bright young boys lying on hard hunks
their lives gradually fading away-the dews
of death gathering their foreheads, and
their eyes glazing. calling in piteous tones
for their mothers, saying: "Oh motherl
mother! do come!--why don't you Gomez
How sorrowful it is, with no one perhaps.
not one Of the company or regiment to say
q word of comfort to them in their dying
moments.
The army from here started for Grand
junction to meet Prices army, with no
knowledge Of his forces or exact where
abouts; but since we have beard he has
formed junction with other rebel forces,
and this evenings news is tina, Lagrange is
to be the place of battle. That town is
about eighteen miles from Bolivar. We
are talking of staying few days to know
the result; not that We can do any good,
unless, it may be. the wounded were brought
back here, when We might have a chance
to assist 10 binding up the wounds of some
poor soldier. The regiment in which our
friends are in was left at Bolivar; but they
know not what hour they may be ordered
South. New regiments are coming in ev.
cry day, mostly from Illinois.
We are boarding with q secesh Colonel.
or one who has been; but who come home
in consequence of i'll health He is, or pre-.
tends to be, sick or tired of war; and we'll
he may be, for his property has been des-
stroyed 10 the amount Of $50, 900, and every
day losing more and more. He was oppo-
sed to the Confederacy-wss a very strong
Douglas advocate-regre,s Mr. Douglass
death very much. He says he does not pre-
tend to know when the war will end, Tor,
urless the South is overpowered. it will
never give up its loved and cherished sa-
very.
Vegetables. fruit, and everything else, /
very scarce and selling at high prices here.
The Lord only knows what the natives Of
rebellious States are to do next year--'tis |
bad enough now. Butter 40 cts per h., |
eggs 30 cts. per doz-, scarcely any apples. |
and no potatoes. Our army are feeding
and clothing 'contrabands' BY the hundreds
The boys sent An ambulance over for me,
tho / am neither crippled nor Lame; that
however. is the way Northsrn ladies' tra1el