The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-05-16

~N'So''u ~ OovtTuOr DtOD0 10 II. h.
Bissell, E-q., OF Dubuque, and althoup b
1t is in answer to a private letter, yet it's
contents relate exclusively to the grea,
public duty of the hour, aud will be read
with earnest interest by the people of the
whole State:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
Des Moines, May 10, 1864
DEAR sIR:-Yonrs of the Goth ul,imo.
has just been handed TO me here. have
made no promises for field officers. and
shall make none until the proper time ar
rives, when, after consulting the wishes
and interests of the regiments / will do
the best can in selecting the proper men
Tor these important and responsible posi-
tons. Fneads Who importune you for
recommendations might be answered. that
IL Is men 1 want now, not oifrers, for if
the inner do not offer themselves. will
have no use for the latter, aud it will be
an excellent recommendation for a fieil
ONCE that The applicant has showd pecu-
liar Illness to command by raising men
to be commanded. am cheered by the
hattering Indications received from Du.
Duque. and feel truly grateful for the
promptness and patriotic energy with
"t'eh y.ur citizens took hold of the call
for one hundred dsy troops. They have
certainly manifested the right spirit a,
the right time. Their noble cooduc,
gives gratifying assurance that they full,
resi'ze the ,ituation Of The country at this
portentous hour; and that, like true NE n
aud patriots, they are willing to sacrifice
their personal interests and convenience
Tor the purpose of advancing the common
good.
am advised that objections are made
py somel evidently uuscuuainted with
The facts, that other States should he
Compelled to Gil up their quotas before
more men are furnished from Iowa. II
these faul-hnders will take the pains to
read the proposition, as accepted by the
President, they will find it expressly s,,.
pula.ed that the furnishing OF this hun
dred day force from the Wet Is n.t 10
e''ec1 t6e draft in any Of the delinquent
: ates, but that it is to be enforced in
all OF them notwithstanding, and be ALo
has tailed 70 notice tn at the draft il. now
going en- in these States is iynoreut of
the subject about which he talks. w.
were careful to guard this point, and would
not have rendered these men if by their
aecsFtance the draft in any State vould
have been postponed.
Events are rapidly eliminating, which;
II 'hey do not absolutely decide the fate
OF the Republic, will determine the oues.
ton whether cur land is to be chcerea hv
an early return of peace or subjected 20
aii the horrors OF a protracted and ruinous
war. The m'ghtiest results depend uoon
the success of Gen. Grant and his heroic
armies, They may beat back the rebel
hordes and reach Richmond, and trust
10 God they will. but the. road bas ye. 10
De Travelled. and stretches over many des.
perste and bloody fields. The cool aud
determined courage of our northern sol.
oiers may prove an overmatch for the 6ery
DESPERATION OF their southern foes.
With bis armies daily wasting avav IN
the terrible Conflicts with Lees tried and
determined legions, Grant must have son
slant accessiens, and be strengthened by
fresh columns, or ultimately turn his back
upon the rebel capital. Now almost 10
sight leaving disappointed country to
weep over the graves Of our patriot dead
In another fruitless eampaiga. To pre-.
vet SO disastrous result there is but
one safe course to pursue. The thou
sands OF tried veterans now performing
guard aud garrison duty along our widely
extended lines Of Communication and
oeiences must be relieved and sent to the
'front.'. 1t was for this purpose, and in
ahucipation OF the emergency now exist
Ing that the Lieutenant General mined
the Governors Of the Western States in
urging upon the President the ac.
ceptance of this contingent force. Ths
repel,i'n Is almost within our grasp; let
Us clutch 1t while we can. Grant and
Butter, Sherman and Logan are moving
gicfiousiy upon the strongholds of the
enemy, yet ssd experience bas taught us
the uncertainties Of war. The tide al
victory which has now set in must be
taken at its ebb and pushed onward 20
hnai triumph. Continued energy. valo,
and endurance will secure additional vic.
tories to our conqueriny armies. and
close the struggle before the forest lesves
nre yellowed BY autumn frosts. A fail
ure now may ignomrni ,usly terminate III.
spring campaigns, aud protrscs be var
with all its increasing horrors 70 IN ihdefi
mite length.
Who can portray the thrilling scenes
and sra.d events of the next oAs hun
orcd days? Within that lime mao,
Contests, bioodirr far than Waterloo, ma
be fought; and a. the memorshIs hun
dred days Of Napoleon give ! nee "a,
aud destiny 4. Europe. SO may..this ,hor
period mark The destiny Il this REPUBLIC
Arc the young men Of IowA fully aliv,
to the importance II the csll they hav,
received, aad are they prepared "a 70
spmdi Will they BE- isg.srd w6sa sAsi
country needs and 70 esrasssiv, aeman.',
their heIpf Are tho-e u hus.r less =
: triosie thsa .sks SOtIo0 Jsnnwesessn
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