Letters to the Editor

Justifiable retaliation

Editor, Herald Tribune:

I must gently "bushwhack" my confrere Arnold Schofield for an error of omission in the Nov. 5, installment of his admirable "Battlefield Dispatches" series.

"Quantrill's philosophy and practice," he wrote, "was to 'take no prisoners.'"

On behalf of Quantrill, et al, I enter the legal plea of Tu quoque: "Thou also" (And "thou" did it first!)

Quantrill early offered to exchange prisoners, as was being done in the regular forces. Unionists spurned him and hanged their prisoners. Quantrill only then began retaliating in kind.

As early as Dec. 21, 1861, Gen. Henry Halleck, the top Union general in Missouri, made official that "no quarter" (no mercy) policy. It could be applied not just to guerrillas but even to regular Confederates in uniform caught "behind the lines."

The Union pioneered a number of practices which the Nazis would perfect: Schrecklichkeit, "frightfulness," as e.g., Sherman's march, making sure war was the hell he'd declared it was. And Sippenhaft, vengeance on the kin of combatants, as e.g., the women kin of Bushwhackers killed and maimed in the (engineered?) collapse of their Kansas City prison building.

As Arnold's and my friend Eldon Steward says (speaking from family experience), "It seems like the main activity of the Union Army in this area was making war on women and children."

In contrast, there is no record, to my knowledge, of a Missouri Bushwhacker ever, ever harming a woman, despite often great provocation. They were of that extinct species, gentlemen!

Patrick Brophy

Nevada

Support of United Way appreciated

Dear Editor

We want to thank the citizens of Vernon County for their continued support of United Way by making our recent Oktoberfest celebration a huge success.

It was a beautiful day that helped showcase the United Way and its work in Vernon County in a fun, lighthearted manner. We had a fantastic crowd listening to music, eating chili and other great food, playing games, and just enjoying being outside. It takes a great number of people working together to make Oktoberfest happen. There are far too many to list but we want to thank each one of you and also everyone who attended our event. Your interest in and willingness to help the United Way, along with the help of others, has the real power to improve people's lives and bring about changes that matter in our community.

Our goal this year is to raise $112,000 for 20 member agencies. It will take all of us working diligently to reach this amount. When you give to the United Way your money goes far, but not far from home. We truly appreciate the support you have shown by doing what matters and helping us with Oktoberfest. Again, thank you!

The United Way of Vernon County Board of Directors Adam Dean, President.

Salvation Army bell ringing volunteers and donors needed.

Letter to the Editor:

The Holidays are rapidly approaching and schedules are filling up. The Vernon County Salvation Army will be ringing bells Friday, Nov. 17. Our kettles will be set up at Wal-Mart Friday evenings, Saturday and Sunday afternoons. We will be at Woods and the south door at Ramey's on Saturdays.

All of our bell ringers are volunteers and the money we receive helps people here in Vernon County.

We have had great support from local clubs and individuals in the past to have enough bell ringers for each location. We need your help again. If you belong to a group that would like to adopt a day or if you would just like to help out on your own please contact Greg Hoffman at (417) 667-4721.

Donations can be sent to the Salvation Army in care of Amy Henry, 208 N. Cedar, Nevada MO 64772.

If you have rung the bells before you already know that it can be cold and uncomfortable, and you also know it can give you a warm and cozy feeling in your heart.

Thank you!

Vernon County Salvation Army