The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1863-05-02

. commonwealth based on negro slavery. All
their hopes must come to ashes, from which shall
spring purer liberty. better inheritance, and
a firmer government In their recklessness they
could not endure the elemency of . forbearing
government; they mistook mildness and for
bearance for cowardiee, and rushed on, in mad
dened insolence. to destroy the hand that had
been protecting them in local institution which
the world had pronounced as q giant crime
against humanity.
For time it seemed ~ though the virus
which had 20 long poisoned the Republic. and
which has rendered one limb of it 6t subject
for amputation, would PROSTATE the energies Of
the whole body polite. But the signs are bet
ter, Copperheadism " has received its death
blow in the North. The patriotism of the people
was never more reliable than at this hour. Foil
ed in the hopes Of dissension and defeat of our
soldiers in the field, and of triumphs in the late
elections. they sneak away. only to return again
from the darkness when they caninflict a wound
more deadly upon their country. The late
Union Leagues have risen like star of hope, in
dark hour, to sustain the Union, and they are
justly popular and powerful for good. Bad men
join hands for the destruction of liberty good
men have determined, not too late, to seize the
same bond as o weapon for its defence.
Let no one despair Of the Republic while the
renewed evidences Of patriotism assure US that
the people will voluntarily tax themselves to
support this war with money and men to the
extent required to vanquish the rebel States
The spirit of the soldiers in the field is by nc
means diminished. Their determination is equal
to the magnitude Of the undertaking, and they
will not cease their efforts while there is IN
armed traitor striking at the Government You
have sent from your town . band Of patriots
whose names will be cnrolled as their country
benefactors.
The writer has Just received . letter from
Lieut.. Robert Henderson, of your place. may
he permitted to say, more deserving and patri
otic man has not entered the lists for his country
His letter is dated "Camp Bentonville, Arkan
sas." He says:
"How time flies. Need tell you that like
many others, when this rebellion broke out left
E:y bench and hurried to the rescue of one Of the
best govessments the world ever saw. belong
to the Army of the Frontier, an army though
little and unimportant, can, in point Of brilliant
achievements and undisputed victories, compare
with any in the service Of the Country. have
been in eight fights during the summer and fall
We have driven the enemy south of the Arkan
sas river, and freed all of Missouri and North
western Arkansas. The deserters from Hind
mans army are coming in every day and joining
ours. There is a new regiment, the Second
Arkansas. composed Of them altogether. Other,
are forming themselves into Independent Union
companies, and will soon be able to defend
themselves. They report the rebel army demor
allied, and more than half deserted. We arr
anxious to hear from the Army of the Mississippi
and expect to hear of Vicksburg being in oul
hands. We do not often get papers. Please
inform US of your opinion in regard 70 the clos
ing up Of the war within a few months, and
whether there is any danger Of foreign interven'
ton. We have
been playing war in EARNEST here. Day before
yesterday euerrilla's house was burned. Sc
they all are served. James p. Downer is in the
Second Kansas. He was slightly wounded in
an engagement. He deserves a higher position.
Can you not help him Junction turned out
nobly. and her boys have been on many q we'll
won field in Arkansas and Missouri. covering
themselves with renown and glory"