The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-06-10
FROM THE SIXTH IOWA,

OF the oate Iity just received. Ihey
were quite apropos, as our men are Sock
ing for information on the subj ect of or
ganzing negro regiments, and find two
or three articles in your paper OF the Goth
ult. giving considerable light on the sub
ject.
When the plan of arming negroes for
service was first talked of. there was among
the sol diers manifest feeling Of opposi-
ton to it, caused mainly by old party
prejudices in regard to the idea Of "negro
equality" or its opposite, the idea Of the
inequality of the races" or the "infsri
ority of the negro race" DC, dc. II is
now, however, quite apparent that as our
soldiers become informed of the plan and
purposes Of organizing and employing the
negroes IN this contest, old prejudices
vanish, and they are almost universally in
favor OF that and all other Legitimate
means that may be employed in the effort
to suppress as speedily as possible this
causelsss and unnatural rebellion.
Our regiment is now mounted on
mules and horses captured from the enc.
my. The surrounding country is coniin
ually secured by our cavalry and mounted
infantry. The result is that the guerrilla
business is about nj an end in this quar-
ter. Our regiment has been out on two
expeditions in the last three weeks. We
penetrated the country southwark to a
distance of over one hundred miles, cap
turing many prisoners, horses, mules, cat
the, &c. We found the people almost
universally seeesh in the part of Missis-
sippi We passed through. The women
were especially hostile to us, and on sew
ersl occasions exposed themselves to the
merry jokes Of our boys, by coming out
of their houses and yards to vent their
spleen upon the yankees" as they pass
ed along the highway. m
Women, naturally perhaps, espouse the
cause of their husbands, brothers and
friends, and often do valuable service, as
did the noble women of the Revolution,
when they clothed and fed the naked and
starving army that was fighting for the
liberties which we now enjoy-with their
own fair hands patched the ragged gar
ments of those toi-worn heroes, and with
more than Abraham's faith, sent forth
their sons, their husbands and their faith
ers, willing sacrifice upon the altar OF
their country's freedom. In that in
STANCE we have much to admire and much
to tune the poets Tyre. But look at the
contrast in this picture;
The Southern danes, instead of thus
feeding and clothing their destitute army
busy themselves in engendering and
spreading false reports about "Yankee'
cruelty, and wanton acts Of violating chas
tity, to urge their husbands and brothers
to atrocious deeds and unmitigated ven.
geance. For such conduct the world
| will detest them, and an indeliblo stain
will be left upon history's page.
Different causes have been assigned for
the vindictive and revsngeful conduct Of
Southern women. They have in many
instances evinced such degree of moral
depravity that some persons are inclined
to believe that they have enlisted in the
service Of tho Prince of Darkness. The
we'll known sagacity of the cold one" it
Is urged, 10 a sufficient reason for this be.
lief. He will, understanding lha, be can
better conceal his eleven foot and spear
painted narrative under crinoline and
petticoats. than In brooches, take posses.
sion of them. Thus they become the
disbolical instruments of the chief Of
rebels, and assist him in carrying out hi,
schemes.
There is another, and to me, NOR,
plausible reason for the hatred of South
crn women to Union, the North aut
Northern institutions. Southern vomer
are taught from the cradle that there il
degradation in work; that in the North
under free institutions, the women are al
required to perform the menia. duties o
housewifery, such rs cooking, washing
making beds. &C., and fearing that in tn
event of the ultimate success of the Uniol
cause, slavery will be abolished through
out the land. and consequently they an
their daughters, with their own fair hands
viii, have 70 come to the kitchen an
wash.tub, hence they are fired TO the ut
most extent of indignation and resis.
ance.
, ! have ever been an enthusiastic ad
mirer Of woman, and am so still, that is
so long as she keeps within her prope
sphere; but in the conduct Of Southern
danes | have seen much TO destroy my
former idea Of the universally of woman
excellence, goodness and charity.