The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1861-07-24
Soldier Printers.
THEY vlKE POSSESSION OF AN OFFICE AND MAKE
THEIR MARX.


THEIR MARX.
T1s boys of the Iowa Regiment found
a Secession press living around loose npon
their entrance into Macon City, The editor
thereof having vamosed. Regarding it as a
great waste of the raw material" )" Frank B.
wilkie, was enstaIleI as editor, and half
dozen of the volunteers detailed as printers
OF the concera, and forthwith regimen.
1al newspaper was inauguraied. The first
and only number contains the salu'atory
and valediciory of the editor, a 2rociama-
ton by the Colorel, an account of a flag
pteseniario by the ladies Of Macon, and
the ceremonies OF raising the same in the
camp. with notices OF speeches by O'Con
nor and others on the ccasion besides sew
eral sbicy editorials and a valediclory by
the editor, mostly addressed to the propri-
eior of the printing Office. Here is the val
ediciofy:-
Johnson, wherever you are--whelher
inrking in the recesses OF the dim woods or
fleeing fugitive on the open plain under
the broad canopy OF Heaveu-Good bye!
expect TO. never want 10, but for all that,
old fellow, we won't be proud, so johnson,
good bye, ard take care of yourself!
We're goiEe TO leave you, Johnson-go-
ing 10 leave you without as much as look
ing into your honest eyes, or ciasping your
manly hand, and even without so much as
giving utterance 10 your face OF God bless
you. We're right sorry, we are, that you
didn't stay with ms and attend TO our domes-
tic and other affairs, and not leave every-
thing to skuIk away and lose yourself new
or to return. Oh, johnson, why did you
how could you do thisa
johnson, we leave you io-nishi-we'er
going where bullets are thick and musqui-
toes are thicker-we may never return-if
we do not, old boy, remember us. We sat
al your table; we stole Latin from your
sDiclionary of Latin Quotations :" we wrote
Union articles with your pen, your ink and
your paper; we printed them on your press;
our boys set 'em up with our types; they
used your ''galleys," your" shooting sticks, :"
your "chases,n your Squads" your "spa-
drank soEe poor whisky out OF your bottle;
and now, Johnson, after doing all this lor
you, you won't forget rs, will youa Keep
US il mind, remember us in your evening
prayers, when you say them, if you do
say them; and if you put up petition at
midday. dom, forget rs then; or if you
wake in the solemn stiffness of the night
and implore BENSON upon the absent, re-
member Us then
Once more, Johnson-our hearts pain rs
more, and forever, Johnson, good byeI If
you come our way, call. Johnson, adieu !
Judging from the snojoiaed paragraph,
the sboys" were jolly sci of fellows:
STRANGE II: is not often that one enters
. printing effice conducted under precisely
the circumstances Of the one in which The
Usaioa is now being issued. Men in uni
form stand at the cases--a row of cleaning
muskess in stacks is before the door, be-
side which PAGES sentinel with loaded
pisce-ths editors table is ornameuted with
q revolver, two bottles sof-weII-something
to sustain dropping spirit weighed down
by the responsibilities OF his position (edi-
torial} and the dangers of war, a meer
chaum, and a pile of ancient exchangeB.-
Military uniforms hang around the walls,
bayonet sheaihs litter the floor, revoIvers
and bowie knives bristle in every belt; and
in short, the only resemblances to printing
ofIies ara the click Of types and the familiar
music Of the press. We hope that our
friends here viii not fail to call and mark
the pecuIiarities of this new regime.
Over one hundred lhousand letters sent