New Era Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas April 9, 1864 THE SITUATION Bushwhackers At Work. Before ever the leaves are out and spring has fairly set in, the bloody, hellish mode of warfare, bushwhacking, has commenced in good earnest. No soon was the Army of the Frontier well on its way southward- and the country between it and the Arkansas River swarms with bushwhackers. Many murders have already been committed within the last few days, and not a single loyal man is safe for a moment outside of garrisoned towns. One of the most brutal late murders was that of Squire Barnard, a respectable, inoffensive old farmer, living about 8 miles south of this place. He was called to his door at night and shot through the breast, the ball passing through both lungs. Mr. Snider, one of our Representatives, who is living but a few hundred yards from Mr. Barnard’s, would have met the same fate but for his being in town that night. We also learn that Mr. Oliver and his son on James’ Fork was killed one day this week. It is useless to disguise the fact, that unless the proper and necessary steps are speedily taken, the Union men in the country will be exterminated or driven from their homes. Fran Alverson Warren e-mail: [email protected] 479-369-2703 http://www.crawfordcountyarkansas.net/