The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1863-09-03
Army Correspondence.
Letter from the seth Ohio

NATcHEz, Miss, Aug. 9th, 1868.
EDS. GAZETTE Immediately aftor
the surrender of Vicksburg, and the
evacuation of Jackson, the 18th Army
Corps was, as special favor, sent to
this point in order to recruit their ex-
hausted energies. And to one that has
followed this Army from Donelson, Shi-
loh, Corinth, Memphis, Port Gibson,
and Vicksburg, to him this place is a
haven of rest.
"All that e'er pleased the eye
Or charmed the heart &C.
Our encampmenti is on tho bluff, one
mile from the city, overlooking tho Mis-
sissippi. This city is divided into two
parts; the lower portion, which is sit
uatcd Immediately on the river, and ex-
tends back some 200 yards; the upper
portion is built on bluff which rises
abruptly 300 feet above the river. The
first is devoted to conveniences for those
trafficking on the river, and the latter,
for the residences of the better classes
of society. The streets are wide and
regular, and adorned with shade trees
and reminds one very much of a North
ern city. Considerable Union sent
iment has always been maintained hero
but still the rebellion has been felt
All kinds of business has been suspend
ed, and prices have gone up according
to the necessities of the people. The
markets are supplied every morning
with fruits, vegetables, &c. from the
country, l had the pleasure of attend
ing market, in company with several Of
our officers, and when you wished to
purchase anything, the question would
always be asked "what kind of money
will you pay?" Fifty cents in green
backs would buy as much as two dol
lars in Confederate money. My pur-
chases consisted of five melons, one leg
of mutton, thirteen tomatoes, eight Gu
cumbers, one bunch of figs, and four
pomcgranates, all amounting to the
small sum of s17.50,which / paid for in
Confederate money.
The view from our campis magnifi.
cent one. The Mississippi, as it rolls
majcstically along, looks like silver
cord winding along through the dark
green foliage that skirts the river on
either side. Looking westward into
Louisiana, we can see the palatial res
licences of planters, surrounded with
numerous white cots. And it is sad to
know that over these fair lands the
stiffness of death reigns. They have
literally gone to strangers. The here
sy of secession has had its baleful infu.
ence there, and the inhabitants are
reaping the reward of their folly. But
a brighter era awaits them. When the
the United States shall again assert its
supremacy, when it has passed thro
all its trials, war, pestilence, and famine
then, and then only, can prosperity at
tend us. When we come forth from
this struggle purified, and our country
is presented unscathed and whole tc
the world, as the abode of liberty, and
the seat ofa mighty empire offreemen
and come veal or woe to other nations
this will ever be refuge and home to
the wanderers of tho earth and seek
its reward alone in the good citizenship
ofthose who find reposc from their toll
and oppression within its borders.
Success has attended us in all our ma.
tional pursuits-in war we have ever
been victorious, in agriculture, manu-
factures and commerce industrious and
successful. And our present strug.
gle for nationalexistence will demon
strate to domestic traitors and foreign
sympathizers that man is capable Of
self-government, and the faction or ''d'
tim that dares to interfere, will be
made to feel the power Of free people
devoted to liberty, and willing to offer
upon the altar of their country their
lives, and all they hold sacred and deal
to maintain it. And if the time comes
let us cheerfully wrap the old flag
around us, and lay us down in bloody
graves, rather than submit to the mis-.
trule Of a divided country.
Yours truly,
GEO. WILHELM,
/ H.-l ~ u kckl nk,a