The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1864-08-13

letteE OI Oeneral Dlunt on OOV. carney,
wherein the General shows up that political
shyster in his true light.
THE DISTRICT OF UPPER ARKANSAS-ITS
IMPORTANCE.
In the past, such has been the quietude
in this portion Of the State, that our chief
eolicitude has been directed to do all in our
power to strengthen the Union army in the
field. And such has been the patriotism Of
our young men that this portion of the
State has been drained of almost all the
men that can possibly take the field.
While this is our home condition we sud-
denly find OURSELVES in the midst of circum-
stances calculated to excite apprehension of
real danger. The numerous baEds of red
men hanging about our border, and bither-
to friendly, are now more or less hostile.
They are prowling along our vast frontier,
stampeding and rlnning off stock, and
ready to pick off every man they can catch
ou: little from the settlements Their
robbery of the trains near Fort Larned,
and the murder of dozen men, their stam-
peding the stock at Larned, the Smoky Hill
Crossing, and other places, and their move.
ments on the settlements on the Saline in
dicate that the same feeling which exists on
the Platte, extends along half of our north
ern boundary, all the western and large
portion of the southern boundary of the
State.
There is not doubt but that the rebels
have excited this condition of things to oc-
cUpy the attention of portion of our
troops, and however reluctant we may be
10 spare man from the strong rebel posi-
lions, still, humanity, economy and self.
preservation demand that the District,
'hose headquarters are at Fort Riley,
should at once be put in shape to meet the
exigencies of the hour.
While we have full faith that Col. Phil
lips and other brave commanders will do
all in their power to hold the line of the
Arkansas, still we arc alive to their critical
position since the shameful and unnecessary
repulse of our Southwestern army. In the
event of the fall of Fort Smith and Gibson
the war will press itself along the southern
boundary of Kansas, and Fort Scott and
the waters or the Kansas will be the tenn.
porary line of the contest.
In such an event it is easy to foresee the
position of all our frontier settlements, now
menaced with hostile bands of redskins
To meet the present and prospective exi-
gencies, Gen. Blunt should receive the
hearty cooperation of all the settlers in
Western Kansas, and should be at once
supplied with such military force as he
may deem equal to bis necessities. Men
are being raised in the State-let them be
sent to him. Here they can be drilled and
made effective, and here they may be need
ed in few days. Should the danger
which now threatens US pass, there is no
better point from which these troops could
pass down the Neosbo Valley and swell the
army that must be sent to recover the
ground so unnecessarily given up in the
Southwest.
Gen. Blunt's District should be extended
to the northern boundary of the State. 1t
now only goes to the I'd STANDARD parallel,
which cuts the Republican and Solomon
valleys near the mouths of those streams,
and also cuts the Saline midway the county,
leaving the vast valleys, creeks and timber.
ed haunts Of the red man entirely out of
the District. The real home of the Indian
in war time will he found, not on the sand
bills and open plains Of the Arkansas, Gut
in the r,ch valleys. deep wooded creeks and
bills found on the upper Saline, Solomon
and Republican. Hence the necessity Of
this District embracing those localities.
In fact, sound policy dictates that the
Territory Of Colorado should be included
in the District Of which Fort Riley Is the
natural base. From this base, now but .
little removed from the terminus of the
Pacific Railway, which will in few months
be at our door, direct and almost airline
military wagon road should b opened up
to Denver City. Thus will this Post serve
not ooly as base for the lire of the Arkan'