davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-04-02
Letter from Member of the Rebel COngrts,
Important AdmisSiOns---What the Rebels
Hone and Fear,

The following letter was captured AT IAN
ton, Mississippi, during General Sherman
march. 1t was written by o. r. Singleton
of Canton, Mississippi, and was lent to tie
correspondent of the Chicago Tribune by tie
officer having it in his possession:
RICHMOND, January 10, 1864.
Hon. j. b. Hancock
"Dear sir: The present hour
looks gloomy to be sure; but, like yourself,
believe in ultimate success. To give US this
success we want to strike an effective blow
early in the spring. This will set us on our
legs again. Doubtless the Federals viii open
the campaign by moving a heavy column on
Atlanta, Ga, and at the same time heavy
one from Knoxville, in the direction of south
western Virginia and northern North Carolina.
"This latter, If mot repealed, will force
upon General Lee the necessity of falling
back from his present position, IL may be from
Richmond and almost entirely from Virginia, to
prevent himself front being fanked, and his ar
my from being entirely disbanded or destroy
ed. You can see at once if this movement
be allowed to succeed, that these consequen-
ces must follow. This portion of Virginia Is
now pretty well eaten out, and If Lees ar7ly
,cere clst off from the South 1t could not is pro-
viSioaed for three months. Pressed in front,
and harassed in rear, with provisions exhaust
ed, acknowledgment and destruction must fol-
low.
"Then it becomes matter of the frs. mo-
ment to guard the rear army of the Pott mac
"Should the movement upon Atlanta sue
coed, then Georgia viii be laid waste, and
our chief source tat presently of provisions
viii be cut off. No man can look forward 10
spring without great apprehensions. Doubt
less our severest trials will then be upon Us.
If we sustain ourselves, or more, if we gain
any signal advantage over the enemy soon
after the opening of the campaign, re may
gige TIE opposition elements Of the North edElce
70 combine and beat Lincoln for President Ihs
/ should hail as a good omen, and begin TO think
of peace at no uery distantClay.. see no chance
for peace until the Republican party is beaten
and overcome. In the meantime things are
assuming more unfavorable aspect in North
Carolina Her coursesis deeply humiliating
to every patriotic heart. Congress is labor
ing diligently to strengthen our army and I'M
prove our currency. i hope we shall succeed
materially in accomplishing both of these
ends The remedy is a severe one, but the
disease is desperate and no silly nostrum will
answer. The cause is the peoples and they
must sustain it at all hazards, and the repre-
sentative who falters in this hour of trial is
not worthy of confidence. would tell yOu
what measures we are likely to adopt, but
that would be contraband, our proceedings
aresin secret session,
i T" As ever, your friend, most truly,
- - s.'&'N - 4 40. R.SINGLET0S."
Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-04-02


I The NEGRO POPULATION OF LoUIsIANA.-The
correspondent Of the New York Times, writ
ing from New Orleans, says that one year ago
Col. Hanks was feeding from the Government
Coninlissariat more than twenty thousand
negroes Besides this number, there were
quite fifteen thousand who hung around the
camps and elsewhere, obtaining their living
partly by cooking, washing, fishing and steal
ing; yet these were, to large extent, an in
cubus upon the Government. Now all the
negroes have been placed in aucondition of
profit to the Government and to themselves
Not only does the labor system furnish en-
ployment to those within the limits of the
department., but had we ten thousand more
they would all be employed without expense,
but rather with great benefit to the Govern
ment 20 49, es9 .
+. The benefit that viii return to the Govern
ment this year, resulting from the operations
of this system Of labor, viii more than pay all
the expense that the refugee negroes have
been to it since the occupation Of the State
Oy our forces yat wedv
gB A short but remarkably spirited des-
cription of a secessionist town in Tennessee
is given by a correspondent of the Chicago
Tribune. He says that before the occupation
of the place by our forces, Larkinsville was
disloyal; with few exceptions its men. wo-
men and children chewed tobacco, drank
whiskey, became sallow in complexion and
rebellious.n
Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-04-02
TFron the N. Y. Independently
THOMAS STARR KING.
RI JOHN G. wHITrrER

The g-eat work laid upon his two-scors years
Is done, and we'll done. II We drop our tears
Who loved him as few men were ever loved,
We mourn no ib1ighted hope nor broken plan
With him whose life stands rounded and approved
In the full growth and stature Of a man.
Mingle. o bells, along the Western slope,
With your deep toll a sound Of faith and hope
Wave cheerily still, banner, halfway down,
Prom thousand-masted bay and steepled town.
Let the strong organ with its isftiest swell
Lift the proud sorrow Of the land, and tell
That the brave sower saw his ripened grain.
n East and West, o morn and sunset twain
Nomore foreye has he lived in vain
Who, priest of Freedom, made ye one, and told
Your bridal service from his lips o. sS.fE
Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-04-02

MooRE's Rsral NsO Yorker pronounces the
Wine Plant humbug, and says it has re-
ceived letter from correspondent in Dane
county, Wisconsin, which states that it has
appeared in that section in the hands of
competent agents" and is selling at enor-
NOUS figures
Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-04-02

- A London letter writer says thS'
United States greenback Treasury notes Ofins
precisely the same amount now in the EhslisH
capital that they did one year ago-t~o sni''
lings and nine pence sterling on the dollar
while rebel scrip is unsaleable at any price,
Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-04-02
+" A boy whose right arm clasped a maid,
While his left one held a gum

n
e = While his left one held a gdn,s'nStl 4 Z
d trying position for a, young soldier. The
influence of the eagles shadow impaired
strength and courage. The young man babe
his girl adieu, and the Eagle lowered over the
Eighth as It departed for the war. He follow
ed them, and his shadow still foated above
the old flag, until he finally perched on the
tent of the boy before mentioned, who-had
been wounded in battle. The boy and the
eagle became fast friends. When the form
er RECEIVERS the eagle perches on his shoulder
as the regiment goes into battle, and his
scream sounding through the roar of artillery
is like that of "the genius of Liberty
The poet concludes:
The Eighth Wisconsin marches on, 80
By danger undeterred,
And one of them bears on his right gun,
On his left the noble bird. -
And his dream by night is vision sweet,
OF far Wisconsin glade,
Where he meets with his hrst and last retreat,
Outfanked, right and left, by maid
These first efforts to immortalize our bird
may be little crude, but, ~byand-by, surely
the traditions of the. live eagle of the Eighth
Wisconsin will crystalline into some romance
or poem that the world will not willingly let
die. .suk3 ~
Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-04-02
rx-Peace has been ratified with the North

Carolina ,Cherokees. Those recently captur-
ed say that they were induced to take up
arms under the belief that they were fighting
for the United States government, Since
the return of the Indians to loyalty the re-
bells have committed numerous outrages. upon
Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-04-02

THE NEGRO TRooPs AT 0LusTEE.- A Flori-
da correspondent of Charleston paper says
that in the recent battle "The Yankee dark
les fought like devils.n
Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-04-02
Gov. Vanee,s Speech.

fr.Ns .
Gov. Vanee's Speech. ssf
A long speech was recently made by Gov.
VANCE, the rebel Executive of North Caro-
lima, in Wilkes county, in that State, against
as the Governor says, " of seeding from
the Southern Confederacy and repudiating
the whole thing" After indirectly admitting
that the convention party is very strong, he
opposed the project, first, because it is USE
less; second because it would be dangerous i;
and third, because it is impossible. The
Governor is not complimentary to secession,
which he says has proved anything but the
peacable matter that it was promised it
should be. He compares the sufferers TO a
man sick with fever, who, on becoming con.
valescent, tells the physician that the only
way to recovery is through another spell of
fever. He asks the petitioners: "Do you ex-
peet to find a remedy by repetition of the
dose that brought you to bed?"
He then goes on to say that secession from
the Confederacy would involve the State in
new and bloodier war than that in which it
is now engaged; declaring in plain contra
vention to the secession dogma that the right
of retaining revolving State is inherent in
all sovereignties. He does not apply the ar
gument in so many words to the revolt OF the
South against the National Constitution, but
in effect does so by replying to the objection
that JEFF. DAVIS could not coerce North Caro-
lima, because the Confederate Constitution
recognizes secession. He says: So it is,
my friends but you see By the time you have
Mao,cn fHe Constitution, you hare gotte,, from
under It's Obligations, and sworn you would have
nothing to do with it. DO you expect tie Con-
tSeracy to be bound By a document yO~ refuse to
recognize as affecting yourselves % &. Aooi 20,
Here is the very point on which the Union
men and Copperheads at the North differ SO
widely. The Copperheads insist that the
rebels who disregard and repudiate the au-
thority Of the constitution of the United
States, shall be entitled to have their pro-
perty protected under it, while fighting to
destroy it. -t .,,,a i, -, ......ss sst
Gov. VANCE appealed to the fears of his
audience by telling them that between the
troops of Lee and old Abe, they would
" catch the devil on. both sides" He also
observed that if every man in Wilkes coun-
ty, who chad used abusive language toward
JEFF. DAVIS and the Confederate Government,
were to be put in Jail, he would have to ad-
dress his audience through the prison bars. "
The spirit of the crowd may be, inferred by
the following paragraph in the speech, as re-
ported in the Richmond papers: ''Now,what
is it you desire above all other present
earthly good ? [voices-,Peace, peace, we
all want peace know you do" s"a s
Before another autumn, we trust that the
armies of the Union will give them the peace
which will follow the .re-establishment of the
authority of the constitution and laws of the
United States over the whole country.
Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-04-02

The INDENNIFcATIoN AcT.-The Supreme
Court of New York has reversed the decision
of Judge CLERKEa In the case of GEO. w.
JONES VS. WIN. H, SEWARD for false imprison-
ment. Judge CLERKE, held that the case
could not be transferred to the United States,
because the law of the United States, which
was set up as a defence, was plainly uneon-
stitutional, and, therefore, the defence was
not " case arising under the Constitution
or laws of the United States" :
The Court, in full bench, reverse thisde-
cision, saying that the question is not wheth-
er the act of Congress which is set up AS a
defence is constitutional; but whether the act
directing the removal to the United States
Court, of claims and defences under that and
other acts Of Congress, is constitutional. AS
to the constitutionality of this actHthere
could be little or mo dispute. .ys
Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-04-02

INSIDE HIsToRY.-A pamphlet has recently
been published in Richmond containing the
correspondence between Gen. JEFFERSON DA-
Wis and Gen. JOSEPH E. JOHNSTON while the
siege of Vicksburg was in progress, and Civ
ing some other interesting Information of the
internal history, on the rebel, of that impor-
tant campaign. 1t appears that JOHNSTON
was able to collect only twenty-four thousand
men, and that of these, eight thousand four
hundred were drawn from Bragg's army, and
six thousand from Beauregards. There was
a controversy between JOHNSTON and DAVIS
as to the extent of the command of the for
mer JOHNSTON was not disposed to be held
responsible for BRAGG's army, and notified
DAVIS that either Tennessee or Mississippi
must be given up His suggestions were not
acted up, and so both states were lost to the
rebels. JOHNSTON also protested against as
signing Generals of Northern birth to this
department, showing that lthe situation of
those individuals suspected by the Southern
eonspirators to whom they have lent them
selves must be very far from agreeable.
Neither DAVIS nor JOHNSTON is willing to ac-
cept the responsibility of the loss of Missis-
sippi and Tennessee, and their correspondence,
like our reports of the "committee on the
conduct of the warp Indicates that the con-
ficts of jurisdiction between, the civil, execu-
tive and military department commanders do
not tend to efficiency in military operations.
Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-04-02

passed providing for realizing the amounts
of unpaid mortgages due to the State amend
ing B. $. for the, relief and support of the
poor; in relation to suits and proceedings by
and against the joint stock companies pre-
viding sinking fund for paying certain debts
of the La Crosse and Milwaukee Railroad
Company, and several local bills and appro-
priation. bills. ism t1aoa sdT
- observation-disclosures of absence were refused
to a number of members. Mr.. HUBBELL offer
ed a series of resolutions commenting the q.
s. Sanitary Commission, and the Aid Socie-
ties of this State Mr.. GEo9 b. SMITH, from
a select committee, recommended the passage
of the capitol extension bill, 50 amended as
to appropriate $4,000 to complete the walls,
and roof over the remainder Of the edifce
so as to protect it from the weather. Ills
Bills were passed authorizing the invest
tnent Of the school, university and swamp
land funds in bonds or certificates of indebt-
edness of the State; to change name of Green
Bay Bank to La Crosse Bank, and authorize
it to reduce its capital; to authorize the Gov
ernor to purchase flags for Wisconsin regi-
ments and batteries; relating to evidence in
certain cases; authorizing town supervisors
to transfer moneys. from the general fund to
the school fund in certain cases; to amend
chapter 1877 of laws of 1859, amending the
statutes respecting school lands; to repeal
sections l, 2 and of chapter 100 of laws of
1862, respecting allotment commissioners; to
incorporate Berlin & Lake Superior R. r. Co.;
to incorporate ST. Croi0 & Mississippi Steam
boat Navigation Co.; and the bill to continue
work on the State Capitol, and appropriating
1000 for that purpose. 50
Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-04-02

Through Lees last hope-and there they gained
theday.
God heard their shoutip heaven--aud the wind
Bore proudly back 60 those who lay behind NJ
Breathing then last, the great victorious cry ~
That bsae them gladly clap their hands and die. y
Meanfjnde, the eagle, vaulting from his shield,
And ave eping grandly Ger that glorious field,
Caughf up a1ittle flag whose lettering said
The Union lives againI Rebellion's deadi -
And, wheeling high in air, he shot across
The broad Atlantic to that friendly Cd coast s=
Where despots five, and lighting on the crest
of the now covering lion, took his rest;
Then, rising, clapped his lordly eagle wings
There, in the face of monarchies and kings,
And proudly waved the little flag that said
The Union lives sgaiul Rebellion's dead.
Who viii deny after this that the war has
produced poet. "The mild and tender
playfulness" of the warning angels is good !!
poet celebrates he-eagle in the
Chicago Tribune. He is introduced while
"poised in the azure depths of air." His
Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-04-02

and providing that the county supervisors
shall fix the salary of the clerk of the board !;
reviying the provisions Of the r. s. respect
ing the collection of demands against vessels.
THREE o'cLocK. P. M.-The bill for uniform
tariff for railroad freights was after some dis
cussion referred to select eommitteeyof
nine, with Instructions to report next Mon
day morning, by a vote Of 81 to 81. Though
not strictly test vote, the reference is re-
garded as a triumph of the enemies of the
I'LL
Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-04-02

Bills authorizing the bank of Weyauwega
toreddce its capital stock and change its
name and place of business; and exempting
lands granted to Breckway college to an
amount not exeeeding 10000 aeres,frem taS-s
otiou
Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-04-02


Then, come We now, to that triumphant day.,
When, after serious loss and long delay,
The north arose in all her majesty,
To crush rebellion with a blow, and give
Back IN their teeth the lie, to those that live
In European bondage, and yet say a
Your great Republic now has passed away.
Wild was the furious elangor that arose,
From the innumerable mass OF those,
who, forming now with rash impetuous ire,
Loud elamorad for the signal word to IRE. 4
1t came at last, and from that living wall
Blazed forth stream. Of death, that mould opal
And shame the ,Vagring angels, that tcth mid q
Ind tender play ttlness, tore up the tcild
And shaggy mosmtasns By thesT roots, and threw
Upon the rebel hosts ia Satan's crew
Enough Of earth to keep them out Of view 4
All day the battle ragged and hungry War;
Has swallowed up the largest portion far
OF those proud armies, that atearly morn
Sprang to the call of the stern bugle horn;
And yet, as If assured that this would be
The last blind dght, for human slavery,
He gorged himself and, reaching out again,
Flung thousands more upon the groaning plain.
The battle often wavered; but the oak
Stern and inspiring as the eagle croak
That rang along the foremost bleeding line
Still firmly clashed against the southern pine;
And the fierce cry that came ringing out
Fight for the eagie e, boysl brought back the sho
God and the eagle from ten thousand men,
That now, like tigers fighting in Their den,
sprang on the foe, and carved their bloody way
, 1864-02-04

OF this detestable monster, satisfactory
account is given in the Kansas STATE Journal.
In that paper We find it stated that he was
born and reared in Canal Dover, Tuscarawas
county, Ohio. It is said that his paternal
grandparent fought bravely for his country Ia
the last var With Great Britain His father
is m educated man, a teacher Of earning,
and devoted Christian.
HIS maternal ancestors were not a1l 60 hap
PLY organized. His grandeire on that side, it
is recorded, was Il gambler Of Desperate ten
dencies. He has IN uncle, also, who was
reckless man, familiar with crime.
He received good educatioa, Which has
served to mike him more accomplished VII
lain, being reared under the Influences of a
pious snd well regulated home. He evident
y did not absorb any Of them
He came to Kansas In 1857, located near
and is well known in that yicInlty.
The final triumph Of the Free State cause
in the Territory. In 1857, did not bring order
and acondition Of security to the southern bor-
der counties Only the more hardy and res
o1ute of the Free State settlers remained.
with brave and sagacious leaders. Compel.
ed to accept condition of constant war,
these men gave themselves exclusively to its
prosecution. So the feeling between the
neighborhoods Of the Territory and the State
became Intensely cmblttered and uncompro-
missing, and the conflict necessarily fierce and
bloody It ia not st1ange, therefore, that
open and active hostilitIes continued between
them, after the truce was signed by the high
contending powers Of Freedom and Slavery
1t 1ecomPton.
Quantrcl took lively interest In the feuds
and fights Of those localities, and, it ID said,
was vehement champion Of the anti-slaverJ
party. He was especially interested in the
plots Of the secret bands. organized with the
exclusive purpose of retaliation. He affected
the society Of those who were for ca1rying
"the war into Africa and plnndering tile
shareholders In turn 80.
) He recommended himself to the confidence
of thc practical abo1itlonists, and made HIM
set familiar with ill the secrets Of the under
ground railroad. At the same time he Hooed
the leaders Of the pro-slavery party In Mis-,
souri, and won his way into their secret 80:
cietics. : In this way the; cold -blooded villain
betrayed the former to the latter, and sup
, 1864-02-04
The Bleod-Uound Question.
CORRESPONDENCE N. Y. Tribune

HELKSA; Ark, Jan. 2, 1864.
The bloodhound question has been often
discussed in the North, and Mrs. Stowc's nar-
rative Of the barbarous custom of hunting
men with hounds has frequently been denied.
Heightened Soufherners have colored with
pious indignation at the idea, and feeling wo-
men have denied the imputatfon as IN 4'Abo-
lition falsehood.'' The fact is, the barba-
risms Of slavery hare been st1diously con-
ccalcd By the representatives of Southern chiv-
airy, and the North has only -been allowed
to.take look now aud then behind the cur
tain. Then the happy$sSa1nbos 20 have been
arranged in telling tableau1, and the North
ern audience has gone away astonlshcd at the
beuefcent institution.
Recently circumstances have happened, aud
1acts have been disclosed In Coahoma county,
Mississippi, opposite Helena, which ! have
determined to aend you,; and forever settle
tic bloodhound question. The stanuch old
veteran Buford commands at Helena Ho is
Known as an elegant gentleman, philoso-
pher among white men, and q terror to Sc
cessionists-an iron hand concealed beneath
tho silk glove He Is General, Jury, Mayor
and Governor of the city; and through bis
strategy snany leecessionists, gacril,as and
rebel officers are brought, to Justice. Every
law, order and proclamation is carried ont, In
litter and, spirit, in his department.; Not.
ii outstanding the Presidents proclamation,
James Stacey, citizen OF Coahoma county,
continued his: only Legitimate business Of
hunting runaway slaves with blood-hounds.
, 1864-02-04

=. ~ LONDON, Saturday, Jan =, 1851
The news teddy, above all other news, is
that OF the birth Of a royal son and heir to
the Prince ofWalcs. This great event came
of at 8 o'clock last evening. # can believe
the dunble-leadcd leaders In the mornings
papers, it vas the only thing wanting to
complete the nation's felicity. Clouds lower
on other lands-England isbcrene and happy.
This New Years gift of Providence leaves
nothing to be desired, There Is no distress
in Lancashire, no exodus from ireland, no
crowds Of homeless, starving wretches be-
sieging the doors of every Work-house and
night refuge in London, no crowded novels
in The agricultural districts there is nothing
but joy, prosperity and happiness now that
a baby is born to the Princess Of Wa1es-
When I opened my Tines I rushed down
to my lanalady with the news: Her
first emotion, Of course, was delight, but her
second was establishment "What! sosoon?''
she exclaimed ; IL thought 1t was not to be
till March," and then she fell into state Of
abstraction and begun counting her fingers
with great diligence. Ibellcye 1t is all right,
as near az can make out from o sheet alma-
nnc, In which the marriage is set down as
having happened on the 1eth Of March, 1868,
and it ia new the sth Of January, 1854, there-
fore, &c, dc.
, 1864-02-04

A letter from gentleman occurring high
position in the United States contains Inc fol.
lowing: curious story: This reminds me,
says the writer, that JET. Davis son, b. his
vice on board Of one Of The gauboats on the
Mississippi for several months-a likely mu-.
Into. Among the letters Of jeff, taken at
lis house BY our Illinois troops, there was
batch Of quarrclsome epistlea between Jcfr.
md Mra; Davis, touching this o4 dame Cath
bitterly. i have this. story from ono Of, Tie
highest officers In the squadron, who had the
negro JEFF on board his gnnboot, and who
himself read the letters and suppressed them.