smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1862

circumstances to fall i'll Of any disease invol''
ing castor oil, for that exhilarating fluid now
sells at seven dollars tho gallon, relentlessly in
advance.


Thus the nature of Southern comfort and
prosperity, under the rebellion, may be esti-
mated with tolerable accuracy. The blockade
has done its work well, and will have had no
unimportant part in reducing the insurrection.
A people whose tastes are salacious, and yet
between whom and salt there is barrier
they cannot leap; who adore the onion, and
are yet denied its fragrancei among whom
the privilege even Of sickness is hampered by
the ruthlessly high price of pursatives, who
have as fair an appetite for judicious nutri-
ment as any in the world, and yet see day BY
day their last resources melting before them
such o people cannot long linger in the lap OF
contumacy. They must return to their alleg.
ance and It's contingent advantages Of good
food at reasonable prices, domestic comfort,
and public prosperity. Tie blockade which has
reduced them to the cad destitution of the
present must become still more relentless when
oil their great sca-ports are in our possession.
Tho question thon will be how long an impov-
erished and starving people will submit to the
military tyranny which now overrules them.
Year: 1862

We have wasted little time or space in com.
mending the doings of the present Congress-
albeit we hold it ono Of the most laborious,
earnest, pains.taking bodies that ever devoted
itself to legislation. 1t has not been SO prompt
and reSolutc as il ought in maturing and pass
ing its Loan ond Tax-bills, but it may win a
noble place in history by few such days
work as that Of yesterday, when the Senate
passed the FREE HOMESTEAD bill by the over
whelmng majority of SO Yeas to Noys-every
Republican present voting Yea, with Messrs.
Henderson and Wilson of Mo-, Kennedy OF
Nd, McDougal of Cal, and Wright of Ind,
while Messrs. Thompson of n. j., Rice Of
Min, Latham Of CAL, and Nesmith and Stark
Of Oregon were absent or withheld their votes
This bill, having already passed the House,
lacks now but the Presidents signature, which
it will surely and speedily receive. And then
we may congratulate the country On the con-
summation Of one of the most benefcent and
vital reforms ever attempted in any age or
cime-a reform calculated to diminish sensbly
the number of paupers and idlers and increase
the proportion Of working, Independent, self
subsisting farmers in this land evermOre. Its
blessings will be felt more and more sensbly
and widely for the next twenty years.


The House at the same time passed the
PACIFIC RAILROAD bill by thirty majority.
OF the details of this bill, including tls route
indicated for the road, we are not advised
though we believe it is intended TO start from
some point on the West line Of the State Of
Kansas, where it will be met by one road
from Missouri and another from Iowa. The
general public will care little, however, for the
route indicated, which is Of course liable to
future modification. The great fact is estab-
lished by this vote that the House has deter.
mined that the Pacific Railroad shall be CON-
menced so soon as the condition of the Ma.
tonal Finances will permit, and pushed on to
completion. And that resolve will in due time
secure its own realization.


Free Lands for the Landess and Pacific
Railroad to bind in iron clasp the Pacific TO
the Atlantic States and develop the boundless
Mineral wealth of the Rocky Mountains, the
Colorado Valley and the Great Central Basin
two such measures are not often so signally
advanced in one day. The cloud that have
long darkened our National prospects are


breaking away, and the sunshine Of Peace,


Prosperity and Progress will ere long irradi-


ate the land Let us rejoice in and gather


strength from the prospect
Year: 1862

Northern man, and supposed sympathiz.
ed with them. Having acquired it in that
manner, | could not communicate it; but
now. when our troops have landed in South
Carolina, and its exeisteuce is sure to be
speedily developed, no harm can result
from this announcement.


The fact of its existing is not positively
known (for the black is more subtle and
crafty than anything human,) but is sus.
pected by many of the whites; the more
moderate of whom are disposed to ward
off the impending blow by some system Of
gradual mancipation--declaring all black
children born after certain date free--oI
by some other action that will pacify and
keep down the slaves. These persons
however, are but small majority, ant
possess no political power.
Year: 1862

FROM THE PoToMAC-tSISKISGo OF Vrs- sEL.-The only item of striking moment from this line taas we can gather is the fact that on Sunday evening about dark, Capt. Cook "a pottery, than which there is none Iaore efficient in the southern service, open ed near Matthias Point, on an upward bound three masted vessel, (merchantman, and in some five or six shots succeeded in sink ing her. Our informant was not able to say whether the crew was saved, but is cer- tain as to the sinking of the vessel.

 Sholtly after this occurrence the Freabnn came steaming down, and opened upon the battery, but after.sone fifteen or twenty well directed shots from Cooks battery she was induced to retreat in good order to the Maryland shore.

 We learn in a conversation with soldiers on furlough from Transport that on Sum day large steamer attempted to pass up but that she was fired upon by our rihed guns and fore d to put back down the stream.

 On Sunday small sail vessel manag ,d to pass down, though she was fired ct some twenty or more times.

 Yesterday every thing was quiet as far as we could hear, at Transport and also at Aquia Creek.-ftsedrieks5ary Ta., Reeor. der,
Year: 1862

THE LADIES OF ST. LOUIS .-Irhe follow ing rich paragraphis is worthy of special men, tion. Our readers. we have no doubt, will be equally pleased with the joke upon the general, and the patriotism of the fascina- ting female who played it:

 Within the past week the shcessionists of St. Lotus have grown suddenly bold, and are as yet unchecked in their reasonable proceedings. One of their generals has been here for ten days under flag of truce. and has the largest liberty imaginable He iS perfectly unrcstrained in all his move ments, and yesterday I beheld him arm in arm with one of our brigadier generals, and arranging to dine with him that afternoon. Recruiting for the rebel army Is going on within a stones throw of the head quarters of the commanding general, and traitors on the street and elsewhere make no attempt to disguise their sentiments. Last evening at a fair, held ostensbly for the benefit of the orphans of tse city, but said by know ing ones to be designed to raise funds to equip the newly enlisted southern recruits, secession badges and flags were worn by many ladies and gentlemen present. While Gen. Sweeney was promenading the hall with fair and fascinating female, the lat ter pinned a rebel flag to the coat collar of the old soldier, and permitted it to remain there until discovered. The indignation of the general can be easily imagined. To night the fair is to be held again, and the Provost Marshal, who has been informed of the proceedings, promises to look in.
Year: 1862

Description OF the Mig sandy coun-


try and OF the recent Fight there:


Weare permitted to publish the follow
ing private letter from a Wheeling boy,
down on the Big Sandy, to his father in
Year: 1862

We to day conclude this interesting remin.
isence 1t is continued in the same spice in
which We began it. Its nature is such that
we cannot continue it longer in our columns,
else We might reply. We performed the
funeral ceremony, as was our duty, and hence
it must drop. live could see any end to the
controversy, we would, as We can, continue
the subject: but we would become involved
in the pot.house ribaldry of Manhattan politics


1t is peculiar kind Of a quarrel. AS far as
rascalify is concerned, it seems to be six OF one
and half dozen of the other, for ones char
acter cannot be substantiated without pulling
that of the other down. As to the paper, We
must differ as to the geographical position OF
Western Kansas. 1t is not on the Blue," as
the Express labored to make believe-there is
considerable of it beyond US yet. 1t was
stumbling.block to the interests of the great
Smoky Hill. Its own people have placed the
seal of condemnation upon it, and there We let
il drop. "Rest, cats, in peace"
Year: 1862

From this time until the opening Of trade in
the spring, every opportunity should he taken
by the settlers living along the route Of the Fort
Riley and Fort Larned road, to improve and
make good this thoroughfare. 1t is the duty
and interest Of every man in the Smoky Hill
Valley to build up good wagon road from Fort
Riley to tap the Santa Fe road at Fort Larned
Let every ravine be graded to the least possible
raise, and every stream be bridged. that the
pockets and labor Of the people will permit
We have already a good road. and by little
care and attention We will keep it SO, and make
it still better. By doing 50 we shall soon secure
that immense trade and travel from Santa Fe,
which is already making Leavenworth its busi-
nes point, and but needs to know this route to
make it its grand highway. The Kansas Stage
Company, with commendable enterprise, has
already done much towards opening this road,
and We hope our citizens will follow their
example.
Year: 1862

Nothing Of special importance has happened
in the army since the removal Of Mcclellan.
1t seems as though active preparations were
being made by the Army Of the Potomac to
begin anew the work Of crushing treason and
rebellion under its new Commander 1t is to be
hoped that he who is henceforth to lead that
magnificent army is thoroughly imbued with
the fact that the rebels must be whipped out
that he has no such hankering after Slavery as
TO believe at this late day that its safety is pos
sible. That General Burnside, the new Com
anandcr, believes in the first proposition is well
attested fact, and we believe that his loyalty
will not allow Slavery to stand in his way Of
saving an imperilled country. It certainly
should not. Slavery is all that the rebels are
interested in, and for the protection Of which
they began the fight


The recent change of Commanders looks like
q move in this way. 1t has been apparent, to
the great detriment of the Administration, that
Mcclellan has always entertained hopes Of
peaceable settlement-in other words, a cOmpro-
missing Of national honor with treason. Actuated
by such q motive he has failed to strike those
blows which in all probability would by this
tlue nave destroyed Tie Srauu oTtuN VI Vic Teoels
and rendered to hot for the rebel seat of govern
Inent the locality Of Richmond. The absence Of
the soldiers votes in the North, has given what
may be termed the anti-war party the balance
of power. This, doubtless, has served to spur
the Administration on to renewed vigor, and Its
first conviction towards such q step would be
that its confidence in Mcclellan was misplaced
Hence his removal. He has never followed up
retreat Of the enemy, or manifested strong
desire to do them injury.


His removal creates no demonstration whatever
of disapp<oval. No army designations have been
rendered in consequence, as was predicted. OF
course, the act is one step further from conser
vatism, howl comes from the Vallandigham
Democracy. Were they patriots they would
acquiesce without a murmur.


Letters from members Of the army in the South
give US some Inkling Of the gradual undermining
Of the corner stone" Of the Confederate States
by the Emancipation Proclamation. The slaves
have learned of this decree of Freedom, and oil
over the South they are already availing them
selves Of its provisions. With such Al influence
working in their rear, and General in front who
will pursue and punish them. peace is not
far distant
Year: 1862

The second year Of our existence as State is
drawing to a close. The balance sheet for 1862
will soon he struck From the earliest settlement
deemed most appropriate for recounting the
blessings of Providence, and making public
Acknowledgements therefor in Thanksgiving and
Praise.


As State We have been highly favored dur
ing the year now closing. The earth has yielded
nbundantly, and health and general prosperity
have been allotted to US. While deadly civil
war has been waged on our border, and in many
of the States, comparative peace and quiet have
been our lot. While We mourn that civil war
still spreads its desolation in our country, there
is cause for thankfulness that the immutable
laws Of God apply as well to nations as individ-
uals. to war as we'll as peace, and that there is
some reason to hope that our nation is beginning
" understand the application Of these laws to
our present condition as people.


In view of the numberless blessings showcrcd
upon our State and Nation, appoint THURS
DAY the 9th day of November next. as day OF
Thanksgiving and Praise to Almighty God, and
earnestly invite oil good citizens to observe the
same as become Christian people: By abstain
ing from labor and business occupations; by
attending upon public worship; by deeds OF
charity to the poor and needy; and by cult
vation of the domestic and social virtues.


Given under nv hand and seal Of the State at
Topeka, this 29th day of October. 1862.


By the Governor: c. ROBINSON.


S. r. SHEPHERD. Secretary Of State.
Year: 1862

Salt is becoming dear, a very dear article in
Kansas. 1t has advanced in Leavenworth to s
per barrel, with a prospect Of speedy advance
per pound, with prospect Of going up to six or
seven cents.


This ought not to be- We have hundreds Of
Springs in Western Kansas, discharging hun
dreds Of thousands Of gallons Of water daily,
holding in solution thousands Of bushels Of pure
Salt, which ought to be saved man nufactured and
brought into the market to arrest the upward
tendency Of prices and to enrich the State
Three things intervene to prevent this. lst, The
Springs are RESERVED by the General Government
from private occupancy, or are held by the State
Government; End, The want Of capital, and Sd.
The frontier location Of the Springs and the
danger to be apprehended from the thieving
Indians who hang upon our Western border.


All these difficulties can be overcome, and We
hope and trust soon will be.


The State is the owner of twelve Of these
Springs, with four sections of land to each Of
them. The Legislature of next winter ought to
adopt measures at its very next session to bring
all these Springs into use. either by leasing them
on long terms to capitalists, or by Offering lib
eral premium to persons who will produce Salt
from them, and by adopting means to protect
those who embark in the business. The recent
discovery Of Coal at Cedar Bluffs, in very close
proximity to these Springs, removes all obstacles
in the way of fuel if indeed that article is requ
site in the production Of Salt from these Springs
Our own opinion is, that oil that is requisite are
vats in which to save the water; that the dry
winds of our summer and autumn will furnish
all the fuel needed for the manufacture OF the
article by the millions Of bushels. Will our
Legislators look to this .?
Year: 1862

The New York Tribune has long article
relative to money matters, from which we
copy the following:


"Specula.ion as to when the reign of this
universal paper currency is to end, is not
only premature but idle. Conjecture will
be in season when the rebellion has been
overcome. That dead, hope may be
entertained that we have seen at least the
beginning of the end-as one dies the other
will revive. 1t is the present, not the
remote future that so nearly concerns US,
for posterity is to pay the debt. The
chance is that that pursy individual will
have less embarrassment in doing so than
we had in contracting it. The nation is
once more experiencing the shock of a
universal rise Of prices. Paper now stands
for money. Both Government and banks
are doing all they can to manufacture cur.
rency. As currency becomes abundant,
prices must rise, because Of the increased
numbers of competitors in the market who
have money to exchange for property. No
matter whether it be coin or paper. or "a
mixture of both, SO that it be sufficiently
abundant. Let the clouds suddenly rain
down shower of bank notes, giving FIVE
dollars to every man who until that moment
had but one, the rise of prices would be
instantaneous. because every individuals
purchasing power would be fourfold greater.
Thus prices rise suddenly or slowly in exact
proportion to the sudden or gradual expan-
sion of the currency. On the other hand.
if the currency be contracted, prices fall,
because there are fewer competitors 10 mar
ket having money to exchange for property
Commissions from this cause have occurred
SO recently among US as to be plainly re-
membcred by many, and the general princi-
pie is too well understood to Decd argument
to enforce it.
Year: 1862

FouSp-The man spoken of in our last issue
as being missing has been found. His body vas
found on the Smoky Hill Branch. Hehad ball
hole through his head, one through his body and


cash in his neck. Supposed to he Pawnees' work.
Year: 1862

TAu effort is being made by the friends Of
Temperance in our midst to organize Lodge Of
the Independent Order OF Good Templars. We
hope 1t may he successful. The Order is an
effectual one, and in such q field as Junction
presents, will accomplish great things.
Year: 1862

AGRICULTURAL SrArrsrIcs-Is there any one in
Davis County attending to the collection Of these
important figures? We trust some on will make
it their business to have our County fully rep
resented in the Annual Report of the State
Agricultural Society. Attention is called to the
article on our first page, from the Topeka Record,
on this subject. The Record suggests that an
estimate be made of the loss by prairie fires in
each county, and forwarded to the State Society
with the report-thinks the enormous figures
that can he collected will stimulate the people
to some effective means of prevention.
Year: 1862

German or Italian principally. They would
simply exhaust aud bankrupt themselves in tho
attempt.


We believe that the French Emperor is too
shrewd, and the Russian Emperor too friendly
towards us, to contemplate for . moment
making such scheme one of the objects of
their proposed interview. They meet to come
to some understanding about the affairs of the
East, still further complicated by the war in
Montenegro, and about the Roman question, to
which the movements Of Gsribaldi are impart-
ing an aspect Of pressing danger. If the war
in America should come on the tapis, it will
only be incidentally and with confirmed dis
position to let matters right themselves in this
quarter. 1t is the shortest and surest way for
the European countries to get their supplies of
cotton and to avoid the revolutionary dangers
TO which the stoppage of Northern exports
would expose them. We have nothing, we re-
peat. to fear from this projected hob-nobbing Of
continental rulers. If any government has
cause for anxiety it is that of England, and it
shows IL by the manner in which 1t is again at
tempting to curry favor with US, after hsaping
insults and injuries upon us in the hour Of our
weakness.
Year: 1862

ONE EfFEor OF THE New ORpERs-The
orders Of the War Department directing officers
on leave to return Immediately to their COM
1t will bring to their stern duty many whose
object in obtaining furloughs was to secure pro-
motion in the old regiments or high commits
sions in the new, or who were perhaps wire
pulling for members of Congress and the next
elections. These officers will now have to fight
without promotion, and to earn preferment on
the ield-the proper place for soldier to win
it. Instead of appointing such politicians to
higher commands than they now hold, either In
the old regiments or in the new, it would be
better to get rid of them and give their places
to good sergeants and other non-commissioned
officers who had distinguished themselves in
battle On many fields the fate OF the day has
been saved by the hard fighting of the rank and
file, and In other cases great disaster has
men, in despite of the ignorance or stupidity
of the officers. What might not have been
achieved had the officers been only equal TO
the task they assumed? Let us have no
moro political generals or political subordi-
nate officers. Let the troops be led by men
who are true soldiers in courage and skill, and
they will never fail to give good account Of
themselves. There are many good officers who
distinguished themselves in the Mexican war,
who would now bring their military experience
to bear for the benefit Of the country, were not
the places which they ought to fill occupied by
men who do not know as much about military
matters as many Of the priyates they under
take to lead. This ought to be reformed
altogether. NapoleOn's best generals were
raised on the battle field from non-commis-
stoned officers, and even from the ranks. We
cannot initiate better example.
Year: 1862

The following extract from a private letter
will be read with great interest. Col. Potter
was first over the works at Roanoke Island,
and has not lost any Of his Vtns since that
time: ,.t .ss


NEwBsRS, N. c., IL p. m, March Is. 1852
Col. Potter's bravery is spoken of
by every one. / have heard officer after officer
mention his coolness under fire, and they all
have spoken Of the manner in which he did his
duty" even after being wounded" When
he was hit, one Of the officers who was standing
near offered to assist him to the rear, but the
Colonel told him he could manage to get along
without assistance, limped to where the Gene
raj (Reno) was standing, rested for few
moments, and was soon after in the thickest of
the fight, rushing from point to point as Though
nothing had happened to him, and giving his


orders with the most imperturbable GOODNESS.


1t was only after the fight was over that he


had his wound examined, and then, after


having it hastily dressed, he mounted one Of


the captured horses, and accompanied the


regiment till they halted in one Of the rebel
camps, where very comfortable quarters were


found for him, where his wound was properly


dressed and whore he can remain perfectly
quiet. ... .,rsrC ....


Our men were terribly cut up-they fought


as Gen. Reno said during the engagement }


''like tigers 4" At one time we thought our


ammunition was giving out, and reported this





slackened until we could get some more am


munition. The men were told to "lie down "
The order had to be again and again given them
before they could be checked in the slightest
degree. The General said he had heard Of the
Fighting 51st, but these men fought like
devils" Almost all the men who were killed
in the battery in front of us were shot through
the head. The men would lie down and load
their pieces, or else after firing would fall bach
in little hollow which barely offered shelter
| to them, then load, and rushing to the brow of
the hill and taking to the trees, fire at the
enemy in the coolest manner imaginable.
The men of my company behaved splendid
ly. From what I had seen of them at Roam
oke 1 knew / could rely upon them, but
dared not hope they would fight as they did.
One man, named Abram Moss, a son-in-law OF
Hecker, the greet Flour merchant was on
the sick list when the regiment was ordered
to leave the Island. The doctor ordered him
| to remain behind, and told him it was as
| much as his life was worth to 60 with the regi-
ment. He begged to go with US, and had a
hearty cry when told he could not. He man
aged, however, to get on board ship, marched
| with the regiment from the place of landing
to their place of bivouac, slept out the night
before the battle with the rest Of US in the
us into action, and L saw him fighting like a
| lion until just before our charge upon the bat
terry, when he was struck in the leg by a ball
| as he was loading his piece. He fell near me,
and when spoke to him to inquire about his
wound, he smiled as he pointed it out to me,
and seemed quite proud Of it. He was shot
| through the ankle, but will not lose the limb
| But his was only one out Of many cases
/ Journal of Commerce.