The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-04-30
Of them that came inside of our lines weak.

of them that came inside of our lines weak.
ened the enemy to the extent of killing or
capturing one secesh, as it would send Q
man from their ranks to ill his place at the
pillow, that the able bodied ones were to
be immediately organised into regiments
and armed with competent white officers
commanding them, that when organised
they were to protect themselves, their fami-
lies, and the country, and the naviga ton of
the river from guerrillas, with the view Of
the present occupation Of the country, thar
those of them unfit for the service were to
be put to work cultivAting these magnifi-
Gent plantations and thus not only support
themselves, but raise vegetables &c. for
Uncle Sans men of the white persuasion"
and to keep in repair the fine farms he
holds down here, that this country was to
be held, owned, and occupied, by loyal
men, that this was the place for the negro,
here he was to stay, not as the slave of
traitors, but the paid labores of loyal men,
and the armed defenders OF the country.
themselves and their families, against rebel
negro hunters, blood hounds and the con-
comitants of Slavery. .a
He then stated that he would authorize
the raising and offering of two regiments
from our division, and perhaps do the same
thing in each division in the corps Per-
sons desiring commissions in either Of the
regiments should make immediate applica.
ton, endorsed by their respective regiment
al and brigade commanders, .g
His speech was vociforously applauded
by the troops, and in short timeIthere was
some 800 applicants, or some 70 to the regi-
ment for commissions and promotions from
our division. And let the say privately to
my sweet scented Copperheads at home,
that have such holy horror against allow
ing the negroes to do any part Of the high
" attractive, polished, and gentlemanly bus
mess Of shooting traitors tina fair proper.
ton of them were democrats at home, but
now the antipodes Of the Copperhead. The
policy met with universal appreciation
among the troops, because they believe and
know it to be right, that they will fight,
and should do it, that every bullet they
stop saves white man, that the safety Of
the secesh women and children, left defence
less in this country requires their organize
ton and control, that. they are just the
troops to farm this country, protect the SER
vice, garrison unhealthy posts,fght guerril-
las, guard Railroads, the navigation of the
Mississippi river and in case of an emergen-
cy to do what regular, legitimate fighting
they might find Staying around loose" z
After Gen. Thomas, came our division
commander Brig Gen. Macarthur, jolly
good natured Scotchman, from Chicago,
who as Colonel of an Illinois regiment fair.
" won his single star, by bull dog fighting
at Shiloh. He fully, endorsed Gen. Thomas
policy in neat little speech. Our gallant
brigade com mander, Gen. Croker, followed
blushing under his new. but well deserved
honors, in q few remarks Of the same tenor.
He is seriously affected with disease Of the
throat, that prevents, him from public speak
ing to any extent. Able speeches were made
by other officers in the division endors.
ing heartily the policy adopted, but tho
ablest speech by far made on the occasion
was by our late Colonel, now Brigadiel
General, Hugh T. Reid. He handled the
subject in mastery manners predicting
that the policy to day announced, would
strike terror to the foe, bring to bear an i'm
mense and iresistable leverage against
them, and send us all to our homes and fam
lilies at an early day, the rebellion suppress
ed, and the Stars and. Stripes again floating
over every foot Of American soil.
I His remarks were extremely happy. and
met with unanimous short of approval,
from the ten thousand veterans of DoneI-
son, Shiloh, Iuka and Corinth standing
around him. His promotion was a well
merited recognition Of his faithful services
and superior capacity, but it was generally
unexpected here, as he had never been
home to figure for it, had made no effort
through the ordinary clap trap Of news
paper puffs for notoriety. or finessing
through congressional Lobbys. He was
shot through the neck st Shiloh. such a
shot as would kill 90 times out of 100,
was carried to the rear apparently dying,
but to the utmost establishment Of every
one he appeared at the head Of the column !,
again. in few months, having recovered,
found his horse and remounted, where he
remained until ordered to fall back to pre-.
ent our regiment from being captured by
the enemy who in greatly superior numbers
were fanking us, and decinating MS, having
lost 202 killed, wounded and prisoners in
two hours fighting. Gen. Reid has never
been absent from duty since the organiza-
ton of his regiment, and ia held in high re.
pute among military men here, and is very
popular with his men. T predict that he
will make one Of the best Brigadiers in the
service. from Iowa. sst,. saiH So
The organization Of the two new Negro
regiments Is already complete. Capt II.
Scofeld, of Washington, Iowa, Gen. Near.
thur Adjutant General, il Colonel, Lieut.
PEBBLES Macarthur, Chief Of Ordnance, lis 1t
Colonel, and Charley Campton, Sergeant
Major Of the Iowa LIST, and Captain in the
18th Iowa, is Major. sergeants Thatcher
and Wells of our regiment got into this as