The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-05-10

They are the scrapings Of thesouth.
His works are strong, made for the
most part since Sherman was here in
May. When all our arrangements are
made we will occupy the town. The
success of this army at Vicksburg must
have been received with Joy by the
loyal people of the north. Did it not
reassure you?
made capture of a quire of rebel
note paper, a sheet of which am now
writing on. Is it not elegant? Must it
not harmonize with the luxurious no.
lions OF the cotton aristocracy? An
other OF my trophies am glad to send
you herein. A quantity of Jeff Davis
private property was found secreted in
a house on by-road about five miles
from our camp, and knowing that it
would all be taken by our soldiers,
hastened over to play the part of a
vandal. Can you overlook the manner
in which I obtained the curiosity? I
have autograph letters from Pierce,
Buchanan, Slidell: Floyd, Wigfall, and
others.
All praise to the victorious ''Armv
of the Potomac" I trust Lee was so
well whipped that our forces can at
last push ION to Richmond" Rose
Grams, too, has dispersed or driven in
disorder the rabble under Bragg.
Three such signal victories are worthy
of thanks to the overriding Provi-
dence. May your prayers be answered.
Let me thank you for your kind letters
which lift me above the discomforts.
monotony and profanity of army life.
l hope the war may soon be brought to
a successful termination, so that I may
once again be civilized, and enjoy the
comforts unknown here. Our skirm-
ishers are rafting away, much as at
Vlcksburg, from morning till night.
The State capitol and court house are
both in sight from our lines. When
we first came up the rebel battle-fag
t1oated from the cupola of the latter,
but it has since been taken in. A band
played 'Dixie'' and 1.-THE Bonny Blue
Flag" over in the works last evening.
Joseph is keeping up their spirits.
The extreme warmth of the weather
precludes the idea of spirited letter.
The mercury indicates ITO degrees in
tent at brigade headquarters. know
you will be indulgent enough to over
look the prosy character of this epistle,
and ii l can surprise myself in more
fanciful mood I will endeavor to write
again soon. Meantime do not wait to
hear from me again before favorine
me with another of your good letters.
AS ever, friendly yours,
w. D. PUTNAM.
P. S. Port Hudson is also taken
with 5000 prisoners.
The letter by Jeff Davis to his sweet
heart is written on unruled white let
ter paper, the name of the place from
which it was written is not given. It
is addressed, miss Varina Howell.
Matches, Miss.," and on the lower left
hand corner is the word ''Concordia.' -
which probably was the name of the
plantation. A small-sized white en-
velope with the post mark of "Wash-
lngton, D. c., Nov. II, Free" addressed
Mrs. Varina Davis, care of Col. J. P.
Taylor, Baltimore, Md.," franked bv
Jeff Davis, Sec. of War;" also accom-
panied these interesting relics. Here
is the love letter:
January 3lst. 1916.
MY DEAR VARINA: Accept my SYM
pathy for the i'll under which you were
suffering when you wrote to me last
Wednesday. Did I not feel it would be
heresy to suppose that your hand could
be possessed where your heart led not
[ should feel that a felon had seized it.
You never told me which you consid-
cred the greater crime, punning or
forgery-if the forgery then beware
that you let no felon forge his letters
on your thumb. Not being an M. D.
any opinion of mine on a question OF
=, disease may be given freely, as it comes
not ex cathedra. If then it be a
''felon" with which your thumb is at.
fected I think you will obtain the
speediest relief by having the flesh
! divided as deep as may be necessary tc
reach the secreted matter, otherwise
there is danger of losing the nail and
perhaps terminating a long suffering
by deformity of the finger. Your mes.
sage to Eliza was duly delivered and
received with expressions of regret for
the cause of your silence. The caption
of your letter was unusual being
''Elms." What place may it be that
bears a name so shady? Thus young !
hope you have not proved that life
hath thorns enough and changed the
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