Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1862-07-11
VOL. Xiv.
my Correspondence OF the Delaware Gazette.)
From tbs 4Lh Regiment.
MANASSAS JUNCTION, VIRGINIA,
June %, 1862.


MANASSAS JUNCTION, VIRGINIA,
June 26, 1862.
Friends of the 4fh OtiO Regiment:
1t was natural that you should have expect
ed line from us ere this, but circumstances ol
an unpleasant recital have rendered a com
munication from my pen variable delicacy
in preference to which 1 chose silence.
1t rejoices me to announce the approach oil
a brighter era in our history in which faith
ful sketch of our social and moral states toll
cradle. refer to an order prohibiting the n
PRODUCTION of play-cards in our regiment
This order has been postponed until every ex
pediency has had faithful trial for the same
end. By whom it was suggested know not
but one can plainly see that to stop the wick.
edness of gambling, a stop must be put &c
taking a game Of Euchre for fun" And
so long as the Army Suffers are allowed to
introduce the nuisance, they viii be sure tc
find purchasers among the boys.
doubt not that many young man ofkeen
moral sensibiliies has lost that self-regard that
was a shield OF strength to his habits at home
and it must be said of many who once felt the
obligation of professors of religion, that they
have fallen into many snares atdrown mems
souls. am not willing to allow much credit
to the virtue of those who are compelled to the
right by the power of military order, never
thclcss it is to be attended with happy, mora
results, which, all who pity the deluded victims
Of an evil habit, will hail with joy and graft
tude
1 viii say that as military corps. the 4th
Ohio is second TO none in this Division for ef-
fciency. Her officers, regimental and compa-
ny, are, with few exceptions, worthy, having
been often tried and willing to be tried again.
True we have been performing some long and
tedious marches Of late, having twice crossed
the Blue Ridge, making distance of nearly
400 miles, under no ordinary disadvantages.
| We have met with no lOss whatever, with the
exception ofa few unfortunate ones taken pris-
oners while at Front Royal, May 3Oth. One
from our company-a special friend of the
subscriber-E. Root. 1t is sad indeed to re-
cord that our sister regiments from Ohio, suf-
fer so heavily, while our regiment has always
been the lucky one. 1t has passed into Prov
erb that our lamented Colonel, Andrews, pray
ed for the 4th regiment on bis dying bed. 1t
would seem that special care was thrown
over US; however, l am inclined to the opinion
that our services are for more important ac-
ton l would do injustice if should fail to
speak of our "out comings." We have trusted
much on the estimation in which we thought
our friends at home regarded US, until we a
dopted the maxim Of the clark to the farmer"
that we must not depend too much upon our
friends and kinsmen, even when we wanted
"Regimental Colors." So our energetic Col
oue, like Hercules, told us to put our own
shoulder to the wheel" The result of our u
nited effort was to purchase fine Silver Band
and fne COlors, at q cost of little less than
$1,000. And since many consequent changes
has been effected, and our food and clothing
has been more profusely issued to us, we may
indeed say "Ihis is the silver age" One of The
changes | refer to is that our friend, Ed Brem-
er, has been worthily selected as Drum-Major.
Major makes a splendid French appearance
under" uniform. As to the war, we know bui
little; we generally ''walk by faith and not by
sight" How the rebellion can exist in any
magnitude much longer, is mystery-that it
will die ont as it was inaugurated, gradually,
with an occasional contoriion Of limbs aud
muscles, we expect
Our camp is located near the Junction. about
miles southwest, on the Orange & Alexan-
dia railroad. There are evident marks of the
rebel occupation in and aroCud the Junction.
Nothing but danger Of being flanked could
have induced an evacuation Of this rebel strong
hold. The earth works were ordinary, if l
may judge, but their strength was in tbe mu-
tual protection they offered to each other The
great Anaconda was rapidly preparing to en-
brace this place in her coils, when 10! the
game skedaddled. Our hopes are buoysnt and
our faith sanguine of success speedily. l am
not one of those who feel prepared to utter
anathemas against our Generals, though there
is much of their conduct that is strange to me.
| have nothing at stake as correspondent,
but the eandor of a faithful recorder Of what
we know to be true touching ourselves, and
for the benefit of the truly patriotic who hon
estly gave their sons to the cause of our conn-
try. If l may do justice 10 conscience, [ will
say that if our officers meet with eorrespon-
ding rebuie for profanity that our MN have
| for gambling, that change for good will be
incalculable With all kindness TO our supe
riors, pray that the reformation may be a
universal one. As an humble organ of our
company, / return its most sincere wishes to
you, Mr Editor, for the use of your columns
occasionally. and to your readers-our own
parents and friends.
am, sir, very respectfully, yours, sc.
d. q. STRONG.