The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-10-23
Army Corresp pondence.
From the 25th Chic Regiment.
CHEAT MOUNTAIN SUMMIT, VA,
October I. 1861.

CHEAT MOUNTAIN SUMMIT, VA,
October Z, 1851.
Mr.. EDITOR: Again I shall trouble
you with some of my idle thoughts, in
camp. Five months ago, when the dark
clouds of disunion were spread over our
beautiful country, few Of US in the pat
riotic town of WoodsfeId and vicinity.
knowing the perilous condition OF our
country, went forth and joined the little
company rallying around the American
Flag-the Star.spangled Stripes-that
was bequeathed to US by our gallant aud
patriotic sires, who struggled for iadepen-
dence in the war of Seventy six, that they
might bestow upon their posterity the
blessings of civil and religious liberty, in
one common destiny. @
Young men of old Monroe: We would
like to have few more of yon with u.s.,
here in Western Virginia. We would
gladly welcome you to Ibis unhappy lard.
Enlist Immediately, and show to the world
that you are worthy to be called the sons
of our noble and gallant forefathers. Let
public meetings everywhere be called; let
the sacred FIRE of enlightened aud religious
liberty, be rekindled upon the altar of all
your hearts; let your spirit be aroused,
as one man, in the spirit of true patriot
ism, to uphold, at every sacrifice, the
Government, with all its institutions
and liberties, which were bequeathed to
us by our forefathers; aud being fully re-
established. to hand it down. purified by
our hard struggles and sufferings, as the
richest legacy we can bestow upon our
posterity. The Government must Be, shall
be. and soiA be preserved, at all sacrifices
My friends, there is danger that our free
Institutions cannot be perpetuated, if ad-
equa,e means are not made to preserve
them. Our sons are too patriotic and in
telligent to let them be erased from the
land that gave them birth. Rather than
see our Government sink to degradation
and ruin, we are willing to sacrifice our
lives our all, in defense of it. Ny friends,
I rest assured that you will part with :ey-l
erything that is most near aud dear to
you, in defense of your Government,
which has sustained yon from the earliest
period of your life. down to the present
time. The man who is not willing to aid
10 sustaining his Government. should re-
ceive the punishment that many are
doomed to see, if the. dark clouds of dis
union still continue to overshadow our
land. We are now far in Western Vir.
giuia near the boundary line between
Eastern aud Western Virginia. on the
summit of Cheat Mountain. We are un-
dergoing many hardships. but we are not
discouraged yet, for we think we will soon
have the Stars and Stripes waving in the
breeze on the top of every mountain in
Virginia on which we may choose to set
them, and peace will soon once more pre-.
vail over our ouee happy land. We ok
to God as our Captain, to guide Us
through all our trials and sufferings we
may be doomed to experience.
A soldiers life is hard one. full OF
encouragement, privations and troubles.
Those who bear arms should go forth ex-
pecting 20 endure troubles and hardships,
and they will not be Disappointed.
My friends, if you join the army, you
must not expect to sleep on feather beds.
or even. at al! times, on dry boards. You
must expect to be out in the cold storms
and chilling winds of winter. You must
expect to sleep upon the cold damp
ground sometimes, with nothing around
you but shawl or blanket. to shelter
you from the cold and chilling blasts oi
the inhospitable winter. If you think
you can endure snch treatment as this
you may enlist and be soidier.
D N