The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1867-03-28

body else will too, if they mind their
own business. We will have to quit
talking so much, and quit writing alto
gether-muzzled lips and a gagged
press. I've done took warnin myself,
and quit Had my life insured in the
knickerbocker, and the policy wont
allow me to expose myself, to Jump in
to unnecessary peril. The military can
outWrite us anyhow. Folks say the
pen is lnightier than the sword. but you
put 'em both together, and they'll flank
a man out of his liberty, and may be
his life, in double quick. The Mayor of
this town had little billet doin with
General Thomas the other day, and on
~ come out second best, though it was
not an open field nor a fair fight I
thought myself that 81 order must be a
hoax, got up by Brick Pomeroy, or
somebody, and was looking for the Gen
eral to come out in a card denyin of it,
but l soon found that it was a genuine
Robesperean document. I still think
his posterity will deny ii some 20 years
hence.
Well, was mighty mad. I would
have given a hundred dollars to have
played Vantoun with him one hour,
just to have been turned loose in the pa
pers, all free, no gag, no Jail, no bar
racks, no bayonets, no guard, | would
have got such a grin on him for the next
six months as would have made every
body except Brick Pomeroy forget that
Beast Butler stole spoons. Giving on
their magnanimity!" I tell you that
got me, that burnt me when l knew
there wasn't enough magnanimity in a
ship load of all such to support poor
Pnh r.,
ion is they've lost the seed and don't
full of epitaph as Brownlow is of pisen.
regular hidelifters, that would have
peeled the bark from a mans carcass
like skinnin an alligator. But you see
[ was in the cautious state, and had to
smother my feelings.
l think l should have gone up with
spontaneous combustion if my wife had
not broke the spell with her comic
scenes. She is an amusin and interest
in woman, but much given to music in
these days Of numerous and lively off
spring, but just as soon as order II come
out she hunted up the ''gray jacket"
and the conquered banner" and just
such solo soiree as | have q times
week, was never heard in Big Shanty
before. She seems to take delight in
lettin the Rebel flag on the title page
''see the light" and ''faunts it about"
in my face because call myself Union
man. She says that part Of the order
about Gen. lannon's remains was foun-
ded on Scripture, and so was Phil. Sher-
idan's about General Johnson's for Sol
ONION says in Ecesiastcs, "that living
dog is better than dead lion."
My opinion is that it will be inpos-
sible to harmonic these women durin
this century. Such orders as q will cut
off all hope of it. l think if General
wouldent have issued it. I've noticed
that when a Virginian falls, he falls
heavy and fur. He gifts further over on
the side agin us than anybody. I've
heard that General and Edward John
son were both powerful secesh, and got
mighty impatient because the Old DO
minion was so slow movin. The Gene
raj said all the good officers would be
gobbled up before she seeded. Well,
they say old Gen. Scott got hold Of 'em
about this time, took 'em up in high
mountain and showed 'em a kingdom
or two, and the General fell down and
worshipped, and Ed. johnson would
ent. / tell you my friends, q man ought
to be careful about going up onto these
high mountains, and this leads me to
remark we ought to petition Mr.. john
SOD to put over Big Shanty a General
who stood square to his State.
Hope for the best my friends. Don't
imagine you see painters and Injuns, be-
cause you are in a Territory. Don't
mistake Bureau track for a bear sign.
Don't fear it will be sickly because
Florida is hitched on to our diggins.
Attend to your own business, keep off a
high mountain, and all will be well. |
would say more, but my Wite's music
has begun. Yours, respectfully,
BILL ARP.
p. ST. date my letter from Big
Shanty, as I hear these three 'diggins'
are to have that name. Let us all be
thankful we know where we are. For
two years it has been doubtful whether
we were in or out. My opinion now is
Uat ace are oad, and | heard a female
voice say Whoopeei
B A..
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