The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-04-28

DEAR FATHER As promised TO write
on return from our scout. now proceed
to fulfill promise.
We saw no enemy of any force save
few guerrillas who were too cowardly to
fight Ms.
As / stated before, the object of our
scou. was to capture some supplies that
were reported to be up in St, Francis
county, but when we got there the sup.
plies were gone. We brought in some
contraband mules and a great many ne
groes. The negroes would flock to our
boats atevcry landing, and we had to leave
q great many for want of room on the
boats. They were all anxiou. for their
freedom and liberty. One OF the most
heart-rending incidents o. the scou. was
-reseuing from bondage q white slave
He was the property of Col. Cross, who
had been Col, of the 5th Arkansas rebel
10 fantry He was boy sixteen years Of
aye, tall, and well built, light auburn
hair and blue eyes, and great deal uh'ter,
both in physical appearance and moral
character than any CoprERHEAD in Iowa.
Besides this we found, but were unable
10 bring away, white female slave, who
said she had little negro blood in her
butt was not perceivable. The old Col. had
her for his concubine as she acknowledges
herself
Talk about the ''diyine institution,
aud find such circumstances as these to
be the fact. 1t is enough to make even
those black-hearted Copperheads Of Iowa
and other Northern States blush to think
Of such things.
None but Copperheads in dog days
could be so blind as not to see that the
institution Of Southern slavery would en-
slave every laboring white man of the
South. This is q self.evident fact, as has
been clearly demonstrated by the nature
Of education. As a proof of it will re-
fer to what soldier of Co. /. Of our reg
iment saw on this last scout. He says he
saw white slave OF German descent |
have stated the two former cases from
personnel observation, but | did not see
the latter myself.
Before this war was always in favor
OF keeping the blacks in bondage. but now
say free them al all hazards. am glad
that l am helping to break up this cursed
institution. shall ever be glad, if live
through this war. to say to any and every
body that | was engaged in and helped to
light the war that broke up slavery 10
these United States.
But shall Dot rejoice at freeing the
negroes alone. but the good work goes far
beyond this. II trees the entire popula-
ton FROM one of the greatest curses that
ever existed in society The slave is not
degraded at all in comparison to the white
man. 1t is absolutely necessary to the
existence of slavery that not only tho
slaves but the masses OF the whites should
be kept In perfect ignorance, which has
been successfully accomplished here
in the South ! can assure you. Those
who are educated are educated upon prin-
ciples that are rotten and false q, hell il
self. For instance. the favorite political
maxim that poor laboring people have no
right to vote--a principle that would
break up the society in hell if there be
any there.
Now, to make what | want to say lit
tie more plain, allow me to make person
~ Illustration, SO to speak. You know
.na' ! never Wen' to school very much,
but | would not give what little educa.
ton have for the greatest and best Sec
ton OF land IN Iowa. Now We are fight.
Ing Dol only to free the blacks and give
them schance to become educated, but we
throw of the yoke that debars the entire
South both rich aud poor. from obtain.
ios '1's priceless and valued boon. Think
VI II once, aud are we not engaged in a
glorious warfare? Are We not ON the
Hsh' eide now. and will not the grea,
-. gu0a uod helPusy rel dice to know
that He will.
Inc most important news that we have
mere Is The organizing at this place Of ne
s'0fes'ments Adjutant General Thorn.
: was here while we we're gone on GU,
'0ou'' ana he called the soldiers that ver,
At thu place together a, the Fo,,. For
Curtis and after telling them his bust
ne& ~ coming here from Ws.b;n,,o,
Wy 'hs' II Was to have negro regimen,
osganized at this place. The onss,;o,
was put to the soldiers lover ten ,ho,.
and by Major General pre,,;.. - ~;
way: that all who were in favor Of arm; :
he psgro were to uncover their head. :