The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-06-02

TUT 0HV F'VK '"0VI
The Arkansas War.
LFwIsvILLE. LAFAYETTE Co.. Ark, I
MAJ IL 1874


May Is, 1874.
Dear old Col The pious New Eng.
land youth now acting as colporteur and
Home Missionary in the wilds, but who
graduated under your teaching in the
Union Army, as well as in few then
peculiar Yankee institutions, now feels
the promptings of the "reminiscences Of
old times and thus is constrained to write
you what little he has seen of the present
war AND the less part that he has taken.
Immediately upon the reception Of tele.
gram announcing the fact that Joseph
Brooks was declared to be the governor Of
Arkansas by the Pulaski Circuit Court
and had by virtue Of the decision taken
possession of the State House, | deploy
ed myself out and at once advanced to
the seat Of wa-, armed with ticket over
the G. & +, II. r. Upon my arrival |
found that the U. S. forces had taken
up position between the two belligerents,
SO as to prevent any danger to either
party, and thus my ambition of being
able to live long enough to die in the next
instead Of the present war being in fair
way to be gratifed, my patriotism caused
me to offer my valuable services at once
to the aforesaid Joseph Brooks; Of course
they were Immediately accepted, when l
retired to the Metropolitan Hotel and
stationed myself in the billiard room.
armed myself with cue and prepaT ed
for a serious conflict with any enc that
might belong to the forces OF that revolu-
tiopary fraud. to wit, Baxter. After re.
naming two full days in the city, vbrat.
ing between the State House and the
Metropolitan, and fudipg that each party
had almost as mauy privates us Briga-
dicrs, aud that the vilaiuous Regulars
would really not let Us have Il fair chance
to combat the enemi,s, cume 10 the con
clusiUu that my services were NEEDED at
home, as it was thought that Mr.. Gruu'
would perhaps soon interfere, or at le;Si
withdraw his myrmidons. Again too |
have partner in the law trade who l. Il
subsidized supporter Of Baxter, and who
was anxious 10 have "a hand in this "cruel
war" but with whom | Away intended
Ito tote fair" aud thus | reasoned that
| ought to be at home part of the time
and keep house, and besides | would pro.
bably be doing more good to our side il
would allow him 70 get killed by Gov.
Brookss troops than if | remained and
was placed in proper position for cremo
ZION by the enemy. Therefore | returned
home and my partner went up. He alsu
is member Of this extraordinary Lcgis.
lature Upon my return, owing to ex-
perence at The seat of war | Was at once
appointed Asst. Adj. Gen. on the STAFF
of Brig Ben. Archer commanding th
Brooks forces in Columbia and La Fay.
cite Counties. His headquarters are al
Magnolia. My duties thus far have been
coufued to posting up Proclamations
and general orders, but am also told
that am the ranking officer in this coun.
ty, though some of Baxters tools deny
my authority. Probably it will be nee
essary to issue proclamation Of my own
in order to settle this little point Thus
affairs stand at present, and in case OF
invasion we expect to make Texas and
Louisiana our battle grounds, The ma
tives are not very enthusiastic and some
of them are engaged in the base occupa.
tioh Of tilling mother earth. Already ]
have got two Colonies and one Major who
are ready to leave for the seat Of war as
soon as their commands are filled, while
the other side has but two Colones and
one private who has been promised de-
tail in the commissary department, when
his command goes into active service
Patriotism is at discount. while green
backs command premium. Mean.
while our Y. NJ. c. A. struggles bravely
on under difficulties. Most Of our glasses
are broken while our bottles all need re.
plenishing. Our libary, too, needs some
new books to replace the old ones that
have been worn out | noticed at our
asst session that "Hoyles Book on Games
had vuti,cly LOST the chapter on old sledgc
and draw poker. and thus has become al
together usless. An appropriation has
been already made to procure a new one.
viii write you again when it arrives.
Yours, &c, S. Corr,
Asst. Adj. Gen'l,
Department OF the Southwest