Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-07-05
Extracts from a soldiers Letter.

Extracts from a Soldiers Letter.
SCAMP SPRAGUE, n. c., June 22d, 1862.
''And you were blue when you wrote-that
was intensely foolish for you at home have
nothing to feel blue about, and have no right
to arrogate to yourselves prerogative be-
longing exclusively to the army. We have Il
right to feel blue-s ometimcs,-an yet we
never do feel blue, but on the contrary, are
the merriest and happiest set of fellows you
ever saw. Being blne, you broke in upon me
with seceSh talk-''all about the niger, lam
out Of patience with the war;" ''when will it
end?' Now don't talk like that to me, for
hear enough of it from the "secesh" down
here, and l shall shoot the next man who dares
to talk like that to me.-yes, with my revol-
yer. In the first place its all for the country
government or no government. TO be sure
negroes make an element of our strife-they
are the only Union men we have here-they
are rebel property and used for erecting forti-
fications, &C., and we make havoc amongst
such property whenever we can.
This is a war between democracy and aris-
tocracy, and one or the other has got to break
its neck. If | get my neck broke in accom-
plishing the same feat for aristocracy, and
that Is defeated and our country preserved as
Washington bequcathed it to us, l shall be
content and satisfied. l am far from being
out of patience in looking for the end of the
war. | never expected to see the close of it
in less than two years, and it has continued
yet but little over year, and what splendid
results have been achieved in that time
what numberless forts have been reposseSsed
Cities captured-victories won-the AIssiS-
sppi opened from its source to its mouth
everywhere the federal army and navy trium-
plant. 'When will it end?' Not until re-
bellion skedaddles in every direction! Not
so long as one devil dares to point a gun at
the flag of our Union. or those who defend it !!
Not until every secesh woman stops her SLAM
derous tongue or is considered what they re-
ally are,-no better than ''women of the
town plying their avocation"-not until the
federal Union army marches in triumph over
every foot of southern soil and the old flag
waves gloriously upon every inch of rebel ter
ritory!
This will happen all the sooner if our
friends at home encourage us by patriotic
words-keep us inspired by true patriotism,
knowing no danger, fearing no evil, but incit-
ing us to march forward to victory!
When we march to the music Of the Union,
let us know that our wives, mothers, brothers,
flthers and all at home are urging us forward
by the same music. We emit be Uhipped if
we have this inspiration. Oh, how wish that
you and all the women at the north possessed
half the patriotism and fire of nationality pos
sessed (of the bogus and wicked sort by the
women of the south. The rebels couldn't
make war against us day, were it not for
southern women, who are backing them up.
We have to get along comparatively speaking,
| without this aid. A few noble northern wo-
men are doing their duty. Some, like Miss
Barton, are willing to spend all they have,
and work night and day for the Union boys
while others sit moping at home, wondering
when this war will end forgetting that they
have anything to do in bringing it to a sue
cessful close.
Now | don't want to see yoW in this latter
category. For your country be ready to la
Dor and suffer everything. Don't think,
much less utter a sentiment that can possibly
be distorted into encouragement.
I'll tell you how you can get rid of the
'blues." Go to some of the Worcester ladies
whoare proving their patriotism by their works
and tell them you want to be counted in;
then take the needle and go to work for the
Union army. If any wounded soldiers are
brought to Worcester, be the first to step in
and offer to nurse them-all this will keep off
the blues, and you can't tell how happy | will
feel to know my family is engaged fully for
the Union. Husband fighting rebels in Dixie
wife at home taking care of the wounded
and sewing for soldiers in the Union army"