Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-12-01
Letter from IlliMOi

NulCu tuC loitoNiu. SAti1Ssc SiV"eSN
out of our columns until now, are made
The letter was written by lady-a ma
tive and former resident Of this town.
to friend here, and though not intend
ed for publication, the incidents describ-
ed below will be read with interest
ef JOLIET, Nov. 9th, 1864.
DEAR F.:-Our election passed off very
quietly. All the liquor saloons were
closed by order of the Mayor, and not
withstanding the excitement we passed
through the day previous, occasioned
by the news of the guerrillas in Chicago,
and telegram sent from there to Judge
Norton that sixty had left for Joliet, we
are all safe to day. One mans hay-stack
was fred in the evening, and he kept a
patrol around his premises during the
night with orders to shoot anyone who
came into the yard without giving an
account of himself. Twelve O'Clock
came and all was quiet The night was
dark and rainy and soon after midnight
the guard heard the gate rattle. They
cried out "Who is there7 7" No answer.
They came nearer and saw black mass
at the gate, apparently about half n
dozen men. At the approach of the
guard they moved back and still they
shouted "Who is there :" No reply.
They waited in suspense and all was
Quiet again. Two o'clock came and the
same ominous gate rattle. Now the
black mass passed through, entered the
ward approaching the house. Again
they shrieked, "Who is there 2" No re-
ply; hut slowly moved toward the
house. They fired their muskets. The
family aroused by the report of the guns
rushed from their beds into the yard
the women in their night caps and the
men barefooted. light was produced;
orders came, "Run for the Doctor" and
| they, all horror stricken, approached the
groaning mass. When behold their
neighbor's best COW had fallen victim
to the guerrilla excitement. Poor cow
She died for her country.
There is no doubt that the rebels came
here, but found the people notified OF
their arrival and prepared to give them
a reception according to their deserts
and went off on the first south bound
train.
DO vou recoleet Mss B. ? She was the
bridesmaid when DR.. B. was married
She has been engaged to an officer of
high military rank in the United States
army for a long time, and Monday of
this week was to have been the consum-
alton of their nuptials, but it was not.
Last Tuesday week we had in Joliet a
Democratic county mass meeting, the
"bobtail" and the elite of the party par
ticipating. The procession was very
handsome and imposing. Fifteen thou
sand dollars were contributed toward
defraying the expenses and some of the
carriages were gorgeously decorated
at private expense. Thirtysix females
Il was going to say ladies) rode on
horseback-many of the servant girls
having an opportunity to show them
selves of.
When the officer of the army arrived
(who by the way was formerly Demo,
crat, but now like all the honest ones has
repudiated the party and stands uncon
ditionally for the Union,) l say when ht
arrived in town on that day, the frs
thing he beheld was his betrothed (AIisS
By his intended wife, mounted upon ;
horse. in front, and leading the caval
cade of females riding in honor of Val
lapdigham. He was grieved and indig
nant to find his intended in such com
napy. And when he reached her faith
er's house and found him entertaining
yallandigham, Dick Merrick and las
not least Richardson, the latter so eleya'
ed and elated by large petations
whisky or bohea tea that he could no
sit at the table, he was astonished an
felt that he had been suddenly tran
ported Southwark instead of Northwar
At suitable time he demonstrated wit
Miss B. for the position she occupie
She was imperious and vindictive t.
wards ninii, and sparing no anathems
ir for the present administration she fina
D lv said she wished she had it in hi
d mower to make vaimi.andigham presidel
q and every abolitionist sN,,ng. he DO
o1 that, and to keep peace with the faith
'e went out in the evening to hear VS.
10 landigham speak. He swallowed it al
y suppressed his excitement to the utmo
though defending his own views wit
\. out restraint. Saturday morning cam
70 The cake and the table delicacies arri,
1 ed from Chicago; the dresses were fiji
ished ready to be packed Monda
noon. All the preparations were cor
a. pleted. Some friends of Miss B. call,
n Saturday morning, and in conversatie
as Miss B. said if he Cher intendedD dar,
VI. vote for Lincoln she would choke hir
\. AS soon as the friends left, he boltet
| <rld NJ u tho 20 thor fbof bo bo Il y,n.