Year: 1861

The following extract is taken from
letter written by lady, formerly of
Massachusetts,, now residing in Boones-
borough, in the centre of Iowa, to o
friend in Boston


You must know that though We
live in the centre of one of the most
loyal States in the Union, we are vet
in the midst Of scccssvnism. 1t
makes my heart ache to write it, but
so it is. The early settlers of this
county were originally from Virginia
the Carolinas, and Tennessee, and
Kentucky, emigrating first to Indiana,
and thence working westward intc
Iowa. And they have brought with
them all thUse traits by which we rec
oSnizc the low whites of the South.
They do not hesitate to say openly and
with oaths that would make your hair
stand straight, that they hope the
South will conquer and send its troops
North and make darcS of the Yankees
and AboiitiUnists.' If they dared, if
the Union feeling in the surrounding
counties was not too strong, they
would not hesitate to hang every pa
triot, man and woman, among Us
How dreadful is such state of things.
How fearful to hear women say, as
they did, when one little company
marched out Of town on its way to
Missouri, they hoped every man
among them would have a bullet
lodged in their heart 1t is very hard
to be Christian among such people
! assure you it is. It's hard to keep
down the angry tides that will at sucl,
times swell within ones bosom. I
thank heaven they have never talked
SO in my presence. have said again
and again that no sccessionist should
ever breathe a word of his treason in
my house. It's an humble one, but it
shall never harbor traitor, Rsrer.
NEVER. Were it my dearest friend or
neighbUr, | would put him out at the
first disloyal word 1t is little that |
can do for my country, besides giving
it my prayers, but that little shall be
done. thoroughly.


THE war need not trouble you
much said a lady to me the other day,
your boys are all too young to go in
to the army, while mine are all stout,
able bodied men,


That is my great trouble said |,
with tears in my eyes, My great
trouble, that though the mother of four
sons, | have not one old enough yes
to fight for his country


But would you let them go p


Would let them stay =


Then you believe in war;


No, | don't not as a general
thing. Were this a war for the inva=
sion Of a foreign land, for the acquisi=
ton of more territory, I would be
down upon it but it's war, holy as
the Revolution, war for the defense
of our country and our Constitution,
and | would be proud to have my boys,
even as common soldiers, engaged id
it,


But how would yon feel to have
them sent home to you dead


If their wounds were anywhere
but their back or heels, should be
happier and proudcr than when first
clasped them to my bosom. Every
blood stain which they bore would be
Il g!ory-spCt to me-


And you'd as lief they'd be killed
as not =


No, indeed said l fercel ". Il
love my boys as truly as you do yours,
but somebody's sons must die on the
battle field, and why not mine =? Some=
body must sacriiie, and fearfully, too.
Some hearts dearest idols must be
torn from them before the war is
closed Shall not |, who was born
under the stars and stripes, be vii
ling to do something, TO lose some
thing p"


General Fremont declares il 10 ba