smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1863

TOUCHING LETTER FROM REBEL SOL
DIER.-A "comfort Bag sent with other
articles to the Christian commission from a
town in this State, contained a letter from
the little girl who made it. The following
reply was recently received:-


GETTYs, August Z, lS63.-My dear little
Friend: received your present, the COM
fort bag, and it is thrice welcome, although
il was intended for Union defenders. 1t
was given to me by Christian woman,
who lost her holy anger for rebels (for such
am y in her bounteous sympathy for the
unfortunate. My little friend can imagine
my thankfulness for the favor, when in
form her that have no friends this side of
beaven-all gone, father, mother, sister and
brother, and am all alone. The dear COM
fort bag shall always keep as memento
Of true sympathy from a generous heart
from the loyal State of Massachusetts. l
hope you will not be disappointed by this,
coming as it does from a rebel; for was
forced into the ranks at the point OF the
bayonet, for would not 60 willingly to
fight against the dear old flag, whose ample
folds have always shielded the orphan and
made glad the oppressed. have read your
note thousand times over and wished it
could rightfully have been mine.


"Do they think Of me at homer"


Silence, all is silence. Not so with the
Union soldier, q thousand tokens tell him
YES. I was wounded in the second days
fight, and am now packing up my all to be
exchanged or sent back cripple for life.
am seventeen years old, and now I am
turned out with one arm to carve my way
through the world; but my trust is in my
Heavenly Father, who will forgive and
bless. Hoping that God may in mercy re-
unite us all again as brothers and sisters,
is the prayer Of your unworthy friend,
Year: 1863

THE EUROPEAN HARvEsT.-The leading
article of the Mark Lane Express of Au-
gust 18th, contains the following upon the
harvest in Great Britain and on the Cont
nent. II says:


"With another week of splendid wealth
er, large proportion of the fine crop of
wheat may be considered either gathered
or safe. It would appear that it will be no
difficulty this season to find samples that
will weigh 66 pounds per bushel and ma
ny oats exhibited are A pounds to the
bushel. Barley must vary much, and but
a small yield of oats will be gathered on
the light soils. Peas also turn out less than
expected, and beans will be very partial:
Potatoes are good, but not abundant, and
the west and southwest OF Ireland are
now beginning to complain of disease
while in Prussia the yield is very deficient.
The North of Europe, it would appear, has
not had weather equal to our own, the har-
vest having been impeded by rain, which
has affected the condition of much OF the
new corn brought to market, but prices
have generally been pointing downward
for the want of encouragement from Eng
land. France continues to take the lead in
a lower scale of prices, the liberal offers
and fine quality of the new wheat giving
millers full assurance of plenty. The
same state of things has obtained here
With but little showing at the several
Year: 1863

WooLEN FAcToRY.-Fort Madison will
soon be able to boast of having within its
limits the largest woolen factory in the
State. We paid visit to it few days
since, and cleaned the following particulars
concerning it: The Factory is wooden
structure, GA by 40, exclusive of the ma
chine department., and four stories in
height. The Factory will be supplied with
water by dam to be built in the creek
running in Penitentiary hollow, a well and
capacious cistern. When completed it will
run four sets of Cards, and nine hundred
spindles. and will turn out about 600 yards
OF cloth per day. 1t will give employment
to about sixty hands.


The building is now enclosed and nearly
ready for the machinery, and will be COM
pleted early in November. Messrs. Saw
yer Brothers deserve great credit at the
hands of the people Of Fort Madison, and
Lee county generally, for the enterprise
manifested by them in the erection Of such
an extensive Factory, one which will
prove of incalculable benefit to this com
munity, and will reflect honor on the State
at large. Messrs. S. calculate adding a
Knitting Machine to the establishment
Plain Dealer.
Year: 1863

REBEL ESTIMATE OF THE COPPERHEADS.
The Richmond Dispatch evidently un-
derstand our Northern Copperheads thor
oughly. 1t says they want to resist the
Lincoln despotism, but have not the cour-
age:


The demonstrations of opposition to the
Lincoln government in the Northern
States are of character appropriate
to that country, and do not promise
much success to those who are engaged
in the agitation. The common people
instinctively ask, ''If you all agree
with the government that the rebellion
must be crushed, why do you oppose the
money to do what it is SO earnestly striving
TO do?'' The answer is most difficult, and
can hardly satisfy the masses. We doubt
not that large portion of those in the op-
position are playing their cards cunningly
that they are really anxious to stop the
war; but knowing that an unconditional
opposition to it would be so unpopular that
they could not maintain it, they make the
suppression of the rebellion one Of the
planks in their platform. This kind of po-
litical fraud is characteristic OF the Yankee
nation. Even Mr.. Vallandigham, whom
we do not impugn along with the common
run of Northern politicians, has not been
consistent. In Congress he refused to vote
dollar for the war; but still he has decla-
red himself for restoration of the Union,
either by negotiation or war. If he could
not succeed by peaceable means he has
said that he would employ arms, and
would himself enter the field. While we
doubt whether he would if he controlled
matters, make very vigorous war, never.
theless the moral weight of his position is
against what all of them call the 'rebel-
ion," and therefore in favor of war and
Lincoln, who is carrying it on. Looking
over the field of Northern politics then, We
see not how headway is likely to be made
against the Washington despotism.
Year: 1863




Fernando Wood having asserted in 8
speech delivered at Stamford, Connecticut,
that propositions for an armistice or peace
had been presented to the President on the
18th Of December last (which had they
been accepted, would have terminated this
war by the first of April upon basis sat
isfactOry to the people of the North and
and South the New York Evening Post
asks Mr. Woods authority for the state
ment and whence came the propositions.
To this Wood answers by card, saying
that tho statement was made deliberately,
with 6 full and personal knowledge Of the
facts, and that he is restrained from the
publicity Of them only by the request Of
one Of the principal officers Of Govern
ment." When the interdictiOn is removed,
he promises to crafty the curiosity of the
Post We may possibly believe WOOds
story that an srmistice was proposed, but
we should prefer another authority as to
what would be satisfactory to the people
Of The North and South" What would be
satisfactory to him might not be 70 thor
oughly loyal people.
Year: 1863

NE4AA AbAEAi OAh ChoAChs NAsJ


March II, 1863.


There are unmistakable preparations
now being made for speedy movement of
the army. Our transportation is now
being cut down to facilitate movements in
the coming march, and the officers are
warned beforehand that all superfuous
baggage must be sent home, while all that
hold commissions in the line have been
notified that their wedge tents cannot be
transported for them in future, and that
in the coming campaign nothing more will
be allowed them for shelter but such as
men have which they can carry on their
backs. This last fact alone is sufficient
for warning Of the TRIALS, troubles and dis
comforts Of the next campaign
Year: 1863

The Union men haa:nntlcipated the mob,
and by their timely appearance sustained the
preacnis e Of the gospel from an unmuzzled
mouth and the institutions of the holy Sab,
bath, and it is to be hoped that the Copper.
ha,fer m
Year: 1863

DIVINE PRoTEcrIoN.-When from
the top of some commanding cliff in
eternity we are able to look back
over the stormy sea of this life of
probation, we can then Judge jnstIy
and not before, of its trials and perllS
and estimate Alright the magnitude
of our deliverauces, and the skill and
wisdom Of the Divine providentlat
Pilot that sat at our helm.
Year: 1863

MYSTERIOUS nrsAppEARANCE. - A
young lady, by the name of Miss Annie
Benner, whose parents reside in De Witt
County, Illinois. left her home about the
first inst for this city, as she said, for the
purpose OF visiting an Aunt of hers re-
siding here, but undoubtedly, as her
parents supposed. to visit soldier from
Illinois who was here in the hospital
She arrived safely in our city, and spent
the first night with her Aunt. Ia the
morning she expressed desire to take a
walk around the city and visit the hos
pitfalls. Her Aunt told her if she would
wait until afternoon she would accompany
her, but she could not be persuaded to
this and insisted on going alone, saying.
however, that she would postpone visit
ing the hospitals for the present. She
LEFT the house about 8 o'clock she did
not return to dinner, and towards evening
her Aunt, who had become somewha,
anxious, started out in quest of her -
After numerous inquiries she heard tha.
the young lady had been seen walking
about on the bluffs above the camp ground
at four O'Clock and acting very strangely,
and since then no one has seen her and
no information can be gained concerning
her. Her parents have become almos,
distracted about her disappearance, and
her father was in our city Yesterday in
search OF her, but could obtain mo cl,.
as to what had become of her. Fe.r.
are entertained BY her relatives that shs
was disappointed and did not find he,
"bold soldier boy" here as she expected
and has gone in search Of him elsewhere
or that she seen him and not finding hin
feeling toward Ter as she expected, wa,
led to commit suicide by jumping int.
the river. This however is hardly prob
able, if the young lady was in her righ
mind, which she appeared to be Will.
here We will wait until more ex
tended search is made before We come t.
that conclusion. Perhaps there will be
some startling Developments made which
will astonsh even the knowing ones O
our city.
Year: 1863

TThe city patrons of the GATE CITY
are reminded that the carrier boys will be
among them to-day for the small change
due them for the paper. Of course all
will be prepared to "fork over"
Year: 1863

What an unfortunate thing it was
for Benedict Arnold that he was not born
about eighty years later. He might have
been democratic hero, and probably
a candidate .or Governor or Sheriff! His
language is closely copied by some of the
most "illustrious' Copperhead martyrs
of the present dav.
Year: 1863

We are in receipt Of VARIOUS and sundry
indignant letters from military gentlemen
who have been pointed out in these eel
umns US guilty Of rrostituting their places
to the purposes Of cotton speculation. We
would do none Of them injustice; but, as
what we have said was based, not upon
hearsay, but upon statements officially be-
fore the War Department, We are at pres
cnt disinclined to admit that we have, even
unwitting1y, borne false witness. In con
nection with this matter, we are glad to
know that Court Of Inquiry has been
called for. By that we abide. In the
meantime, let it be understood that we do
not pretend to any sympathy for any man,
no matter what his State, lis rank, or his
previous character, who has fooled away
the health and sacrificed the lives Of our
brave men, in pursuit Of cotton that might
nut money into his pockct.
Year: 1863

We print in another column the vote on
the Conscription Bill in the House Of Rep
resentatiycs. The vote was decisive-115
to 40. The bill remains substantially as it
passed the Senate. The exceptions are
the following amendments: The time Of
service Of the conscripts is not to exceed
the duration Of the rebellion. Provision is
made for the trial Of spies by court martial
or military commission, and they arc to
suffer death on conviction. Cases Of arrest
by Provost Marshals for reasonable prac-
tices are to be turned over at once to the
civil authorities. Various amendments, Of
tercd By patriots of the Vallandigham and
Wickli1c school, meant to obstruct or de-
feat the purposes Of the bill, were promptly
voted down. Tie Senate has still to con
slider the House amendments, but there
can be no reasonable doubt that this COM
prehensiTc measure, which We believe to
be both necessary and efectual for the
vigorous prosecution Of the war, will speed.
ilY become law and promptly be put in
force,
Year: 1863




The Presidents reply to the Manchester
workmcn is worthy alike Of himself and
the Republic. It is calm and digni6ed
statement Of American affairs, as they ex~
listed at the time Of lis Inauguration, and
may be regarded as the estimate which he
forms Of his own historical position as
President Of the United STATES. He found
the country on the verge Of civil war, and
had no alternative but to take instant
measures for the discontinue Of the rebels
and the preservation Of the Union. He
WIS compelled to this course, not only as
patriot, but by the solemn oath which he
had sworn before the people, and by the
duties and immense responsibilities Of his
public office.


After the war had actually commenced,
and the cotton supplies Of Europe had been
cut of, he foresaw the great distress which
this painful, though necessary, restriction
Of so important q staple would produce
amongst the work people, more especially
Of Great Britain and France, and his warm
est sympatllies we're with these classes, in
their suffering and distress


He was well aware also, of the asl2m1,ts
which had been made BY the agents Of the
rebellion to take advantage Of their misery
and urge them to make demonstration IN
favor Of the rebels. He regarded the in
tegrity with which they met the overtures
and cntrcatics of the enemies of the Rcpu1,.
Lie, at time when they and their families
were not only without work and destitute
but absolutely suffering from famine and it!
accompanying diseases, as the snblfmcs
moral spectacle which the world has eve
Witnessed.


Hc concludes This admirable letter will
the hope that two peoples bound togcthe
IS those Of America and England arc, b,
4 common blood and ancestry, by the sam
great governing ideas, by the same lore q
human rights and liberty, will never ccas
to be friends, and that lie, for lis part, vii
do all in Lis power to cement so noble r<
lationship.
Year: 1863

It is said that Gen. Hooker is about
to have thirty deserters shot. When they
are dead and done for, would it not be
well for the Government to hunt up the
scoundfels by whom the descrtions were
induced, and shoot them? They are inf
nltely more culpable than the men and
as their efforts have become systematized
so as to materially effect the efficiency Of
our armies, it is time that SOME Of thcm
were strung up or bored through, by way
Of example to other eyil-docrs.
Year: 1863

Oh the depths of the wisdom and knowledge of


God
Let's bow to his throne and submit to bis rod:
lis ways are unsearchablc, past finding out,
In the means he's appointed to bring them about;
He takes up the islands very small things,
He holds in his hands the devices Of kings,
Like rivers he turns them wherever he will
His DEGREES to enforce, his designs to fulfil al
His ways may be dark to the offsprings Of dust,
His mercies are sure, his judgments are just;
He comes in his glory to rule and to reign,
He solves the enigmy, the mystery explains,
Our God is the author Of union and peace,
May his kingdom advance and subjects increase.
Our union has raised US to that high renown,
From which on the kings of the earth We lock down
Our empire extends from the east to the west,
With peace and with plenty our union IS bIest;
The flag of our union waves proud Ger the world
Respected and honorel wherever unfurled.
These are the blessings our Union has brought,
The blessings for which our brave ancestors fought
What lovers of freedom court the dark hour,
When the foes of our freedom possess regal power;
If disuni0n prevails, and blest union retires.
On the plains of Philippi our freedom expires
Our stars and our stripes will be struck the foe
And the tree of our liberty fall by the blow;
Our eagle receive an incurable wound,
And sckened, and covering descend 10 the ground.
call on the statesman, call on the printer,
To advocate Union thro' summer and winter;
I call on the doctors of eminent skill,
To administer Union with every pill;
call on the mechanics call on the farmers
To cultivate Union with plows and with hammers;
1 call, on the Laity, call on the Priests
To advocate harmony, union and peace,
Let the fair sex the anthem Of union prolong
Till the wide arch of Heaven re echoes the song;
Let all hearts and voices in un son mingle
Till they make every ear of disunion to tingle
Let us follow the great Washin gton's admOnition,
And frown on the man that would name a dsunion
Let union and freedom in harmony run,
Till the last trump of Gabriel shall llow out the
Now, brother freeman, bid you adieu,
To God and your country prove faithful and true;
May peace and prosperity bind you together
Aud the blessings of Heaven attend you forever,
With tears of affection believing my face,
| tender my hand for a farewell embrace;
But don't shake it roughly its feeble, you know,
But kindly impress it and then let 1t 60
Now my pledge is redeemed and my song at an end
But still may you ha ME your faithful old fried.
Should the sands of my life still continue to run,
Till another important election shall come,
And to the ballot my ticket should bring
will cordially greet you, but never more sing
My harp is de3ayed, its cords are all strained
No more will they sound from the sweep of my hand
Four score and two winters have ravaged our cline,
Since my name enrolled on the records of time,
What bard could suppose that longer could play
On harp that | tuned in juvenile day ?
Ny utmost endea1 1or capital brings.


My harp to repair furnish strings.


Brimfeld, Oct 10Th, 1853.
Year: 1863

Who. thankful for past favors, solicit a
continuance of the patronage heretofore
So literally awarded the old firm. No
pains will be spared to accommodate all who
may favor them with call, and every ef-
fort will be made to furnish goods as low
and on as good terms as can be had else
where. no29
Year: 1863

The law in regard to the registering Of
letters, is nov much better under the new
law passed BY the las, Congress than the
preceding one. Every postmaster or clerk
handling registered letter, is required 10
write his name on it, BY which mcans the
letter may be traced through the entire
route. The postage on registered letters
is increased from FIVE to twenty-five cents.
The receipt given to the receiver Of the
letter must hereafter be forwarded TO the
sender.
Year: 1863

well that il should bear in mind that there il
limit to all human endurance, even when the
suffering is inflicted by ones most trusted
friends If Grant and bis brave army shall be
left to be overwhelmed, and the nation be
again agonized with the spectacle Of hecatombs
Of its children slain to no purpose, the loyal
millions will not quail nor abste one jot of their
spirit, even in the presence of so great calam-
ity but they may feel that it would be no
longer duty to tolerate the men in whom they
had confded, and who only day after day have
given proof upon proof that they can neither
comprehend nor grapple successfully with the
magnitude and the demands Of the task before
them.


We feel it our duty to tell the President these
things. The people believe In perpetuity of the
republic, but they cannot believe in eternal
weakness. They believe in the ultimate triumph
Of the national cause /; but they cannot forever
endure chronic apathy and improvidence, that
no experience, however sharp, and no adversely,
however appalling, can stimulate or instruct.
They demand at least the same foresight and
vigor in promoting their cause that its enemies
exhibit in assailing it. The time Is past for
quieting the country under inercnsabls disaster
with assurances that tedious and long wars and
incompetency in wagiug them are as old as the
world itself. With unlimited means, and with
powers, civil and military, that are literally
despotc, placed in the hands Of the President
there ought at this day to be no failures. We
trust that the issue at vicksburg will prove that
there will be none, and there is an end OF the
system, or no system, which, if longer contin.
ued, must waste away and consume, not the
enemies OF the Republic, but the Republic it.
self.
Year: 1863

| AM AS COOP AS ANYBODY. Are you indeed ?
Then we honor you from the depth Of our nature,
for the world contains unquestionably some very
good, very excellent people. There are tho
whose daily life is a religion, whose hearts are full
Of the chd.liks sweetness of reverence and trust.
They are prone to forget themselves in their
brotherly kindness towards neighbor. 1t is a
pleasure to be near them, and you, we are glad
to learn, are quite as good as they.


No, you don't mean tina; exactly. You only
mean to assert your equality with the loftiest and
the proudest Liberty, equality and fraternity
are condensed summary Of your social creed.-
Very well. Society is known to contain limited
number OF accomplished men and women. 1t
boasts few stars OF the first magnitude, as we'll
as myriads Of lesser lights from the luminous
points that stud the blue TO the millions that are
only perceptlble IN groups as lustrous and me-
bulous haze. There are men and women who
exhibit rare harmony of tevelopmsnt-the re-
suit of happy accidents Of birth and training
There are graceful forms animated by serene and
beautiful souls-choice buds OF being unfolded by
the most udcious culture, and enargng our con-
ceptions Of the possibilities OF our race. There
are those whose fine instincts are almost unerring
who glide into the right place as by magic, who
drop the right word at the fitting moment, and
act upon the spur Of the moment as We often de-
liberately wish we had done In the group whore
they are leaders in unity and pleasure, differ
ences are recoBclled excellsncies blended, strong
points displayed in an agreeable light, and con-
cessions yielded with alecrity where they are no
longer Extensively claimed Social angels are
these people-not always through moral superb
orty, bu, through happy equabiliiy Of temper,
and rare endowment Of tact. They help TO sof-
ten and beautify the asperities cf life tfey
4" breathe through the sky Of March the airs Of
May" They are moonlight on the landscape, OF
fragrance to the flower.


No, this ID by no means what you claim. In
truth you have never been remarkable for polish
and suayiiy Of manner. You despise hypocrisy,
and your genuine nature fairly acted ou,,s little
harsh and abrupt. You do not always place your
undeniabe good qualities in the most attractive


light, aad you often fail to impress people with
the benignily Of the impulses you really feel. You
are not eminent for the traits tina. win acceptance
10 society these are not your boast, and you add
TO this admission disclaimer Of unusual wealth,
beauty and intellectual or physical power. You do
not claim to be one Of the remarkable men or wo-
men OF the age, but only TO be their equal in the
mere fact OF Your humanity. This is the last
anal lysis--it is the sum of your self-assertion.
This is oil, and it is also much. To be human is
to possess nexhaus,ible capacities for improve
ment, and one Of the most hopeful manifestations
is the reverent appreciation OF persons better than
yourself.