Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-04-10
Correspondents Of tho Daily Journal
FROM WASHINGTON.

Correspondents OF tho Daily Journal
FROM WASHINGTON.
A Vigorous Campaign on the Nississippi-
The Great Union Netting.
WASHINGTON, April 2, 1868.
The Morning Chronicle of day or two
ago had an article which created no little SEN
sadon here. 1t advocated the opinion that
the main force of the Union armies ought to be
put forth on the Mississippi river, in order to
deal the blows which should tell the most
heavily against the rebellion. The fact that
Burnside's old corps-one of the largest and
best disciplined corps in the service of the
government-had just gone westward was
taken in connection with the article referred
to, and the timid men and timider women
who have been scared out of their boots and
out Of their crinoline on all the Bull Run oc-
casions got excited, least, the Army Of the
Potomac being chiefly withdrawn, the city
should be left in danger. Happily, this class
of people is not so numerd B here as it used
to be, and the thing did not approach the dig
nifty of panic.
There are undoubtedly many strong rea-
sons urging to vigorous prosecution of the
campaign in the Southwest The troops
under Gen. Banks are for the most part nine
months men, whose term of enlistment will
expire before long. And were they in com
mission for the rest of the century it might
well be doubted whether they would accom-
plish much under General who Inaugural ed
his expedition by drinking champagne made
out Of turnips for more than month at a
stretch with the Mcclellan claquers who loaf.
ed about the hotels of New York. The hot
season will soon drive our troops Northward,
or to their graves, sacrifices to the stupidity
of the negro-h aters who have prevented a
general arming of the blacks The rebels
draw their supplies largely from the fertile
1t might seem, therefore, that complete con-
troll of that river would break the backbone
of the rebellion, and leave the final squelch-
inr Of it out an easy job. Undoubtedly too,
the commercial interests Of the great North
west would be intellectually benefited by the
opening of the Mississippi river. A great
effort will be made, and ought to be made, to
secure SO important result. believe the
Mississippi will soon be under our control,
from its source to the Delta.
But that the Army of the Potomac will
march on Richmond, l cannot doubt Nor
do believe it will be long till it shall move.
There never was better army than 1t is now.
All reliable reports from there agree that the
change which Hooker has brought about is
we'll nigh miraculous. Certain it is that I'M
der no other commander has the cavalry of
that army ever amounted to a row of pins
1t is now in splendid trim, equal to any
emergency, and keen to fight. The artillery
is superior to any in the world The foot are
well disciplined, healthy, and enthusiastic
l think it likely the chronicles article was
to some extent intended as blind. | look
for stirring events both from the Army of the
Mississippi and from the Army of the Po-
tomac.
| THE GREAT UNION MEETING.
This city had lively time day before yes
terday, on the occasion of the Union meet
ing at the Capitol, under the auspices of the
City Councils. 1t was called to meet Just
after dinner, that is to say at 5 o'clock in the
afternoon-for, be it known, most people here
necessarily dine after O'clock 1t was, as is
agreed by all the coolest inhabitants" the
greatest popular demonstration ever Witness
ed at the National Capital Long before the
hour fixed for the meeting, the cars, decorated
with flags, and drawn by horses from which
futtered the stars and-stripes in gorgeous
profusion, were crowded with people hasten
ing to the Capitol Pennsylvania Avenue
was jam of men and women like the Jam
of an Inauguration. By o'clock, Represen-
tative Hall was packed "ram-iam full" and
the people were still pouring toward the Cap
itol. The Senate Chamber was opened for a
meeting there, and hall and galleries were al
most instantly crowded Thousands, literal
| 1x, ,ho LOT hat -. 90
6 o'clock, were unable to get in. Had the
weather permitted, there could have been an
outdoor meeting even larger than either
meeting within doors. Your correspondent,
not choosing to enter the Hall at first, was
compelled to use little strategy in order to
get in at ALL Seeing gentleman in company
with two good looking ladies, told him
he could only get in with one (Heaven forgive
meD but would gladly secure the other a
seat, which was done with entire success
Gov. johnson, Admiral Foote Horace May
nard, David K. Carter, and COL Darlington
spoke, and were frequently chcered to the
echo, and the more enthusiastically at strong
expressions against the oligarchy of the
South, and the slavery of man, upon which it
is based. Strong resolutions were read by
Ex-Gov. Bebb, of Ohio, and unanimously
adopted. .....
The meeting is an evidence of the great ad-
vance made by the people of this city. Upon
this point the Chronicle says:
| "They have learned, IN the prosperity
which this city now enjoys, the value of the
North and of a Northern population. The en-
thusiasm manifested at this meeting was
tribute to Northern ideas and principles. The
people of this city, situated between the two
sections, and judging Of each from actual ex-
perience, have united with unanimity which
is as remarkable as it is gratifying, in render
ing their verdict for freedom and the Union,
and against slavery and secession. The SEN
timents of the speakers, which were the most
vociferously applauded, were those that re-
fiected the most severely on the rebels, and
approved the most radical measures for the
suppression of the rebellion. After the reg
u!ar resolutions were passed, two others were
introduced by Alderman Sargent, one of our
oldest residents, approving the course of Gen.
Schenck, military commandant at Baltimore,
in wedding out the rebels of that city and
sending them South and proposed that the
same course be pursued here. They were
received with overwhelming applause. Verify
the world does move, and if we do not get on
quite so fast as Wendell Phillips and his
friends would have US, we nevertheless make
tolerable progress after ALL
There was "social gathering" of the cit
liens Of Iowa now here at the residence of
Mr.. Halves, of Lyons, last evening, which l
will more particularly describe in my next.
| LINKENsALE.
W Things are moving along smoothly in
Gen. Banks Department of the Gulf at New
Orleans The Department has taken possess
ion of eight of the finest plantations, employ
ed overseers, engaged the negroes belonging