The Howard union. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1865-1866, 1865-07-20
SOCIAL CONDITION OF THE SOUTH.
Inside View of Affairs in Alabama-Reb-
Ell and Federal Fraternize With Each
0ther--Reign of Terror Among the
Oriuino1 ganaooiouiotc R-o

Ell and Federal FraternlZe With Each
0ther--Reign of Terror Among the
Original Secessionists. &c.
The Buffalo Commercial Advertiser says !:
The following extract of letter recently
received by gentleman Of this city from
DR.. Hunt, formerly one of the editors Of this
paper, and now Surgeon in the army, has
been kindly furnished us for publication
HEApa'Rs 1sT Drv. 16rH ARMY CoRps,
SELMA, Ala, June z, 1865.
This region, you know. is the heart of
the siaveoorscy. Estates are large, lands
fertile, and the blacks constitute about two-
thirds Of the population. 1t had entirely es-
capped the horrors of war. The poor whites
were all forced into the war; the rich staid
at home in what were called "bomb-proof
positions ns"-that is, were detailed on
some humbug pretence Of serving as agents,
contractors, commissioners, etc. These lat
ter grew rich-apparently richer than be-
! sfore-and showed their zeal for the Confed-
eraoy by hunting down the poor conscripts
and deserters, who were numerous, partic-
ularly in the barren hill region towards Tai
ladega. Desertion was hardly crime in
the case of these poor fellows. They knew
that their families were starving and neg.
lected by the peculiar selfish aristocraoy,
and every instinct led them nomeward-
even though they knew that they would be
outlaws and fugtives, and hunted down ac-
tually with dogs.
Such was the condition when Wilson's
raid came through, "evangelizing the bomb
proofs" as Confederate Surgeon called the
wild saturnalia of that terrible campaign.
The phrase indicates his feelings of spite
toward the citizens, which he shared with
nearly all sincere and whole hearted Con-
federate officers. This cold, unsympathiz.
ing, arrogant aristocracy, which had neg
lected every duty to its army, and had smil-
ed superciliously at starving women and
chill lren, got lesson strictly "evangelical,' u
TO use the Doctors phrase; and how they
howled In one day they fell to poverty
real or pretended. What with the exodus
of their slaves, and the work of plunder
and the flames, they went under very rap.
idly.
Then came our more quiet and better dis.
ciplined occupation, and the moment they
found us civil, they became arrogant, unit
they found that, with all our civility, W.
were gloomy and terrible engine Of the
power Of the Government. Then came OBJ
sequiousness
But am wandering from the point
wished to illustrate. The next scene II
the drama was the return of the paroed ar
mics of Lee and Johnston. These ''prison
ers of war" affiliated or fraternized at ono
with our troops. 1t was really an era O
good feeling based on mutual respect.
80, Tho otbar Hand fhau nanoa bo nj
breathing vengeance against "bomb proofs.
was up in the hills, seventy miles froI
here, alone and without escort or guard, an
naturally saw and heard much from boil
sides. Old citizens were fleeing from thel
homes, and pteously appealing to me L
!, know if we could send troops to their res
cue. The soldiers were openly defiant T.
what thew themselves called the "d-'
old secesh, ;" robbing them of mules, cattl
and provision, and with quivering lips tell
ing me of all the long catalogue OF wrOnl
and outrage Of the last four years. Sever
al murders had already occurred, and man
more have since happened. They that tool
the sword have fallen by the sword. Las
Saturday two wealthy and prominent citi
zens were hung, and the gang have an
nOuuCtu hst VI SiA Os'iSi
Understand, this is not guerrilla warfare
il is Corsican vendetta. / can and do G
through all the country without danger
But the rich cannot.
The slaves, on the other hand, behav
well. Through all the debasement and ie
norance of the blacks there is Christlik
element in their character--a gentle an
forgiving spirit which is wonderful. The
know and insist upon their freedom; bl
they have already learned that liberty in
plies labor, and are mostly at work agai
for wages. And their terror stricken ma:
tiers, hunted down by returned soldiers, tur
timidly to ''the niggers" for protection
The great problem Of liberation is by 7
means solved-it involves infinite difficu
- ties-but we know at least that the blael
y are docile, and will be as wax in our hand
if they are only properly and wisely go'
erned.
William B. Astor is sixty-five years oil
worth fifty millions; round faced, please