Staunton Vindicator

This excerpt, reprinted in the Richmond Enquirer from the Philadelphia Inquirer, tells of a preacher in Kentucky who spoke at a Union League meeting in Philadelphia. He fears the insurrection that may come from arming African-American troops but still would rather "see every woman and child in the South perish rather than that the Southern Confederacy should succeed in attaining the objects of its leaders." The Richmond paper noted that the applause that followed this speech reaffirms the deep hostility between the two nations.

Describes the feelings soldiers have while waiting for and during battle. It asserts that the waiting in suspense is the worst part, that once the "forward" order comes soldiers find relief in moving in unison into battle, and that their sensibilities dim in the face of horrors.

The New Jersey Assembly passed a bill that requires any mulatto coming into the state to be transported to Liberia or some slave-free West Indian island after ten days in the state.

Joe, a slave of a man who lives in Charleston, South Carolina, had been gone from his master for eighteen months and had been working for the abolitionists on St. Helena and other islands. He returned recently and reported on the destitute condition of the African Americans on the island. He said many more would return to their masters if they had the resources to do so.

The Murfreesboro correspondent of the Chicago Times reports that a high number of Yankee officers have been tried by court martial and that the occurrences of crimes are daily.

Reminds readers how fortunate Southerners are to have a variety of farm produce to live off of and how unlikely it is that they will go hungry because they are not dependent on one staple crop.

The General Assembly of Virginia passed a bill enabling soldiers to vote in the upcoming state election.

At the end of an editorial surmising what the spring military campaigns will involve, the editor states the necessity of keeping the Mississippi River in the hands of the Confederacy and the hope that doing so will encourage the northwestern states to form their own republic that would be separate from the Union but friendly with the Confederacy.

Speaker of the House H. W. Sheffey, representative in the state General Assembly from this district, is visiting at home. The editor hopes he will agree to deliver his lecture, entitled "The women of the South," as a fund raiser for soldiers' families.

A mob looking for bread robbed stores in Richmond on April 3, took numerous other items, and did not disperse until a commander in the State Guard announced the governor's orders that he fire upon the crowd.

At the election last Wednesday, the following people were elected: N. K. Trout, Mayor; H. M. Bell, George E. Price, W. H. Harman, Edwin M. Taylor, John Scherer, William G. Sterett, George Baylor, A. Lynn, B. F. Points, James W. Crawford, and William H. Wilson, Councilmen; Chapman Johnson, Commonwealth's Attorney; R. H. Stevenson, Sergeant; and J. F. Smith, Commissioner of the Revenue. A meeting of the Council on Thursday saw the resignation of E. M. Taylor and H. M. Bell and the election of T. P. Peyton and J. W. Hardy in their place.

Someone stole a horse belonging to Major Shumate of General Imboden's command from the livery stable of J. S. Byers and Company.

This letter clarifies the instructions of the Secretary of War on the impressment of supplies.

John Hiner of Highland married Jane McGlaughlin of Pocahontas County at the home of her mother on March 24.

Mrs. M. A. Brown, 58, died in Staunton on March 21.

Henry W. Camper died March 26 at his home in Fincastle.