The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1864-05-18
Editorial Correspondence.

BRIGGS, CHICAGO, May 10Th.
j. II. ANDRIcK, ESQ.,,
Dear Sir As usual, when necessity
or pleasure drives me out of the famous
marrow City" of the Great River for a
few days, ~ take my pen in hand to let
you know" where l am; and as usual,
when my destination is CHICAGO, write
you from the "reliable" Hotel that is rapidly
gathering in its train of custom the most
companionable and influential body of
travellers that have occasion to visit or to
pass through this city. French ard Harvey
Willard are down in Dixie making money,
at some business unknown to me, but
TUCKER is still around, as attentive to
guests as ever, while FRED. BURNnAM and
FRANK WENTWORTH head the column of
attendants in the Office, and dispense good
nature and comfort to the weary ones whose
names are worthy TO go into their book of
life. Mr.. Colburn, recently of the Astor,
is new clerical employee at the Briggs
a very fine looking man, and doubtless
entire master of the situation: my acquaint-
ance with him is slight, but he is all right,
know, or the best Hotel in Chicago would
not have him in employ. Most Iowa men
stop at the Briggs, and hence here is the
place for our folks to find a resting place.
On arrival here, Wednesday last, at -,
ola the NJ. & Pr. du CHEN and the N, w,
Railways, the city was in nigh state Of
excitement consequent upon the hourly
receipt Of war dispatches, and the almost
uninterrupted success of the glorious old
Galena tanner, Gen. Grant May he sue.
coed in SHINING the rebellion Of its strength
and tanning it in the liquor Of the old
Constitution of our afflicted country -
My God, how much depends upor the
efforts now making, and how important it
is to push to the front every available man
Of the Republic. Some must stay at home,
Of course, but it looks as though now is the
time to make one overwhelming exertion
and stop this murderous strife. am glad
to see Gov. Bramlettc, Of Ky, calls for
10. 900 men at once and proposes to lead
them! This kind Of talk rallies the blood
Of those to whom he appeals and has its
effect, while the appeal Of others, Go"
iastead CT the more encouraging "CouE,"
does but tenth Of the good in raising men,
and very often does positive harm. If
Grant fails to take Richmond, the campaign
is only sacrifice of life and treasure. The
enemy is still strong-Grant calls him
obstinate" and more battles must be
fought before the breezes of South cast
Virginia will kiss the beautiful emblem of
American Nationality floating from the
State Capitol at Richmond. A delay of
months to prepare for another onset, is in
my opinion an abandonment Of the cause.
True, nothing from Grant indicates an in
tention to retire, but he cannot fight with.
out men, and much as we may tlatter our.
selves with victory thus far, all we have
gained may
"perish, like Dead Sea fruit. upon the lips
if he is left without sudden and heavy
reinforcements. If it costs 100000 men
to shatter the dreadful cause that for
years has been shipping Collins to every
Northern and every Southern home, the
sacrifice may as we'll be in the next month
as in the next five years. Let US hope
President making and political scheming at
Washington will sleep for the next thirty
days, and "a vigorous prosecution of the
war; be the actual as it has so long been
the pretended policy Of those in authority.
The army news will not pretend to give
you, as the papers of Monday next from
this city will be fuller and more satsfac-
tory in detail. Suffice it, Lee has got
man to meet who anticipates all his strategy
and beats him at the favorite fank-turning
and massipg by which Lee has heretofore
threshed our division commanders sent to
cope with him. 1t looks as if Ulysses had
his mighty and brave military rival on the
hip, and that whether he is wounded as
now reported, or captured, or not captured,
Richmond must shortly be ours. Many of
the rumors are doubtless false. but if half
be true it is well. That tho moneyed in
terests Of the country doubt the immediate
success of Gen. Grant, and do not rely on
all the reports, is seen from the stiffness of
the Gold market. On Monday last at noon,
it was STIR; Tuesday 1854; Wednesday
l75i; Thursday 1881; Friday 1921; Sat.
urday 172; on Saturday evening after the
rumor of the route ard wound Of Lee, the
reinforcement Of Grant by Sigel, the cap:nre
Of Dalton and 1000 prisoners by Sherman,
gold advanced to 1921. Gold is a very
sensitive metal, and as we have so long
measured our successes by its fluctuations,
it is conclusive that our victories, though
great, arc as yet, far from decisive. Hence
the necessity of summoning all the force of
the country for coup de main, and "dry-
ing" the cursed havoc up by the 4th of
July. War that is war-quick, short and
settling in its character-is mercy to the
country in its present position, hut attacks
on cotton, or raids on negro plantations,
with the former for profit and the negroes
for 6oarders, at the expense Of Northern
white soldiers lives, is not the entertain
ment to which our countrymen were invit-
cd. The Red River expedition is most
damning affair, in which the lives Of thous.
ands Of our western boys were offered to
the avarice Of Williams whose cry of ''loyal-
ty" placed them in command. My pen
will get out of patience with this Banks
affair if do moi knnin Ia fhinL about came