The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-04-18
Extract of a letter from Dennis 4. Morrison
ofthe Io,ca It'll, dated Bethel, Tenn, april
9Th to his father

9Th, to his father.
1 went out to Purdy on Saturday, with
one of the Clerks from Post Head Quarters.
He came tearing over just after dinner for
me, and had been wanting to 60 out there
for some time. So we procured a couple of
horses, and were soon on the road. 1t look
ed natural, riding along, to see people plow-
ing and planting, as if nothing was the
matter. Half an hours ride brought us in
sight of the City. 1t is four miles from Be-
thel, and is quite nice place, next to the
incest place 1 have seen. The prettiest
place have been in yet is Iuka, but Purdy
will do very we'll. It contains some splen-
did residences, prominent among them is
that of Col. Wright, of the 18th Tenn. Regt.
(RebeD; the house, believe, is unoccupied,
the owner still falling back with the rest of
his traitor friends. Well, guess better
tell you what we went out there for. It was
to attend a Union meeting, something new
to me TO see in the South; but / saw it, and
a bully one it was, The meeting was in
progress when we::arrived. We repaired to
the Court House; the man had just begun
to speak, and we remained until half past
four, and he was still speaking. / think 1t
would have done some of the Copperheads
great deal ofgood to have heard him. He
was not very smart looking man, but
still the sense was there. He is a lawyer,
and run for Congress in this District some
year > ilSO. he OtSdlI NY rtSlLIlS uOW tIle
war commenced, not by the Abolitionists
of the North, but by q few unprincipled
politicians that wanted power. He then
told them the way the North had begged,
and supplicated, and entreated, until ''for-
bearence ceased to be a virtue,' and how,
after the war had commenced, that they
We're as easy as they possibly could be,
eminent was on the very brink of the pre-
eipiee; and how the rebels had treated
every overture Of peace with contempt, I'M
til the North was finally forced to use every
means in their power, or let the Govern
ment, they had prospered under, and adj
vanced SO high in all the arts and science
that free Government could bestow on
man, 60 to destruction. He then told them
the way the Northern men had left their
homes and came here to take care of their
property, and guard their homes, and how
they had been driven from their homes
With tears in his eyes he told them of his
house being burned, his family insulted
and himself forced to flee. q He begged and
implored them, in Gods name, to rally
around that good old Star Spangled Ban
ner, and show to the world that they were
the brave and loyal men they protested,
and he knew them to be-. He acknowledge
ed that he had run, but he said, like the lit
tie school boy, he had made his mark, and
he was going to run no further. He said
he ulQ not WANT 10 20 lntO Inc USnU, he nau
two brothers in the Southern army, and he
knew he loved them, as well as it was pos
sible for any man to love his brother, but
they had gone against his wishes, and all
his efforts to keep them back We're without
avail. He said he would be the last man
to strike a death blow to any one, especially
his own brother, but he considered it his
duty to 90 into the army, and if a ball from
his gun should take the life's blood Of his
brothers, the will Of God be done.
never in my life was so impressed with
speech before. He was indeed eloquent,
and fine speaker, and there were times
that could feel the cold blood shoot thro'
my veins. How much higher does he
seem than the poor, sneaklng, coWardly
whelps of the North, who would see the
| country with all of its greatness, and the
| advantages of it's free institutions crumble
| to the dust, before they would lend help
ing hand to steady, and keep her nag still
waving in this dark and stormy hour.
have no doubt but the man that spoke
at Purdy last Saturday, viii inside of two
months, be surrounded by a Regiment OF
KNOW how much the Government is worth.
Ihere were about 100 citizens in attendance,
ana from the feelings manifested, think
they are going to try their hand.
think have written enough for this
time. The Battery close to us are having
celebration, it being the Anniversary OF
the battle OF Pittsburgh Landing. want to
go over and see what they have to say.
DENNIS A. MORRISON.
Bethel, Tenn.