The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1864-08-27
LETTER FROM FoRT SMITH.

LETTER FROM FORT SMITH.
FoRT SMITH. ARK July so, 1864.
DEAR News: We left Fort Scott on the
9th of July with train almost seven miles
long. composed principally of Government
outfits. but for all there was considerable
sprinkle of suffers wagons, Government
spectators, gamblers, jsyhawkers, strag-
Cling soldiers, going to join their COM
nds,-women OF doubtful character, new
fedged shoulder-etraps. putting on style.
feather bed officers who had never been to
the front-splendid heroes, in their own es-
timation-one horse. plsyed-out politicians,
going to the Indian service, negroes and
Indians, with an escort of $50 of what are
commonly called ''d-d lousy Indian
Home Guards, supposed to be of the Cher
okee persuseion, and about 200 cavalry of
various regiments, all under the immediate
command and conttol of Lieut.. Col. Camp
bell, of the 9Th Kan. Cav. Such was our
outft destined for Fort Smith. Our sub.
sstence consisted of hard tack and old jake
for man, and green grass of the prairies for
our animals. From Fort Scott TO Fort Glib.
son, a distance of 100 miles, through the
Cherokee Nation, we found to be beauti-
ful prairie country, with abundance of tim
Der aud water, and from all appearances it
is as rich aud fertile as any portion of Kan
sas. Thousands of half wild cattle subsist
10 this country are slaughtered and driven
away promiscuously by both soldier and
citizen. Fort Gibson, on the north side Of
the Arkansas river, and at the mouth of
Grand river, is an old. dilapidated fort. gar.
risoned by Indians. with Col. Phillips in
command, who is notorious for getting up
scares. Here we found thousands of refu-
gees-"Texicans.' ''Rackenaack travel.
ers," Indians of various tribes-all huddled
together around the Notifications, and q
dirty, lousy, half.starved, ragged, misera-
bic looking set they were, the sight of
which is enough to excite the pity Of any
human. Uncle Sam allows them half ra-
tons. otherwise they would certainly starve.
After leaving Gibson, We came into rough.
mountainous country, and the distance Of
TO miles from Gibson to Smith is barren
country. with rocky hills. stunted timber,
and uninhabited except by bushwhackers.
and any one seeing this country can easily
see Why the bushwhsckers cannot be driven
out of it. or Why they cannot be prevented
from going north into Missouri and Kan
cas-. The most of this country is peculiar
~ adapted to their mode of warfare, and IL
is dangerous to stragglers. We had moth
ing to mar the regular routine of our daily
travels, except one or two false alarms, and
in 60 days after leaving Fort Scott We ar
rived on the north bank of the Arkansas
river. opposite Fort Smith. at the mouth Of
the Poteau river, and at the head of nsvi.
CATION. This has been rather Hourishing
Southern town. with q population probably
of 1000 inhabitants in it's palmiest days;
although the old citizens say they are doing
more business here now than was ever trans.
acted at any former time. The Fort and
city are together. and the Notifications and
ouiposts extend for. several miles. Kansas
troops and negroes are the principal troops
in this country. The famous Ist and ed
Kansas colored are beFs. The 18th and
54th U. s. Colored Infantry are also here,
and more orderly or finer lot of SOLDIERS
We have never seen, aud we are of the opin-
ion they are going to be the best soldiers We
have for The South, Here We found the
Aykonsangers in all their glory. Here the
women chew tobacco and take snuff, smoke
short pipes and eat peanuts on the street
corners, swear promiscuously. and are the
exempli6catioD of every thing low and de-
grading. We witnessed the execution OF
iour bushWhackers yesterday They were
shot by detail Of the 18Th Kansas. They
knelt beside their eofins, with eyes band
aged. aEd faced the music without muir.
mur, and one of them said he only wished
to live longer that he might kill more Feds.
The new aud splendid steamer Alamo
starts for Little Rock to-day. and we are
going to that place, as our regiment Is there.
suoh ie life. MURDOCH,