The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-03-19


tas a Yours of the 18th last
month came to hand on the lst of March -
l was made to rejoice too, at the prospect
as detailed by you, of your overtime wing
the vile Vaccinations of the traitors at
home. I hope that the Union meeting and
the Speech Of Elk Governor Wright will have
. wholesome effect. You must never cease
your labors in that direction in Wapello
county. | am informed you have men, and
those Of ability, who advise separation of
the West from the East. Let them be who
they will, say to you now on paper. what
I would say tothem in person were it pos
sible, that they are enemies to the human
race, unfit to live. and more unfit to de-
Let them beware ofthe swift and terrible
destruction which my await them AL.
ways rotten at heart, the Affections of their
country has given voice to their heretofore
stifled thou shts, . would be arlstocracy,
whose whole end and aim is the ruin of
free institutions, to crafty their insatiate de-
sire for lordly power. And all this they
do under the name and pretence of laboring
for the good Of the dear people. sa "a @
Who would have imagined three years
ago, that . man could be found in Wapello
county who would dare to utter thought
in favor Of the West separating from the
East What execratlon would have been
showered upon such parsonage Has
New England's 10000 men, sent to fight
the battles Of her country in this second and
great contest for the life of the worlds mod
ell Republic, rendered her less dear to us all,
or less fitting for our association. Those
accursed and trsitorous villains who are
plotting against the existence of all that is
dear to man, doubtless would say yes, if
their lying lips could for once be made to
speak the truth. The $4,000 soldiers of
Iowa. now in the field, are no longer civil
ians with civilians moderation. They can
not, and they soiU not quietly stand by and
see men plotting and voting treason. If they
soiu awake the terrible veng eance of an out
ragged and patriotic soldiery, upon their
heads let that vengeance fall. Patience and
forbearance are excellent virtues but if our
Creator could hurl down to the bottam,ess
pit the devil and his legions, then truly there
is justice in course which will meet out
severe punishment 10 those plotting against
our once proud, free and happy country.
But enough upon this subject. A few
words as to the expedition of which we form
a part. The seth is in, the ID brigade of
the 18th Division, Of the 18th Army Corps.
The Brigade is commanded by Brig. Gen.
Clinton B. Fisk; the Division by Brig. Gen.
Ross, the Corps by Major General McCler-
nand. We left Helena about o'clock, D.
M, the oath Of last month. Got into Moon
Lake, nine miles below Helena, that night,
lay there until the morning of the 26th.-
Then entered the Yazoo Pass, and was four
days in getting through a distance Of about
four miles. I will not undertake to de.
scribe the pass. You can get very good
idea by imagining yourself navigating Su.
gar Creek at very high stage of water,
with au ordinary sized stern wheeled steam.
boat. The country is low, fiat and swampy.
We entered the Coldwater on the morning
of the LIST of March. This stream Is a little
better than the pass, but the Improvement
is not sufficient to enable us to make much
better Roadway. We are now-12 M,-15
miles down the Coldwater I am now
about to 20 forward to the Headquarters of
General Fisk, for down mail just arrived
and this letter must go on the up mail
Where we are going, or what we are going
to do, is more than I can tell, and in fact
cannot well imagine. NV health is good
Ny regards to all the friends.
Yours, truly, All. HAMILTON
!