, 1863-05-09


1900 of them come by the way of Hunts
vile, and ravaged the country on their line
of march. They all came together near
Mansfield, about a mile and a-half down
the creek, from my house 1t is needless
to say they destroyed all where they
camped but |, being in the suburbs of
their camp, escaped with the loss eff some
corn and oats. They were good enough
not to steal my horses, for the very good
reason that had hid them fourteen miles
away in the woods.
They all went from Mansfield to Harts-
vile, where Gen. Warren, (Federal) fell
aboard of them with 1900 troops, but he
soon found they had the most men, and
drew off after some pretty hard fighting
The rebels, not knowing what to expect,
took to their scrapers and fell back to Po-
cahontas.
Col. Emmett Mcdonald lost leg in this
fight, which cost him his life Poor fell
low he was talented man, and brave
soldier.
I will now tell you how the Federa's
are getting along here (and this part of my
letter you will blush to read, but as l
hope to appear before God, will tell
nothing but what have seem ia carrying
on the war. In the first place, you know
they are fighting for the Constitution and
tie Union and the enforcement of the laws,
which is all very right Now we will sup
pose there is some forage wanted they
will drive into your cornfeld, not stopping
to ask you Il you can spere your corn
You 60 out and tell them you are a Union
man-have been orn. and vhich is the
case with us all-and if they take your
corn your children will be bound to suffer
The forage e-master will tell YOU he cannoc
help that the army must be fed, and so
you give up your corn to them at their
own measurement, which is about one fifth
to our loss. He then gives you receipt,
which you present to the quartermaster, if
you can find him, and he gives you a
voucher. You must find two men who
will swear that you are an active, loyal man.
This must be done before the Provost Mar
shal, who will then approve your voucher
You then begin to look around for a man
to get your money of. You find man in
uniform, vhO tells you there is no appro-
priation to pay your claim, but proposes to
buy it at 20 per cent discount You hope
to do better by sending it to st. Louis, but
TOO often the voucher is returned with this
written on the back "Your quarter-mas-
ter has made no report" Well you wait
awhile, and then go to the Colonel, or
General-some5ody; he approves the claim,
and then you 60 to some other high officer
and he approves it, and then you can sell
it at 10 per cent. discount for United States
paper; after which you gr gold and silver
by paying so per cent. premium.
" hile on the march, if they find house
with the family gone, il is condemned as
secesh, and plundered, and often burned |
Wherever they camp, the farmers hogs, |
chickens, geese, ducks &c, are all killed. |
and their rails burned up Besides, they
take your horses, cows-the last one, at
their prices All this is in order to enforce
the Constitution and the laws
In spite of these things. | am a Union
man first, last, and all the time, let it cost
what it will. Your acquain tance Ander- |
son Delzell, is Union man, but am told /
one Of his sons is with the rebels The |
Federals have almost ruined Anderson, but /
he is still Union.
There appear to be three political parties
in this section Of country. The first is in |
favor of the Constitution with an altera-
tion; and that is that slavery shall cease /
to exist. Some Of this party think. how
ever, that the Union as it was, and the |
Constitution as it is, are played out, . and /
arc in favor Of the Union as it is to be, and |
the Constitution as it ought to be. The |
second party are in favor of the Union as it /
was and the Constitution as it is, without /
any change, and these are the men who are
doing the fighting to put down this rebel
lion. The third party is in favor of prop
erty qualifications for voters and Office
holders am opposed to this party and
ever shall be. Things have assumed a
gloomy aspect in tho Federal camps, in this
country, and nothing is talked about but
negroes ana emancipation The privates
generally oppose it, and the officers mostly
favor it. Mutinies are talked about but l
l hope they will not take place, for our
troubles are great enough now.
A few words about my private affairs l
have sold my place at loss Of 8,
and that, and the burning of my house,
has, with the war to help, broken me up.
1 am going to start in few days to look
for country, and, be assured, | will not
go South 1t is said that corn is plenty
up at Lexington, and if l find no guns,
cannon, bay onets and sabers there, will
stop; otherwise I will 60 farther, for ] am
tired of war and its fruits
s = j. A CoTTREL.