The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1864-04-12

Newbern +; but the real object was TO pre-
vent disturbance among the people
We never had much confidence in NORTH
Carolina, and l believe ne-halfthe State
would welcome the Yankees to day
William says our authorities dare not be
too rigid with them but think if a few
examples were made of the disloyal lead
ers we should have much less trouble
and apprehension. Charleston still
stands, Notwithstanding the braggadocia
of the Yankees. The city is almost de
serte a, though, and the grass is actually
growing in all the streets. | wonder
sometimes why they don't take some of
Beauregard's troops and reinforce Gen
eral Lee. Nineteen thousand men, /
should think, were more than is requr.
ed TO hold that place, though it is thought
that the enemy have left Morris Island
only to attack the city from another di-
rection. Uncle James writes from Mo-
bile that they fear Yankee raid in that
direction, aud that every one is ready to
leave. So it is almost every where
One does not know where to go for safe
ty, and the whole country seems in con
slant fear OF an invasion.
We hear very little from the west ::
from beyond the Mississippi notl ing.
All that country, fear, is lost to us.
Do not believe the Yankee stories about
the smallness of our Western army.
Longstreet has twenty thousand, and
Johnston thirty-fye thousand men. be
side the smaller commands scattered
through the country, that might be ad
ded TO their forces in case of emergen
.cy. Grant seems TO be the only Gener-
al the Yankees have had since McClel
Ian, and If they will only give him the
Army of the Potomac or put him in
Washington, as We hear is proposed, we
should have very little fear of results in
the West All hopes are centered on
General Lee. His army has been very
much reduced, leaving him only about
tive thousand troops. His cavalry has
been scattered through the countries be-
low Gordonsville for the purpose Of for.
age, and you have 10 idea ofthe accounts
of suffering we receive from the inhabi.
tans where they are quartered. The
whole cavalry seems to have been de-
moralized into band of thieves. rob.
bing alike both friend and foe. A great
portion of the cavalry has been disband.
ed, to return in the middle Of March
with fresh horses and new outfits. II
fear great many will not GO back, but
will either desert to the Yankees or hide
in the mountains. There are now sew.
eral organized gangs for opposing the
conscription, and number of our CON
scripnng officers have been killed. The
reports of destitution are too true. Our
soldiers do not ge, full rations half the
time, and once they haye been without
meat ten days. These hardships are
daily growing worse, and what shall be
done to relieve us we can not imagine.
Our supply OF provisions is almost ex-
hausted, and no one knows where more
Is TO come from. /, is true, we have
enough among the people to live on but
supplies for the army are almost unob.
tainabe
William says the Government does
not intend 10 wait for the Yankees TO ad-
vance. but will concentrate our armies
and strike where least expected in over.
whelming numbers. This seems The on
/ " hope of success. Ii we should be de.
ieated this spring, | know not what will
become OF us, So many have become
discouraged that believe another disas-
ter would break is up. All We can do
is TO aid the noble army by our example
and contributions, and hope for better
things.
wish you could send us few things,
such as stationery, and those little indis
pensables OF the toilet now so hard 10
procure. We can sometimes get them
here, but at fabulous prices, aud we are
compelled 10 dress with the simplicity
OF our servants. Our paper money is
good for nothing II takes handful tc
buy pair of shoes. and an armiul TO gel
dress. A hundred dollars Of Yankee
greenbacks would be a small fortune
, The poorer classes are suffering terribly
and there have been several cases OF &C.
tual starvation. Now have written yo,
, long letter, much longer than eI
pected Do not show this 10 any bu
your family. and burn il immsdiatel,
after. | would not have il fall into Ill,
hands Of the Yankees for the world Re
Ill IL - Z. 4