The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-08-18

We are permitted to publish the fol-
lowing private letter from Major Bruce,
Of the 18th lows:
HEAD QuARsxHs 1sth Ixy'rY, Iowa voLx.,
CAxr MAGNOLIA, NEAR PoKT Htpsos,
/ AuGrsr 2, 1s53.'
Dear Nc Crary.
| We are now In camp, right glad to get
off the river, whore we have been for
some time confined on board Of trans
ports. Before disembarkiug, General
Heron went down TO New Orleans TO re-
port his eommand to 6eueral Banks.
/ 1t is said Paymastsr 10 coming with
green backs for us. Good luck to the
boat that brings him.
i This is but small village, and the
place has only bseous famous because ne
ture has made il stro6g point for de-
fense. The bluff 10 very abrupt. comes
ont TO the river, and is not high, but suf-
6ciently 90 to obstruct the range from the
gunboais. The defences here are as
strong as at vicksburg. The system is
the sams--forts on the commanding
points, with rife pits on the TANKS and
in front. The rebels show by their sys-
. tam Of -defences that they are BY nc
means ignorant Of military science. Both
here and II vicksburg they adopted the
: same syssem a. that Of the Russians at Sc.
bastopol, and knowledge of military sci.
snce is perhaps shown as fully at these
places as at that world renowned strong
hold Bet, thank God, it required NJ
I allied powers TO reduce them, bat only
skill and dauutless bravery of the Army
{ of the loyal States of America
u This is rich aud productive country
. Sugar, cotton. and negroes. seem to b
i the staples. 1t is remarkable that on tn
% river and elsewhere on our line Of march
= in passing plantations We are hailed b.
q droves OF negroes of both sexes, old ant
q young, shouting and making all manne
II Of demonstrations Of JOY at seeing tn
70 Yankee soldiers, as they call us. The
D. no, only have ''vague and indefinite nc
~ tious Of freedom" but they say ths
!" Massa Lincoln has made them free, an
70 that the Yankee soldiers are their friend
~ / met drove Of six or eight few dsy
H. ago, coming towards camp. halte
~ them and found they were from plan.
he tion few miles distant. lney saIu .nu
An massa had gone to Geogia and taken b
m best negroes with him. l asked the
~ who planted and tended all this corn, (ft
he you know that by the decree of JEFF. D
ng Wis these cotton fields are now CO ver'
ne with corn.) They replied, 1--WE did
w Who built these fortsg "We did"
30 You raise corn to feed the rebel army al
'ut build forts to kill u.s. Don't you thi
no we ought tokill you? Darkey is puzzle
rs, looks down and says, 1--WE could not he
oaa it, we had to do it."
ior The rebels ut the North are very
leu dignant at the policy of aruing the |
nat groes. but they think it oil right for /
OF enemy to use them in every way he CT
Ia in making defences against us, and ra
Die. ing corn to subsist his armies.
ase l have met several Mississippi plsnte
ms. They seem to think they are gone
or and are ANXIOUS to make it appear I
les. they we're always Union men. Let
for state an instance: / met an old o
is wealthy planter in Mississippi, (and,
her tho way. he had on accomplished a
'ut- beautiful daughter with him, He
nty an intelligent. hospi,abss and ehival
led. gentleman Of the South, but his hospi
uty ity was much embarrassed, - his negr
this we're many Of them gnne, and thosa
to naming we're not under control. aut
ave no account. He spoke Of the evil vh
rec the war had brought upon the counsr
osn- aad indeed it is melancholy to soc !
y. and desolation fastening upon the nua
.. Gus evidences of former wealth and u
. of ui6cence He spoke Of his own des'
cent ton. That in spite Of his exten
out. plantations, three in number. also
our people. BY which he meant HIS slaves
which he had some four hundred, he
'e' so destitute he could not even get his
ters. supplied him in this regard
the time, He told me he had alv
= hv been Whig-hsd opposed secessio
Iined bat it -as too strong Tor him. t
os. the old Wings in this country gene
other opposed secession. This war, with
lrole, its cost of blood aud treasure, vii
most cheap if it breaks mp that democ
W. party which is responsible for our poll
- woes. Nuli6calion was its early. c
ali of aud now, both north and south, IL Is
- 10 .f SD ra