The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1863-11-25


frosty nights and sunshiny days; in fact
We are in the midst of beautiful Indian
summer. Business is moderately brisk,
and money, that is ''greenbacks," is plenty.
Horses, cattle and hogs are coming in by
thousands, and find ready market.
Nearly everything is bought on government
account. Uncle Sam monopolizes the
boating business for the present Every
thing the army uses is sent from here, not
excepting coffins, which arc shipped by the
thousands. Many men in this city have
made fortunes out of the war, but not so
with the great body of the straight. forward
business men; to them the war has been
an absolute injury.
There was very active and energetic
canvass before the recent elections. The
Radical party were quite certain of success,
and made desperate struggle, but of no
avail. The Douglas democrats united on
the conservative ticket, and, be it said to
the honor Of the State, they have succeeded
in overthrowing the disturbers of the pub.
lie peace, who are cndeavorins to plunge
its citizens into revolution more terrible
than any that preceded it. Recent events
has entirely wiped out their hopes of sue.
cess; they were defeated in their efforts to
remove General Schofeld, and change the
State policy. Governor Gamble and Gen.
eral Schofeld, have both been endorsed by
the President, and the latter retained in
office. This made the "charcoals" cry
aloud, "Copperheads!" Old Abe, they say,
has turned coppsrhead, and they threaten
to defeat his election, if he runs again. Be-
fore the election they published frightful
stories about murders and robberies by
guerrilla bands. These stories have proven
to be tictions, and it is now admitted that
under General Schofeld's mild and salutary
measures, greater quiet and peace reigns
throughout the State than at any period
since the war commenced This, too, is an
unkind cut, because 1t robs them of their
electioneering thunder. They love to gloat
over murders and arsons. They wanted
Jim Lane in command to rob, burn, and
destroy property, and hang or shoot any
citizen whose political cree'l did not suit
them. In all this they have been foied by
General Scho6eld, who is backed by the
| President.
But the greatest defeat of all, and the
one that hurts them the worst, is that at
the recent election. They have been routed
in large majority of the counties, and
beaten by large majority in the State. -
Some Of their politicians are trying to give
reasons for their defeat, but you may rest
assured that the true reason is, that ma
jority Of the people are opposed TO them.
Had the people felt untrammcled in voting,
the conservative majority would have been
10000. In this city alone, 1000 voters
failed to 60 to the polls, and the same was
the case in many other counties. In few
counties the conservatives were not permit.
ted to vote. With all their frauds and cor.
rupt management, they failed to carry the
State.
The States Of Illinois and Missouri are
filled with deserters, many of whom the
Provost Marshals and their assistants are
daily gobbling up. Many of these are
willing to 60 back to their regiments, and
in majority of cases they are permitted to
do so. l have had frequent conversations
with those who are called deserters, but
who, in fact, are absent without leave, and
from them learn that the great majority
OF them are prisoners on parole, who have
recently been exchanged, and are now re-
quired to return to duty. Every soldier of
the west who is taken prisoner and paroled
is forwarded to Benton Barracks, there he
is kept and fed, paid and clothed the same
as If be was in the field; he is not even
mustered, and in fact does nothing but
lounge about the camp, and eat and sleep.
These men can seldom get furloughs to 60
home; many have families and all friends
whom they wish to see; they importunc
the officers for furloughs without avail, and
being Of no service to the government or
any one else, and tired out with this lazy
kind Of camp life, they procure a pass
through the city, and at once take French
farlough for home. Recently large mum.
Der Of these men have been exchanged;
many are arrested on their way to camp, rs
the Marshals are all very active since Uncle