The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-07-22
cpoM THE ROCK ISLAND CoMPAN
A spicy Letter from Capt. Ballard.
DEMoroLIs, Alabama, July 9th, 1876

DEMoPoLfs, AiaDama, July oah, low
EDITOR ARGUs.-Dear Sir:-The Fourth
of July and the Seth anniversary OF OUT ns.
tional independence has passed away anu We
who are here from the north nave enJoyeu ~
sncb demonstration of high PATRIOTISM as we
80 aror baan accustomed to on that day In
Az. own Prairie State. Until very short
49, before the Fourth we expected to have a
GOOD time on that day at this place, but the
expecsation was dashed to the ground In the
All the snoulder straps of our command
of every dimension, varying from by 70
Ill by IA were assembled for the purpose OF
making arrangements, &c. The meeting be-
ing organized, shoulderstrap of heavy cali
Der, say by IL, proposed that we have
celebration for the benefit of the omcers Oh
our commend and the oitizens of the town
and vicinity. leaving the private soldiers, 70
whom All the honor and glory OF the suppress
sion of the rebellion belongs. out OF the ques-
tion as not being ft to associate with the re-
bellious citizens of the south. At this Junct-
ure of the proceedings shoulderstrap Ii by
la. and, by the way, jolly good fellow, OBJ
jected. Shoulderstraps OF lighter caioer
kept mum and the meeting, without arriving
at any difnite conclusion, and, without for
mality, dispersed and went to their several
tents-and so ended the formal and the in
formal. s
Notwithstanding ell this s'hubbub" and
confusion on the part of the military the
Fourth was celebrated by large assembiage
of American citizens of African descent"
with great gusto, the particulars of which L
cannot give as was not present. but suppose
from what have heard, that 1.-The niggers
had big time" and general Publication
over their freedom and "Yankee Brederln.
The celebration, as near as can learn, was
intended for the soldiers as an Offering for the
part they have played in the establishment
of their 1.-THE niggsrs) elevation to their pres
emit freed position.
The "inestimable boon of freedom" has
not had very salutary effect upon the NOR
ais of the negro population, The various
sslockups" in the south are nightly filled with
them, principally under charges of larceny
and vagrancY IF no other benefit has re-
suited from it it has furnished many of them
with Transportation" beyond "this vale of
tears" Their present habits of life. so wide
ly different from those they were formerly
accustomed to, and, being also deprived of
the parental care exercised over them by
their masters, mortality has kindly come to
their relief and taken them where ''the wick.
ed cease from troubling &C."
Taking the Fourth of July. at Demopolis,
all in all, it was a grand failure, as is every
thing in the shape of patriotism IN the state
of Alabama where the citizens have any thing
to do with it.
'sThe Boys" In the company are in good
health, with the exception OF few cases of
chills and fever.
We get the ARGUS in the company regular
and can assure you it is welcome visitor
in our quarters We expect at some future
time to be in the neighborhood of Rock Island
and then we shall endeavor to return the
kindness you have shown US through the col
umns of the ARGUS. with due regard for the
favors shown me, individually. remain
Yours Respectfully,
5s 44< j. w. BALLARD.