The Arkansas Post

Item

Title
The Arkansas Post
Description
Handwritten newspaper "The Arkansas Post," with the purpose of publishing events in the lives of soldiers in the field. Mark Adee is listed as Editor and Proprietor. The issue describes the experiences of Union soldiers during the Civil War, and references the 1863 Battle of Arkansas Post, also known as the Battle of Fort Hindman, and the Vicksburg Campaign of the war. The second issue includes contributions by others -- poems, letters, ads, references to lost and injured soldiers, and requests for recipes and reading material. It mentions the scarcity of paper, forcing the editor to use smaller sheets.
Creator
Adee, Mark
Date
March 22, 1863
Temporal Coverage
1860s
Access Rights
public domain
Rights
Users assume all responsibility for questions of copyright, invasion of privacy, and rights of publicity that may arise in using reproductions from the library's collections.
No Copyright - United States
Identifier
OUSC.SPR.0029
transcription
The Arkansas Post
Go In and Win
Volume A No. 1
Mark Adee, Editor and Proprietor
There are so many scenes in the life of a soldier in the field, worthy of record and a knowledge of which might be interesting to the friends and loved ones at home. It is our purpose in this small sheet to publish some of these events, to inform our friends of the wants and wills of the army, and to inform them how they may be of service to their country, to encourage them in their patriotism, to amuse their leisure hours, to assist them in their endeavors to guard against traitors at home while we attend to them in the field. We also intend to sustain the Government of the United States no matter who may be at the head of it, and such ought to be the principle of every true patriot.
We also intend to encourage the soldier, and we heartily say to the citizen and the soldier in this contest “Go in and win”, to the President of the United States we say “Go in and win” To the Congress we say Go in and win, To the Conscript we say, Come in and win, and to the Lover we say Go in and win. And now in making our appearance for the first time, we make no apologies, we intend to pursue an independent and straightforward course speaking the truth to the best of our knowledge and all we ask is the good will and approbation of our friends. But to our friends and enemies one and all we say “We intend to go in and win. As we sit in our Sanctum Sanctorum we can hear our mortars paying their respects to Vicksburg.

The Arkansas Post March Saturday 22nd
The Situation
What an immense difference there is today in the feelings of the soldiers of this army compared to that of two months ago. Two months ago a feeling of deep despondency had taken possession of this army, especially after the withdrawal of our forces from the Yazoo.
At that time a more dispirited set of men could not be found. They had been repulsed, and they knew it. They were sick and received but little attention the boats were crowded and as most of the men were quartered on the boiler decks and on the hurricane roof they had no shelter from the torrents of rain that poured down on the Mississippi. There were no facilities for cooking and many had to eat their food raw. Added to all this the news from home was very scanty and what did reach them was of the most depressing description. They heard that the people of the north were tired of the war, that they were willing to purchase peace at any price, that some of the
Legislature of loyal states had passed traitorous and revolutionary resolutions. And the news from other portions of the army was equally discouraging, defeat seemed to be marked out for us in every quarter, desertions were frequent and the Government was wo[e]fully behind in the payment of the troops.
But now all this is changed the men are full of hope and confident of success. They feel that they have friends at home that they have a good and substantial Government with abundant resources, a Government that is determined to use those resources. They have been paid enough to enable them to relive their families at home, and members who were absent sick are now returning, and all the news they get is cheering. Letters and papers reach them regularly and often, and everything looks bright. But the first gleam of sunshine that penetrated this army was: The capture of Arkansas Post.

The Arkansas Post
Contributions began to pour in upon us even before we have had time to publish our first number, and we have been favored with a poem from the pen of our friend Blanco, to which we invite especial attention, as the writer is young and needs encouragement. We hope he will favor us with more of his verses. He has evidently seen some fun, from the way he writes one would swear he had smelt powder. We have also a fine poem from a gifted friend Clifton which is necessarily crowded out for want of space, but which will appear in our next issue.
It is our painful duty this week, to record the death of one of our fellow soldiers. One who was universally beloved by his fellows in his company. One who endured fatigues, dangers and sufferings with us at Vicksburg, and who fought gallantly at Arkansas Post. One with whom the writer was somewhat intimate, and many times have we sat by the watchfire and told each other of our friends at home, of our trials and
troubles, of our future prospects and our present difficulties, and we have laughed and smiled together but only one is left to weigh.
At the attack on Fort Hindman although he was in the thickest of the danger yet he escaped unhurt, but his constitution could not endure the terrible exposure to which we were subjected on the Steamer and at Young’s Point. Sorry am I, that we, not one of his company, were permitted to be with him during the last moments of his existence. He died on the Hospital boat Nashville, and was buried about one mile above Young’s Point. We speak of Corporal Wm. A Cornic Company “D” 83rd O.V.P.
So sleep the brave who sink to rest,
By all their country’s honors blest. A. Young
Geo. C. Hartpense is said to have been taken to the hospital at St. Louis, Mo.
Delancy [Lucket ?] is supposed to have been sent up the river.
The following are in our regimental hospital, John Campbell, David Barnes, Wm. P. McMurray, [Gurner ?] [Gleonier ?]. [Sergt. ?] Keen is with us improving, [Sergt. ?] Best on the sick list, also Allen Benson, Michael Martin, Paley John.

The Arkansas Post
How the Boys Feel…
When I say “Boys” I mean soldiers “men” who have left their homes, their friends, and sacrificed every thing that is dear in this life for their Country’s good and they are willing to do more. They are willing to offer life itself on the altar of their country, if it be required, and they think their friends at home should sustain them. Traitors in the north are the same as traitors in the south only deeper dyed and the boys are as willing to light one as the other.
We know no north. We know no south. Our Motto is to Go in and win, and death to the traitors who oppose us. [Greeny ?]
Five hospital boats loaded with blue coats passed here on their way to Young’s Point. They appeared to be large and commodious, Uncle Sam intends to take good care of his boys.
Poetry.
Thoughts of home are oer me stealing
Cannons here are loudly pealing
Death and bloody havoc dealing,
Would I were at home.

Men on death are blindly rushing
Bombshells through their ranks are crushing,
Bullets now my hair are brushing
Give me back my home.

Soon the battle will be over
And no more I’ll be a rover
But go home to live in clover
Won’t I stay at home!
Blanco
Advertisements
Wanted: A good recipe for making slapjacks. Address General McClernand 13th Army Corp. (Enclosing a postage stamp)
A lot of good reading matter. Papers, periodicals, pamphlets, [ucc ?], Address Comp “D” 83rd O.V.P.
Owing to the scarcity of paper in this region our sheet is smaller than we could wish. We will try to procure some in time to enlarge our next.

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