Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-03-06
Our armu Correspondence.
AFFAIRS IN THE SOUTHWEST.
CoLuMBus. Ky. Feb. II, 1868.


AFFAIRS IN THE SOUTHWEST.
COLUMBUS, KY, Feb. II, 1868.
/ regret very much that | cannot find
enough item-news for letter-but so it is.
tbs gerry dull here at present. Traders, spec
ulators and smuglers are having things about
their own way, though now and then they get
caught and have to run the gauntlet OF
Provost trial. But, they care very little
about that; for il they can only find rat
hole big enough to shove a green back
through, they can generally get through
themselves.
Our road is not yet repaired, and as most
Of our steamboats, are below with the fleet,
soldiers and their subordnates in the various
red-tape departments, have but little to do.
Nevertheless, things are working, and there
is no reason for any man whose heart is with
the soldiers to despond. Grant is brave and
true and lucky. Rosecranz the enemy can't
whip and Hooker-God bless him--we will
pray for him. He loves his men-he loves
his country-he has confidence in himself and
is not afraid Of his enemy, either in front or
behind-trcachery or treason.
Hooker, Mr. Editor, will conquer, if men
,gho are not subject to trial By cowt-martidt let
him and his plans alone But as we are not
allowed to believe that this will be the case,
we cannot of couse have the confidence in
him and his army that we otherwise should
II Washington was only in Illinois or Ohio
or Indiana. thea-then iohat-my reader
you TIL. There would be less mourning in
New England, and much more in the Conied-
eracy That grand and heroic army would
long ago have cut its eay through the strong
holds of treason, and the bleaching bones OF
traitors would have marked the tread of its
victorious columns from the Potomac to the
Gulf Washington-not Richmond-has dec
mated the ranks and filed the graves where
the sons and fathers Of Vermont have fallen
and are buried We have not been success
ful in Virginia, because our own army was
too weak, or the enemy too strong-Rich-
mond-twenty Richmonds would have fallen
| long ago, had it not been for men and means
outside the camp, more formidable than the
enemy IN his fortress.
But it is not too late yet, and before the
! early summer comes, let us believe that the
much abused army of the Potomac will dc
more towards making peace than all the peace
'parties" in the land Peace The only
| "peace makers" in this country, outside the
| army, are to be seen at the Fort Pitt foundry
| in Pittsburg and il men who pray and
preach peace" will peacefully follow those
/ Pitts burg orators for about six months, they
will soon learn what kind OF peace men
make with traitors. In that dark night o
the Revolution, when dangers Numbered all
around, Washington ordered, put none bul
meric4ns on guard to-night'-Moderr
peace makers are not Americans such Amer
leans as Washington would have allowed OF
duty that night, or any other night The!
may be good Democrats or good Republicans
but while the war lasts, it is little, very little
if anything that you or !, as Democrat, o
as a Republican, can do for our army or TIL
country. Parties behind an army are nearl
as destructive as batteries in front, and If an
man in Vermont is anxious to do all that b
can to encourage and stimulate the troops AM
to maintain the dignity and honor Of the Gov
eminent, let him be, not war Democrat or
war Republican, but war MAN. If part
existed in the South to the same extent tina
it does in the North-why, the troops c
nearly any one State in the Union could crus
this rebellion. Let us, then, teach all mer
{ everywhere, that our loyalty and devotion !
our country is not cireumscribed by the cree
ATTITUDES Of party, or the still more dangerou
boundaries Of State or sectional interests.
Then weAan fgRs-we can conquer,-sut
due treason and conquer a peace, when an OF
portunity will be given to politicians to swiI
die each other-to lie and swear and steal
and when they can't whip, why they can MAX
faces and blackguard. Don't be afraid, gent
men, you shall have every advantage in Il
e world Of 1.-THE good time coming but du
e ing the war be men-and when peace do
70 come you will be all the better politician
You can then be proud Of your country al
an ornament to any party.
(. Yours, &c. SIGMA.