The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-07-05
Military Correspondence.


CAMP WILKINS. Pittshurg June 23d. '6I.
no The Editor Of J.GrrsDMidn Democrat: !:
! Dear Sir:-O,d GcaCgA is not insensble
to tho fact that war and its cOmcomitauts
are tho topics of the day. Neither has sho
been inscnsble to tho fac, that in tho homes
OF the North must be rallied tho n,eu 70 sus
tain the righ, in the pr, sent conflict. Con.
scious of tho responsibility resting upon
her, from huf farms, shops, and school rooms
she has sent forth, from tho noblcst of hcr
| suns, ih"so whose aims arc raised against
rebellion, and will strike for Constitutional
! liberty until the last armed foe cxpires. I"
| win these sons are her sympathios und her
| prayers. She fee,s that upon thoir brave
ana loyal hearts and strong arms depends.
to somo extont, tho triumph of right in the
! present crisis. She fools that the number
inteliigenco and character of tho meu sho
sends forth to represent her upon tho field
| OF battlo, are indices of the positive yaiuo
which shc places upon this fabric of ours
called Government. We know eyorv item
| OF information from or about them ia re
coived with the greatest interest, But Old
Gcauga is not selfish. nor are her affections
hcmmcd within her confines. God bless
the gallant eoldior from whatever section
ho may 60, is her prayer.
Pcrhsps fow words then, should thew
be so fortunate as TO find place in your
columns, from one in the Pen,syvanian
ranks, would not bo unacceptable TO her
citizens. The writor is q Geauea boy.
among tho Penn. troops. not from prefer.
rnce; but owing to his situation when our
country called for aid. we, as all other
companies now accepted, are in for thrce
years sirueglc-that is, if Providence per.
nits Satan to run at large for so long timc.
Our camp is situated upon the cdgo of
smoky titts Ii has not been we'll conduct
I'd for sometime past, is now filthy and On.
healthy. There are but ton companies
here at present, over which Col. G. Hays
ia commander. Our Captain. Ira Aver. Jr.
has been trying TO got our company re-.
moved to Camp Wright, thero to siay until
called to service. Camp Wright is twelve
miles from here up tho Alloghanv River.
and is beautifully situated. There aro forty
companies there, under the command Of
Colonel McLane. The camp is further
from tho city, but the moral depravity of
tho soldiers is far moro lamentable than
here. 10 some respects tho ground from
tho tents and shantics is made to resemble
Methodist camp ground, but the worship
is not worry orthodox. Besides all the other
kinds OF in'quity thore carried on, as many
as threo hundred may bo found playing
cards at almost any hour of the da,; how.
ever. think thcro is no gambling there, for
the good reason that mono of the soldiers
| have any money. The Eric regiment is
there, many of them barefoot, and some of
the com:cal ones have. as tho last resort.
patched tho seat of their pants with boards.
The imprccatons pronounced upon Gov
Curtin ty the soldiers. hre much moro
bitter than any which Gnv. Dennison ro
ccives. Countormanded orders for troops
to march are almost as frequent as the
change from day to night.
Among the things to be lamentcd in this
war, is tho fact that camp life will entail
upon many an industrious. upright young
man, habits of idleness and dissatis faction.
The man who has courage enough 10 sacri-
nee friends and business, to give up all his
bright anticpations and every association
that tends to moral elevation. to yield overy.
thing that is dear to him but country. for a
three years struggle in its sapport, should
be now enough to maintain his moral purity
intact; but we fear many will find that q
stronger will and more firmness will bo re-
quired for him to do so, than is necessary
to face tho cannon's mouth with the folds
OF our glorious old flag waving over him.
thoir morality and thoir maniness, will Ger.
tainly be worthy OF the highest confidence
and love of thoir fellow citizens. Whether
the soldiers of tho North return hcm e
as men or not. must depend upon their own
resolution, and the influences that may be
brought to bear upon them from their re-
spective homes. Mothers, sisters, girls of
Gcauga, if yom wonid have your sons, your
brothers, your associates return to you as
men in whom you will dare confido, you
must not only pray for them, but write to
them--persuade them--by your frequent
correspondence, keep fresh in their memo
ries tho associations of home-tell thom of
tho tcndrls of affection that arc wound
around them. BY thus doing you can keep
them in thoir spare moments writing lotters,
which will keep them thinking of friends.
refinement, and out of mischief and iniquity
But my letter is already longer than l in
tended it should be, and not anything
written intended to write when cOmmen-
cling. Hoping al! the Geauga boys may
come through tho war alive, and as men,
remain } your servant, NJ. p.