The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-01-12
EAYrrIgp444Elpee 47 1862

quiet, except the hustle occasioned by
the crowds around the Provost Marshals
Office. You would suppose from the
rush to his Office that there had never
been rebel in this part Of the State,
when it is well known at the same time
that there was only two men in town
who were always loyal. The business of
giving protection papers to the seccsh has
been carried on very extensively by our
Marshal. The process Of procuring them
was easy, and done in about thi, manner
man of very doubtful loyalty would
come up and bring with him some weak
kneed Tor weak headed) soldier, who had
formerly lived near him before he 1.-THE
soldier) left to join our army, and he
would state to the Provost that he had
never heard of the mans doing anything
to assist the rebellion, and on such evil
dencc his oath of allegiance is taken, and
protection papers given him. He then
goes out and brings in his secesh friends,
and on his evidence the secesh (perhaps
half of them old bushwhackers) get all
they ask in shape of protection papers
and vouchers for forage taken by our
army. and to make the latter pass inspec-
ton, the Provost writes across their face,
Oath Of allegiance taken and loyalty ap-
proved suppose it is all right, but
soldiers who are fighting for the saliva
ton Of our Government, and the many
poor wounded in these hospitals do not
sec it in that way exactly. 1t is full time
all such treatment of treason was stopped,
and very different policy pursued. AS
long as this present plan is carried out,
there will be found plenty of rebels, and
il is in vain that this large army is kept
in the field
You will hear before this reaches you
OF movement of our army here of great
importance, and of which am not now
at liberty of speaking. inclose the ad-
dress Of the Generat this morning to his
soldiers. You will notice slight differ
ence in it from the one issued by the
brave and chivalrous Hindman, three days
before he was SO signslly defeated by the
dutch cut-throats."
This town seems to have heen in peace
times, very pretty place, and would
have remained unharmcd if it had not
been for McCulloch, who, even the peo-
pie here themselves say. done more dam
age to property than any other army.
Our army has done no damage to either
Union or seeesh property. McCulloch
I burned the whole Of the west side OF the
public square, where the only good stores
were, and the hotel, and he burned the
best steam mill in the State, and the fine
Seminary buildings, and in fact destroyed
oil the best and most valuable property
of the place.
The few contrabands remaining here
all understand that after the LIST of Janu.
airy they are free, and most of them seem
inclined to use the privilege. They say
if our army is forced to leave again. they
dou't know as they will have another
chance to leave, unless they 20 when the
| ,,.nuaa frb.ra xyontt ha r~nrr
colored folks left il we have to retreat
from this country again, which don t
seem very likely, if present movements
are successful.
The latest | have from Keokuk is the
I'd Of this month, and ! have not seen .
Gate for tive months. l presume they
s are sent to me. but why never receive
t any is rather curious to me. particularly
as Capt. Mcqueen tells me he gets it reg,
ularly.
Our Keokuk boys here in the army are
, well, as far as can find out, as always
! inquire after them every time / see any
body to inquire OF. II. &. 5.
We have been sending the paper to our
friend X. c, S. just as regularly as we
have sent il to Capt. Mcqueen. We will
put all our papers going to Sprin6geld in
] one package hsnceforth, and see if that
will help the matter,
: ~ Victor Hugo is pursuing system
, of practical charity, Of which be writes as
, follows:
! Every week the mothers of these poor
, children do me the honor to bring them
: to dine at my house. At FIRST | had eight
of them. then fifteen now have TWEEN
} ty-three. All these children dine to-
! archaeological, French, Irish, Catho-
! lies, Protestants-allare mingled ,ogeth-
. er, without distinction of religion or M