The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1864-09-10
REFUGEES.


heart, desire % call your attention to 8
matter that thipk worthy of your consid- !
Grafton that is, this emigration of}Union
families from Arkansas to Kansas Rhich' is
setting towards our State in such numbers.
and which must constitute for the future so
large share of our resident population.
The train now on the way up from Fort
Smith, which passed here a few days since.
must haVezh as many as thousand fam
lilies, with all their household goods, dss-
tined for new home among the free peo-
pie of Kansas. 1 stood on the porch of my
quarters and saw them pass-a train stetch-
ing over three miIes-horse teams, OK teams,
mule teams, buggIes. Wagons and carts,
men, women and children, in one long look
ing procession, moving on to fnd new
home among strangers. This is bat part
of what is to come. I think it safe to est
mate that three thousand of these families
will be in Kansas. before winter.
Any one acquainted with affairs in this
seetionJof the country can easily explain
the reasons Of THE large number Of people
being suddenly deprived of theirhomes and
turned out TO the cold charity of the world
as Union refugees. 1t is simply the natu-
raj consequence of the char g in the policy
of conducting the military affairs from Of
fensiye TO defensive. One year ago this
month Col. Cloud entered Fort Smith, at
the head OF a Kansas brigade, and took pos
session of it. The enemy having become
satisfied of their inability to hold it against
our army, it was given up without gun
being fired. Leaving the post in charge of
one of his Coionels, he pressed on with a
few hundred men after the enemy, who had
retreated down the Arkansas. Valley, fought
them twice, driving them each time, and
arrived at Little Rock, few days after that
place had been seized by our forces. The
vigor and gallantry displayed by our forces
in taking the country spread CONSERVATION
through all rebel Arkansas. A line of posts
was established between Little Rock and
Fort Smith, the river was opened to navi-
cation, and everything indicated the perma-
nent occupation of the country by our
forces. Acting under this impression, as
soon as our forces fairly established them
selves. several thousand Union men who
had been hunted from their homes by the
rebels, came forth from their hiding places
among the rocks and hills, and 10 show
their unconditional loyalty joined our army
and took up arms in defense of the Gov:
ernment. Several regiments were formed
of this material, and are now doing duty
in our frontier army. These men are the
husbands and fathers of most of these fam.
lilies who are now on their way to Kansas.
The campaign under, Gen. Steele for the
possession of the country between the Ar
kansas and Red rivers was complete fail
ure. made so partially by the failure of
Banks, and many other causes, of which
there is but little difference Of opinion.
among those who participated. Our forces
were driven back with less of baggage and
everything that would impede p rapid mareh,
and with loss of many good soldiers
The enemy, flushed with success, followed
up our army, crowding them almost to their.
Notifications, and the result is to, day all the
posts between, Little Rock and Fort Smith
are abandoned, our forces are within their.
Notifications at each place, and to our khowl.
edge we have not friend outside. With
the re-occupation of this country by the
rebels of course come destruction and re-
venge on all who had shown favor or SYM
pathy to the Union forces during their oc-
cupation, particularly tothe families of such
as bad joined that army and were in arms
against them. All that they could do was
to take such articles as could be gathered
in hurry and come within our lines for
protection, crowd ID within the limited space
of beleaguered town. dependent on the
military Commissary for subsistence. OF
course they suffered. With no prospect of,
recovering the balance of their property. or
of getting possession of their homes. and
the certain prospect of absolute want before
them to remain where they were, all that
they can do is go where they can fnd a
home and something to snbsist on. and
Kansas is their nearest and only chance.
Il is their Canaan r-o-. 5zsid-
The question of advantages or disadvsn-
tage ought not to weigh against our duty
towards these people, as a poor, dependent.
unfortunate class. made SO because they
would sustain the Government aui1he Cow
erument could not protect them. And With
all Difference to the many who think such