The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1865-05-10
McGREG0R, IOWA, WEDNESDAY,, MAY 10, 1856.
Interesting Letter from Merwin.

Interesting Letter from Merwin.
RICHMOND, Va, April 25th, 1865.
Dear Col II have written you ono,
since our arrival here, but this afternoon
6nds me out Of employment-nothing to d.
but write. There is much to write about
but where and how to commence is q
problem for deeper mind than mine.-
There is so much said about these parts oil
late, that the people must be getting tired
of the subject; but Richmond, the Capitol
the citadel Of Rebellion being ours, there
seems to be great curiosity to see and
examine what is in it. Richmond has once
been a very pleasant place to live; it ex
tends over considerable extent of ground
for place Of its inhabitants, between 40
and $4,000, but since the war the buildings
have become dirty and dilapidated in ap.
pearance. The ground upon which Rich.
mond is situated is succession of hills or
knolls, which renders the aspect Of the city
quite varied aud picturesque. The churches
are situated upon the highest points, so
that their spires can be seen at great dis
tance. In these respects Richmond is like
Rome, that sat upon her seven hills and
from her throne of beauty ruled the world
The throne Of beauty in Richmond is
Capitol Hill, where the public bui dings are
situated and the grounds laid of in mean
dering walks and cool shades, the center Of
which is o1namented by splendid monu-
ment, surmounted by statue Of Washing
ton mounted upon fry, prancing stead
Near the base Of the monument are several
ppdestals, part Of which are occupied by
Virginia's most illustrious statesmen.
Libby and Caste Thunder escaped the
conf grafton that swept away about / of
the best business buildings in the city
The losses are estimated at $40, 200, 900; it
can't be less. Libby is now filed with
| rebel prisoners, whose butternut uniforms
and sallow faces are always before the
grating. One Of our soldiers passing Libby
cries out, II say, Johnnies, how do the
Yanks treat your" Bully" replies one.
"Well that is d-n sight better than I
was treated when was in there prisoner" !"
A few days since the old commander Of
Libby (now paroled) entered barber. shop
where some Of our soldiers happened to be !;
he vas Immediately recognized by one of
them, whereupon short colloquy ensued
resulting in bruised head and bloody nose
for the paroled officer. The soldier remark.
ed, after he, had finished, II knew my day
of revenge would come some time"
The poor Of the city and surrounding
country throng the streets near the U. s.
Christian Commission buildings so that you
can barely crowd your way through them.
They are skinny and ghostly looking
Their clothes are greasy and iil-fitting
little old shawls and janmed bonnets
nclose their heads and shoulders, and when
they are forced by acts Of kindness and
charity to smile and look cheerful, it is such
a sickly effort that it almost makes one
shudder. The upper ten are not much bet.
ter; proud and naughty ladies that once
were, are now peddling pies through our
camps; families that were once very
wealthy, and lived by hiring out their
slaves, having lost said property, are now
pennyless and reduced almost to beggary.
Southern script-millions of it's floating
around among us, not worth farthing.-
Most of the citizens have their pockets full
Of it, i'll bills Of the largest denominations,
from 500 to $1,000, which we can buy
for little or nothing. II you wish few
samples Of this currency I can send you
any quantity. A dozen Of eggs were worth
here s25.oO and soldiers pay $1l 90 per
month, so that two months labor would
not buy dozen eggs. Everything ranged
at such high prices that We wondered how
the people got hold Of the money. One
officer being asked how he could sport
under such high prices, replied "By max
ing q shutting notion with his hands
"Yes, but some one must lose" "Well
those must content themselves with parched
corn and bacon furnished by Govt" W.
found In this city and Petersburg quite 9
number Of gentlemen that had never been
in the army. The natural inquiry was
how did they manage to escape conscrip
ton, which we had understood was like ,
new broom that sweeps clean. The solu
tion was like this: any man holding public
Office was exempt. These men, to get into
cfice, had paid as high as half million
Those that had nothing there was no escape
for, and those that had. impoverished them
selves trying to escape.
Now the masses Of the people begin I,
see how completely they have been deceiv
ed regarding the issues Of this war. Ths
contrast or change, they say, is as great 81
the night for day. They praise the dis
c;plins Of, our army. The Petersburg
Express says the discipline Of Gen. Grants
army is the best in the world, and that hs
(,hs editor) is happy to be able to pay
them the simple tribute" The leading
citizens of both cities have held meeting,
and adopted resolutions recommending the