Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1863-12-04
A So ldier's Letter.

zs:s-.--..
| A So ldier's Letter.
/ Gen. Smith. being invited I'd address ii
people at q barbecue near Shreveport. sen,
the following letter. We clip i, from til
j Gazette:
SHREvSPoEr la Oct 20. 1893
Gentlemen :--Y our letter Of invitation O
the 17th requesting me to address the PEG
| pie Of this parish aud the vicinity, ut Tho
| barbecue to be given near here on the 20,l
isn@ has been received.
T ATM no speaker Tho rostrum would he
as unsuitad TO me as the building of fcrtif-
cations to you. My If, and thoughts hive
been those of a soldier. II tho people will
take care Of affairs at home, I will attend to
those IN the field and which deyclye upon me
las : Department Commander.
shall observe the laws, but punish dis.
loyalsy;:.I shall respect the laws Of the State,
but shall rely on them to Sustain me- Tie
people must be true 20 themselves, aud We
will conquer. We have men aud means on
this side of the Mississippi to hold the coun
try. It Is othe interest of the Con federacy
to employ and draw the enemy Into the in
terror; it weakens him aud strengthens us =
Individual distress may follow in the tracks
Of his march, but this is inseparable from
war, and is felt on the other. side greater
than on this.
Our people there are buoyant aud conf
dent Of success; it is in the Trans. Missis-
sippi Department. alone, that men despair
and fear for the result. The very columns
of the enemy which threaten US and strike
fear into the hearts Of our citizens, are so
many assurances Of our ultimate triumph.
Every soldier they send west of the Missis-
sippi river weakens their armies where the
battles that decid. our independence must
be fought'
Stir mp your people! Bring back our
absentees to their oolonels and we will give
full occupation to our invaders here, while
our gallant countrymen there are achieving
those victories which bequeath stability and
perpetuity to: our Government.
1t will give me pleasure to be present at
abe barbecue, to mingle with, and become
acquainted with the citizens Of the parish
and vicinity.
! am, very respectfully,
Ychr obedient servant
E KIRBY SMITH,
Lieutenant General.
From Afkansas.
From letter addressed to member Of
Congress, we are permitted tb give ah ex-
tract or two. The writer is gentleman
Of undoubted credibility It will be seen
that the statement of the Yankee Gen Blunt
aud his men having been surprised and cut
70 pieces by Qnantrell is here confirmed:
Enquirer.
SCAMP BRAGG.
Near Washington. Arks.. Oct. 20,
1868.
Quantrell arrived here day Of two since.
on his way out he met Gen Blunt, his staff
and escort, and killed every one Of his par
ty, save twenty FIVE who escaped. He kill
ed Blunt and all his staff, together with
$50 ofhis escort. He brought all of Blunts
commissions. clothing, PAPERS. brass band,
ambulances, trunks &C., into 6atnp with
him. Quantrell came into our lines at
Port Gibson. In passing through the Pin
Indian conn try he kept Blunt's stars aud
stripes flying the Pins rallying to the flag.
and Quantrell killing every one that slow
cd himself In one day he killed 130.-
In coming out. including Blunt his staff
and escort, be killed at least 5000 Yanks
and Pins. Blunts fine sword Quantrell
has Given to Gen. Price. A. W. Jones,
Of Independence, was on Blunts staff. and
was killed by Quantrell. When the boys
came on Blunt he was sitting in his ambu-
lance, enjoying quiet smoke.
When Quantrell charged him, he jumped
out of his buggy and took it afoot through
the prairie grass. He had ran 80 yards
when one Of the boys emptied about 40
tuckshot in his back, killing him instantly
He had in his pocket $3.50 in gold. aud
500 in green backs. Quantrell brough.
out 400 men with him."