The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-08-20
Recruttng IN the soush ..Lstser frem
Gov. stone.

Recrustng IN the south ..Lslser frsm
Gov. ssoae.
In the Oskalooss Herald of yesterday
there 10 letter from Gov. Stone address.
ed 10 DR.. Bsards.ey in response to one
which be had received from the latter
gentleman in reference to the expediency
of sending agents to recruit 10 the South.
We take the following extracts from the
letter Of Gov. Stone. He does not think
the scheme advisable and the grounds
upon which bis opinion is based are good
and substantial. His last visit to the
South afforded him an excellent opportu.
nifty to know from personal observation
the condition of that section of the couu-
try. and the probabilities of success in
filing the depleted ranks Of our Iowa
regiments BY hunting material in Dixie
And here 10 what be says about it:
have NO hesitancy in saying that l Dc
not believe the number of recruits likely
to be obtained By such means would be.
gin to remunerate your cilisens for the
trouble and expense uuavoidably INCUR.
ed in sending agents after them. You
will bear in uiBd that the Law excludes
these agents from the border Slave State.,
and also from Tennessee, Arksnsas and
Louisiana, which present by far the most
fruitful il not the only fields for procu-
ring recruits. Your agents would there
fore be confined to the extreme Southern
States such as Georgia, Alabama, Missis-
sIppi and the Carollnss, exposed to con-
slant aud imminent danger from the enc.
my when not within the protection Of our
own forces. in hunting for men over terri.
tory where mercilees CONSUMPTION, thro'
the insttumentalities of press gangs and
blood-hounds proving from valley 10 hill.
side aud mountain top, have unrcisntingly
forced from their homes every male in.
habi'ant from the beardless boy of fifteen
to the gray haired father of sixty.
And after giving an exceedingly we'll
written and interesting account of the
South as he saw it, together with an able
resume Of the condition and prospects Of
the Confederacy he concludes thus:
6ud that instead Of combining myseli
to direct answer to your inquiries, nv
pen has been wandering among the scenes
in Dixie's land. But ss have not had
an opportunity to worry you with verbal
narrative Of things seen and heard, You
vii: De kind enough to overlook the II.
cesse l have taken and consider yourself
as fortunate in escaping with so moderate
q dose. You will, Of course, infer from
what | have said that 1 have bu. little
faith in our ability to obtain recruits in
rebel States for the Union army. Our
agents cannot safely go beyond the lines
OF our army and within them / am sat.
isfed that agents will be as plenty as but
ternuts. 10 short. would as soon think
of going to Greenland for oranges, OF
hunting for polar bears about the tropics
This. however, is only my opinion and
need not control the judgment of othsrs
1t YOUR citis ans regard the undertaking n
feasible | will promptly commission any
agents they may select and cheerfully rem,
der them all the assistance 10 my power
inasnuch as there no appropriation fol
this purpose. agents sent south on this
business, must be paid by those who elect
them.