smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1862

ed by set Of g. d office seeking Williams,
who are too d. lazy to work, and who have
lost good fat pickings by the election of old
Lincoln; so they want to set up hOuse-keep-
ing on their own hook, and want US poor
white niggers to build their house for them,
while they don't care d If it falls on US
and kills every d one of US, so that they can
keep their d niggers and grow fat in Office
You may think talk d queer for Ser
geant in the Confederate army, Jim; but I'll
be d. if don't think it's about time to stop
this d. killing off the poor that the rich may
grow richer; if the captain was to hear me
talk so he would have me reduced and gagged
and bucked, or perhaps shot, like poor Max,
but 1 tell you, Jim, I've been thinking good
deal over this matter lately since got in
Maryland. I've talked with a good many
Yankees or Union men, as they call them
selves here, and they generally talk pretty
sensible talk.


They seem to be down on the niger as
much as any one in the South, and say they
want to preserve the Union under Govern
ment and almost begin to think it would
be d shame to divide it for the sake of
few ofice-seekers. have found great deal
Of kindness among the people here, and find
they don't differ with US upon many points;
they only say preserve the Union and let the
d Niger go to h. They ask US what we
are fighting for, and when we tell them for our
rights, they say they have theirs all they sver
had and that it would be d. folly for them
to join US and in tact, Jim, to speak candid,
I can't fairly see myself what rights we have
lest to make such h of a fuss about. I
find things here quite different from what
expected; we were told that Maryland was
ripe for revolution, and as soon as we enter
ed her border forty or fifty thousand would
rush to our standard; but we found we had
been fooled the d-st for the people here all
appear to be very well satisfied with their
condition, and if I can judge from the appear
ance Of the country, and the prosperous con-
dition of the people, think. they have made
a d good hit by staying in the Union, and
it would have been a d sight better if we
all had been satisfied with our condition and
not made a set of d fools Of ourselves. I
am afraid we are in trap here, and the half
of us will never get out. 1 think it was d
bad thing in coming over, but we were forced
in manner, as we were nearly starved out,
and this is land of milk and honey-every-
thing in abundance. tell you, Jim, we live
high here to what we used to do in the Old
Dominion. We now get salt enough on our
meat which makes it eat d sight better
than we have been used TO- Dear Jim, burn
this letter, or it might fall into the hands Of
some of the officers and if ours was to hear
of it I'd catch h. Write soon. Ihear your
regiment is ordered to report to Gen. Smith,
in Kentucky; let me know ifitis so. Iwish
you were with US here, as we intend to go in
shortly and give the Yankees h.
Year: 1862

AEEcDoTE OF FRENCH MARsHAL.-Some
time ago, while at review, murdorOus shot
was fred at the late Marshal Castellane, from
a regiment of Yoltigeurs. He heard the
whistling of the ball near his head and on
taking off his cap found that it had lodged in
it. Without saying a word to his staff he
'galloped up to the front of the regiment from
which the shot proceeded, and cried out that
if he knew the unlucky dog who was such
bad shot he would certainly give him week
in the guard-house. Then turing to his staff
he said, What do you think of this I? a fol-
low in a crack corps who misses his man at
thirty yards; certainly he ought to be broke /"
The Marshal would never allow any inquiry
to be made into this attempt upon his life /;
but he resented it against the whole corps of
Yoltigeus, by never allowing any one of them
to mount guard at his quarters.
Year: 1862

From the Frederick (Afd Examiner


A FRIEND, who visited the battle-felds OF
South Mountain and Antietam soon after the
terrible conflicts, picked up numerous letters
and papers belonging to the rebels, and has
furnished US the following, as illustrative OF
the opinions and feelings of the rebel troops
in reference to the rebellion and the invasion
of Maryland. The originals may be seen by
any who are curious on the subject upon ap-
plying to US for reference.


The first letter was written by member
Of the Fifth Alabama Regiment on the day be-
fore the great battle. 1t breathes the accent
of patriotism, and is characterized by lofty
moral sentiment. For obvious reasons we sup
press the names .-.. ..-.--........


In CAMP, September 16, 1862.


Ny DEAREST PARENTS; Tonce more sit down
to drop you a few lines this pleasant morning.
am still in the land of the living, thanks to
God, and in tolerable health. I had a severe
attack Of the diarrhea from eating green corn
on our march, but am now getting over it.
We have had some. very hard times since I
wrote to you last we have had hard march
ing and but little to eat. often thought of
home and its comforts, and compared them
with my present hardships. But it is useless
to complain; there are no kind hearts here to
pity, and no fathers words of consolation, no
mothers look Of sympathy, no brothers to
share our burdens, and no kind sister to con-
sole US in our sorrows. Oh, how miss the
social endearments of homel I never could
fully appreciate all the blessings of good
home until entered camp.


If it were not for the consolation ofreligion
I do not know how should be able to bear
up under it, but whenever 1 feel oppressed I
fly to my Bible, and there can always fnd
consolation. Dear mother, you do not know
how much I have been comforted from the
dear little Bible you gave me when I left
home, and how much I have thought Of your
parting advice. There is so much wickedness
in camp almost every moment you hear some
one taking Gods name in vain. I am so sick
OF camp life; wish were out Of it; 1 have
no heart in this war. How many thousands
Year: 1862




DEAR JIM: We arrived here yesterday after
one of the d-st marches you ever heard Of
We crossed over to Maryland on last Thurs
day week. Ever since we left Gordonsville
we have had a h Of time fit; first fight
ing with old Pope, then hard marching after
the g. d Yankees, and living on green
corn and muddy water, hard fighting, hard
fare, and most g d hard marching; my
feet got so d sore was forced to go bare
footed. can hardly get along; our boys are
nearly all worn out but still we are dogged
on at the point of the bayonet by our d un-
feeling officers, who don't care a d for us
so we do the fighting and they get the honor
of whipping the d blue bellies. tell you,
Jim, I'm getting most d sick of this war,
and if had only known when I etered the
service that the war would last so long, and
we would be led such d eternal dog life,
1 would have run away from the whole g
d Southern Conlederacy, for I begin to
think we have been humbugged the d-st by
our leaders in this war. What the h differ
ence does it make to US, Jim, whether we
live under Old Abe or JEFF Davis? neither OF
them care a d for US more than to do their
lighting and their voting, and then we may
go to h for what they care, for they would
hardly stOOp to with either
OF US.


You must not think, Jim, that am turn
ing Yankee. I am as good Southern Rights
man as ever, but believe we have been fool
Year: 1862

The abdication Of Queen Victoria is again
seriously talked of abroad. The Patris says
that the discussion Of the measure with her
German relatives is the case of the Queens
visit to Germany. The act Of the abdication
of course, in favor of the Prince of Wales
will, it is said take place next spring i'm
mediately after the marriage of the Prince
with the Princess Alexandra of Denmark.
Year: 1862

A DISTINGUISHED clergymen was asked By
gentleman who had doubts about recruiting
on the Sabbath, what he thought oft Well
said the clergyman, the Scripture justifes q
man in saving his OK on the Sabbath day, and
surely our country is worth more than an Ok.
Year: 1862

A bill was before the Legislature at its re-
cent session, to enable volunteers in the ser
vice of the United States, to exercise the righ,
of suffrage as fully as if.they were at theil
own homes. The bill did not become law
1t was strongly opposed by the majority of the
diers. They know that the gallant men wht


have shouldered their muskets to put dowr
Secession and Rebellion would use their bal
lots to put down the Abolition Rebels and
Higher Law etheorists in the North. The
Democratic members voted for the bill.- Sene
ca Advertiser,
Year: 1862




1t will be seen by reference to the pro-
ceedings of an informal council recently
held between the Indians and our people at
the mouth of Slate Creek, which are pub
lished in another column, that the disposi-
ton of certain tribes of Indians who have
been heretofore regarded as unfriendly, has
undergone a decided change, and that they
now entertain the klndest feelings towards
us. We are glad to chronicle this fact, in
asmuch as it removes the last vestige of
doubt i'll regard to the position of the entire
Nez Perces nation. For long time, and
during our prolonged Indian difficulties of
few years since, the main body of this ma
ton, headed by Lawyer, have uniformly
maintained peaceful relations with US, and
have exercised a salutary influence so far as
it extended upon other smaller tribes
There have been, however, few disafected
leaders of small tribes belonging to this ma
ton, who have been more OF less connected
with and allied TO the Snakes, and have
doubtless been influenced to some extent
by them to acts of hostility towards u.s.
These tribes are the people who now come
forward and request conference, for the
roNsoged purpose of expressing their good
will, and placing themselves upon the rec
ord in terms of cordial and hearty friend
ship. Many of their young men, particu-
larly, have heretofore been inclined to Join
the Snakes in their crusade against our peo-
pie, and it has been beyond the power of
well-disposed chiefs to control them.


There has existed for some time amcng
this nation disad'ection towards their head
chief, Lawyer, which has arisen mainly on
account of his adherence to amicable rela-
tOns with the whites Some of the sub
criefs have accused him of being so much
under the influence of certain white men as
to be blind to the interests of their people,
being themselves opposed to the whites
coming into their country. Frequent at
tempts have been made by these disafected
Indians to dethrone Lawyer and place an
other chief over their nation. Once or
twice majority of his people have agreed
to select new chief; but upon casting
about them for the choice of the man who
should be elevated to their command, differ
ences have again arisen, and their councils
have been broken without producing the
end designed. Still Lawyer, veteran and
gray-haired, remains their chief, and we
hope he will continue so to be. By his uni
form efforts to hold his people upon terms
offriendship with the whites, he has finally
succeeded in bringing his entire nation to
place themselves square upon the record.
Now they extend their hospitality to the
miners, assure them of their liberty to g go
where they please, and dig all the golathey
want" The speech made in the conference
by the person chosen to communicate their
feelings towards the whites, is one ofmourn-
full eloquence. Itexhibits the consciousness
on then part that the scepter swayed by
them through the long and shadowy past
has departed from them forever, and that
their days are nearly numbered.
Year: 1862

During the past two weeks has been ex-
cessively cold. Snow has been lying on the
ground to the depth of eight or ten inches,
huge icicles hanging pendant from the caves,
and water freezing into solid ice. On Sat
urday morning last, the thermometer stood
at ten degrees below zero, which was the
coldest day we have had, and we think
quite cold enough. Whewl how the cold
frost bites, and the snow creaks under foot
Sunday the weather moderated little, but
up to within day or two, it hes been uni
formly so cold since the storm set in as to
render outdoor life extremely disagreeable
1t is delig htful sleighing SO far as the snow
is concerned; but so far as the weather is
concerned, it is not SO delightful 1t is
really too cold to enjoy sleigh-ride. An
half hours riding will furnish a man a COM
plete coat of white-the breath congeals al
most as rapidly as in the Arctic regions
Everything hereabouts is decidedly frigid.
Well, we can't have sleighing, and Eear the
jingling sleigh-bells, the merry shout of
joyous revelry, the life and zest of winter
sports, without plenty Of snow; neither can
we to an enjoyable degree, with such con-
fessedly cold weather Why in the world
can't moderate temperature of atmosphere
bring us the season of winter sports, with
out restncting us to indoor life to escape
the freezing cold? 1t is fortunate that such
weather is of short duration in this locality,
for we can see but little use of it. Sleigh
riders can't enjoy it; business certainly re-
ceives no impetus through its continuance !;
the mail coach is obstructed in its course,
cutting off even the stray glimpses of the
world around US which we have heretofore
enjoyed; the teamsters can't propei load
ed wagon Trough foot of snow, nor can
they cross the creeks with sleds the farm
ers are surely not infatuated with the wealth
er, aud the laundry-women can't dry their
clothes.


Some friend, possessing the admirable
quality of being resigned to all things, may
suggest that &" it isn't half so cold as it used
to be back in the States ;" but what if it
isn't? We don't run on cold Weather here,
we don't wear overcoats, mittens, muffs,
furs aud shawls and bundle up with dozen
appliances in order to escape with dear life
We don't have all these appliances to rem
der eigh-ride agreeable, nor an adequate
preparation for the prosecution of business
pursuits through a long winter season. Our
farmers dent have capacious barns, it'll
ample sheds all round them and stalls in
side, for their horses and cattle; they don t
have the big hay-mOws and granaries, with
an everlasting store Of provisions for win
ter and our laundry-folks don't have the
old-fashionel garet to dry their clothes in.
We don't live in houses constructed for the
purpose of keeping the cold out, but to shell
ter us from the heat and secure at all times
free and healthy circulation of air. Our
buildings are not latLed and p'astered and
ce:led, and stuffed with " ool and batting to
make them warm. Either our style is at
fault in every essential particular, or else
the weather is at fault. There is too much
friction and we insist that we have no use
for such weather in this particular locality.
Year: 1862

The late snow and cold weather has been
disastrous to stock of every description
Cattle have died by hundreds from cold and
starvation. One gentleman informs us that
in going out to search for his stock on one
of the small streams in the valley, he found
upwards of forty dead cattle in travelling a
distance of only three miles. On the Wal
la Walla, we are informed, dead stock are
streNn here and there along the river AS
far down as the Umatilla, the mortality has
extended, and we learn that it is greater
there from the fact that most of the cattle
were brought from the Willamette valley
late in the fall, and we're at that time in
poor condition. Indian stock has suffered
greatly, and large Lands of horses have per-
ished. On the Touchet, some fifty or more
head of cattle have died; and we are told
that the mortality generally will be far
greater, from the effects of the weather up
to the present time, and if the snow should
continue much longer on the ground, the
loss Of stock will be very great.


This severe weather and its consequent
effects, suggests the necessity of preparation
for winter on the part of farmers and stock
growers. There are doubtless many per
sons in the Willamette valley, and even in
this valley, who hold to the belief that stock
may subsist and thrive on natural vegeta-
ton during the winter months, notwith-
standing the evidences we have frequently
had to the contrary AS in the Willamette,
so there are doubtless seasons here so mild
as to afford fair pasture for cattle during the
entire year but these seasons are the ex-
ception rather than the rule. There we
have frequently seen stock perishing for
want of food rather than from the severity
of the weather, and it is rare season in
deed which furnishes vegetation sufficient
to maintain stock during the winter months.
This is owing in measure to the fact that
the accumulation Of stock upon its plains
for the past few years has been too great
for the natural growth, the feed becoming
exhausted before the commencement of win
ter Though the grass is far better here
than there, and the number Of stock feed
ing upon it not near so great, yet we find
it not adequate in its natural condition for
the support of stock. Two weeks of wealth
er such as we have recently experienced
snow covering the ground, and the frost ad-
herring to the grass, so that if the snow was
off it would afford no nutriment to stock
must inevitably bring similar calamities to
those of The present season.


1t seems to us that the utter futility of
the system of subsisting stock during the
winter months without preparing food and
shelter, is fully demonstrated here as we'll
as in Oregon, and that absolute necessity
saying nothing Of the advantage gained by
good care of stock-compels those engaged
in this business to adopt the custom of the
eastern states, and make adequate provision
to enable their stock to get through the
winter in as good condition as when it
closed. upon them. Regarded in the sense
of profit and loss, this would certainly be
wise policy.


CuA,cF on prpr1c.r1oN Tn ordo, 70
Year: 1862

CoRREcT1oN.-We were in error last week in
our statement that Beebe had been acquitted of
the killing of Davis The trial was merely de-
ferred until this week, when an examination was
had and the accused committed, to await trial at
the next term of the district court
Year: 1862

CHANGE OF PUBLICATIoN.-In order to
better suit our publication day to the arri-
val and departure Of the mails, we shall is
sue hereafter on Saturday morning. At
the time of going to press the coach has not
arrived, and we have no news from the At
lantic States-nor have we had any for
more than two weeks. The stages have
failed to connect below; the great depth
of snow is probably the cause.
Year: 1862

existed for using t&e scil cf tic whole
Country, loyal aud doubtful alike, for the
transmission Of armies and material Of
war-an concurred to justify the apparent
resolution Of the President to fall back, for
the suppression Of the rebellion, upon his
constitutional power as Commander-ie-
Chief, and to make the sphere Of the exer-
else Of that power commensurate 6ith the
NATIONAL territory.


Undoubtedly, the President, in adopting
this resolution, became answerable 10 the
people for the honesty and intelligence
with which his decision was taken, and for
the purposes and disposition with which
the powers assumed under it, should be
exercised. He cannot, without liability
to the highest criminal processes known to
our law, pass from his limited authority as
civil magistrate, into his almost absolute
authority as commander:in-chief, wantonly,
nor exercise authority under the latter
with an intention to oppress. But if the
terrible crisis in which he found himself
justified the terrible resolution which he
took, he is entitled to verdict in his favor,
Year: 1862


and allbutone escaped the Captain rifle,
stopping him in death


After filling the wagons with such for
age as was desirable, Col. Stoughton or
dered his command back. They we're
leisurely marching along the road, in the
vicinity of the rebel Fort Reilly, where
the road is cut down ON the bank of the
river. ana where the river is quite mar
row when the rear of the train received
a volley from across the river At this
time Col Stoughton was riding by the
side of Lieut.. Col. Eldridge, at the head
of the train; he at once went to the rear
and took command there; 1t. CO.. Ed
ridge immediately put his regiment in
line of battle, but could see no enemy.
All he could see was smoke in the
woods down the river some eighty rods
from where the rebels were firing. He
ordered six-pounder to be put in posi-
ton, and directed the sergeant where to
throw some shell, which he did with
great precision At the same time, Lit.
Defrees, under order of Col Stoughton,
thre shells from the rear into the same
places, while the 18th Ohio, being Just
opposite the firing, gave two or three
volleys The firing Of the rebels ceased
at once; several were seen to fall, wheth-
er killed or wounded we cannot tell The
reconnaissance proved that there IS but
very small force down the river in that
direction. The citizens all along the
route begin to appreciate the condition
in which the guerrillas have placed them,
and now curse them as heartily as few
weeks ago they praised them None of
our men We're hurt, except one of the
llth- Michigan, who was accidentally
wounded in the arm.-Louisrille Jour
Year: 1862




The Report Of the Register of the
State Land Office shows the condition of
the various grants Of land made by the
Congress of the United States to this
State. asusss 5a


Very serious and embarrassing ques>
tions have arisen from the conflicting in
terests aud claims of some Of the Land
Grant Rail Road Companies and the Des
Moines Navigation and Railroad Company.
There have. been much vacillation and
conflict of opinion and action among the
heads Of the Department Of the Interior
ia regard TO the extent of the Des Moines
River Land Grant. That grant has been
held by one Secretary to extend only to
the forks Of the River at Des Moines City;
by another to extend to the sources Of the
River in Minnesota, and BY another to ex.
terd only to .he north boundary of our
State. One or more Of the Secretaries
certified to the State as part of the grant
large bodies Of land lying above the
forks Of the river within the limits of the
State, and the State subsequently, sold and
conveyed many Of these lands to indiyid
uals. Afterwara the State contracted with
the Des Moines Navigation and Railroad
Company 70 prosecute the work Of impro
Year: 1862

SHELTER FOR SHEEP.-We have heard
farmers contend that the emily shelter needed
by sheep was q stone fence, hill, or piece
of woods, to keep off the wind, and one lot
this class, we take it) learned better from
the following incident, which he relates in
Field Notes: "Last winter | fed about
eighty ewes in my meadow, as above stated.


Helping themselves to hay from stacks,
or TO soldEog" on the meadow, with little
grain daily. i had in an adjoining field an
old house. made the way open to the
meadow; | did not force the sheep into the
house, but left them to be their own judges
about going in. Colonel, it would have
done you good to see them marching out in
the morning TO THEN feed, in single file, and
back in the evening to shelter, from the
chilling blasts Of cold winter night; and
If the day was extremely cold, they took M
their line Of march twice day back and forth,
| think they did not lay out in open air to
exceed half dozen nights during the whole
winter, and those nights were moderately
warm. ! was 50 well pleased with this ar.
rangenent in the spring that I immediately
put two shelters, one in the meadow--frame.
thirty-two feet BY fourteen, posts four feet
high, weatherboarded and rooted, to be used
at pleasure, BY the sheep as above stated.
The other built in one corner Of field, BY
setting up three rows Of posts in the ground,
the highest In the middle and rooted both
ways, and open on the east side, TO be used
BY my ewes and young lambs Of nights and
stormy days"