Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-02-05

and they took hold heartily 10 aid us. The
new state administration heard OF u.s. and felt
our influence, and Gov. PierpOnt has done all
in his power to help. We elected the menu
bers OF the state convention, delegate 10 the
legislature, and member OF congress IN our
county. This was doing better than any
county in the state, except two or three near
Wheeling, for the Union cause. say eve"
in speaking Of this, because there were SO few
of us, and did help some.
While the recruiting was going on we were
all the time in danger, and before the regiment
was half full we had men out constantly on the
scout, either to hunt rebels among the hills, or
to guard Union mems property away from our
camp. While our men were taking prisoners
and running the scamps from hill to hiding
place, tbs Union men in Cabell county were
rode over rough shod. Every one who had a
shot gun or rifle, or grain of powder, was
robbed. The robbers also took beef and corn,
and the Union men in that county said not a
word, for fear of farng worse The few who
dared to say anything were driven away or
Killed. Two others were shot, but recovered
and arr now in the Union army. One who
had always maintained the right of Virgini-
an, cinglng to the old government, was called
to his door one morning, by some If Jenkins
cowardiy crew, and shot dead-four of the
asSasSns shootngs at once In our county,
young mel who were out of the reach of our
protection were forced into the rebel army l
can not describe with what high hand many
outrages were peTpetrated- heartless and
cruel, and with how little sense of honor these
'chivalrOus southrons" committed numerous
wrongs upon loyaists, upon their rights, lib
erty, and property. However, every promi.
nent secessionist in our county has been killed
or taken prisoner.
i = i,
compensate for the suffering of loyal men,
But shall get tedious and lose light of my
point. | will be brief now. | entered the
army as private, determined TO be useful.
was put where it was thought | could be of
most use, and have been constantly and cease
lessly engaged. My duties have not prevent
ed my making some observations of tile char
acterand the moral effect OF our enterprise.
How curiously, Ito me, it seems) has this
matter operated. The northerner and Vir
gilman, it appeared, never could affiliate.
They never did. 1t was plain, that Yankee
never would be respected by the Vrginan-
from the most ignorant to the most cultivated,
there was the same Unborn prejudice Ii com.
mon courtesy and the studied poIiteness of the
educated man, (Virginian) led him into So
ciabeness and cordiality Of friendly intercourse
for lime, he would all at once assume cold.
ness, as though he had forgot himself and
done wrong. Amorg the ignorant it was still
more unpleasant. But now it is all changed
They now seem to think we are OF one nation
We are all brothers. We should all be united.
We should help each other. We should not
remember that one was from tree state, and
another was born in a slave state. This is of
the union men. The secessionsts hate us
mere, if possible, and hate their neighbors who
have Joined US, still worse Nothing else, it
appears to me, could ever have destroyed
this prejudice. And to us, who have seen
THIS inreterate prejudice, this appears strange.
Is it love of country, or is it the danger
Who can tell
l have seen a friend and comrade four
majUr) with whom messed and tented, while
out in the mountains, killed by the guerillas
In ambush. have seen seven of our men at
once, CORY and stark in death by battle
have seen eight poor fellows carried of by
sickness, and know Of two good men who
were shot by comrades in quarrels | have
seen three poor fellows agOniZed by wounds {;
and several OF the enemy laid low, and wit
messed many scenes in this brief time, which
| l had never expected to see-atogetler a
great deal OF the worst of the "honors of war. -
! and mingled with the soldiers who are rough.
! est aud hardest, and heard their talk and their
| nonsense. Instead of feeling as though | had
| been hardened, or had become calous to the
sulferings of men and the cruelties of war. il
seems as though the best feelings were sharp
| ened. l know men who never before appear
ed to have any real and natural love for theiI
| i'-i''''S' fast tho hast nnd en-
couraglng aspects Of fraierna affection--the
most delicate and tender 1--we for friends and
families, since this war commenced. Mer
who were before so rough as TO appear totally
unconscious of the best feelings of cultivateo
natures manifest that tender and affectiopate
regard for their wives which we expect to sec
only among the most enlightened and harmon
ious families. The natives are very rough
and uncultivated. The tcar does them qood
SO 1t seems TO me. This is my question
Why is it? How would you explain it? How
is 1t possible that civil war, where there is SC
much OF awful tragedy, and wherein neighbol
VIII shoot nelghbor, and say nothing OF the
lesser wrongs and outrages, will improve mer
generally While they talk so glibly of thi.
one and that one of their acquaintance who are
rebels, as deserving to be shot, they seem tC
be progressing in other respects. They become
less selfish, more contiding, more generous
mora considerate, and better men, think, al
together. And this while we have not the
best discipline in our regiment, and there i,
none too little whiskey in camp. Is it love fol
country Is it that the Union is in danger
or that their families are in danger? Would
this last produce such an effect Or is it thai
the love for country is such a great ard noble
virtue that 1t increases other good qualities in
| men?