Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1861-08-08
LITTER PROM A SICK SOLDIER.

LETTER FROM A SICK SOLDIER
HcsPuAL. GALLrOLIs. Aug. 4th, 1851.
EDiroR JoURNAL: M
al tell you, my sleep and my drink and NEST,
For me have no SAVIOR half 80 sweet
As to hear, on both sides Set on and Chsrgei
And the steeds in the forest neighing at large
And the loud A I aide! and A rescue no!
And to see thea tumblipg high and low,
On fields and in ditehes-men and horses,
And broken spears in their hfeless eorses"
This, by Bertrand, in the Norman
French, expresses the military passion,
and shows with what ardor war was
carried on during the middle ages
With what enthusiasm and 6endish de-
light was mans blood shed, by his fel-
low man. At that time, however. sol
diers were all knights and Gentlemen.
There were no generals in those days
no regular army--no books Of strategy
were then read. but q wide margin in
battle was preferred to any discipline
which would hinder their free action.
In fact. the soldier then was less OF the
machine and more Of a man.
"Imperial hopei
Thine was the charm that with martial Joy
Thrilled the cold spirit of tn Emathian boy"
Drilled and brigaded--as modern
soldiers are-snd kept in order by strict
discipline, we move mechanically, and a
sense Of duty serves rs in place Of every
other generous impulse Of soldiership.
W. faal nat fbok o,;,, -, -L..L -
felt by those who formerly marched
round the banner Of their chief. and
heard his words ofcheer and encourage
ment, fsmiliarly addressed. Known no
longer is the festive ceremony Of battle
which was formerly so Inspiring
With nothing preliminary differing from
the order Of march, we often find our
selves in action. moving against an in
distinct position and firing through the
smoke, while the bloody gaps in our
lines tell US we're in range ofthe enemy's
battery. Then the roar Of musketry.
the shrieks Of the wounded and dying
fill the ear, and charge and fight. and
fight and then charge again. until all
ceases. Have we conquered the enc
my? or, have they conquered us? Alasl
we must retreat. Now all this would
just suit Bertrand, the author OF the
lines commencing this letter, but, l
wonder il Bertrand had to live on sheet
iron crackers. fat bacon, dough mixed
up with cold water and fried in fat? l
wonder If he drank dark suspicious
beverage called coffee Chalf chickory
seed) without milk and often without
sugar? Oh, shades Of Bertrandl II
you had to subsist on the above who
could blame you for being so Gnzious
to leave all. and go forth boldly to meet
death, and let your jaws have rest from
craunching the hard fare.
Blessed are they, who received
wounds in the late engagements with
the enemy. And it is truly a wonder
that more are not in the hospital sick,
with eating the above, and exposure.
Blessed are they also. 1t brings them
within the pale Of home. for truly, il
seems like home here, when we see
kind hearted, benevolent ladies', admin
istering so attentively to the wants Of
the sick and wounded, from day to day.
1t is cheering to the heart Of sick SOL
dier to know and feel that there is some
one who takes an interest in his welfare,
in administering to his wants, while he
is sick and far from the loved ones at
home. And how cheering it must be
to our friends and relations TO know that
here in Gallipolis. sick ard wounded,
we are well cared for. That there are
kind hands to cool the fevered brows OF
their sons and husbands, to furnish
those little nourishing delicacies which
cannot be expected from an army hos
pital, only through the benevolence Of
kind hearts. Ladies Of Gallipolis, we can
never repay you for your trouble. "God
bless you," is in the heart Of every sick
soldier. We thank you. and when we
are convalescent. we can go forth, /
hope, with braver hearts. to conquer
the enemies of this glorious Union. bring
rest to you from your benevolent labors,
and peace TO our beloved country.
Ladies, may God bless you, and re-
ward you in heaven, is the sincere wish
Of a SICK SOLDIER.
For the Gallipolis Journal.