The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-11-22
Army Correspondents 3. g.
NAsHvIL LIE, Tenn, Nov. IL, 1876:

NASHVILLE, Tenn, Nov. IL, 1867
Editor Trader You will pardon The lib
erty am taking Of addressing you, but l
feel it duty due to the citizens of old La
Sale county to let them know the feelings
of some if not all of the soldiers now in
the ssth regt. III Vol, recruited in the
town Of Manlius. As far as my ps rsonal
observations 60, in the first place, a man
living at home cannot experience or con.
ceive the hardships endured by private
soldier in the ranks, especially one that
has done the marching that we have done
since we came into the service. We have
been now q little over three months in
the service, two Of which we,spent mostly
in camp and moving on the railroads; but
since the first day of Oct we have seen
what would term the life of an actual
soldier. We followed old Bragg through
Kentucky in southeastern direction un-
til coming in contact with his rear guard,
and, after few skirmishes finally brought
on the battle of Chaplin Hills, in which
we worsted him some, but not SO much
but that he withdrew his forces during the
night and gave us another chance to fol-
low him, which we did as far as Grab Or
chard. Stopping there three days, We
again took up the march on the back
track for Bowling Green, and from there
to this point, where we arrived on the It'll.
and have remained since
Now, on the point Of the war, the aboli-
tionists may howl, but it is an indisputabie
fact that, if the settlement of this question
was left to the soldiers in the field, /
firmly believe the thing would be closed
before another month, and done honorably
too; that IS, if the reports are true which
we hear Of occasionally. Men here. who
at home clammored 50 loudly for 81 On to
Richmond, would be willing TO stop a
little this side, and think before going it
so fast Now, this is no howl Gas some NAV
say) from democrat, but it is the mind
OF both democrats and republicans here,
who have experienced what thi. war is.
There are great many looking forward,
both North and South, to the next Con-
gress to see what will be done, and some
think the thing may possibly come to an
end then. l have conversed with very
intelligent Southern men here, and they
say as soon az Congress guarantees 10 them
their rights in regard to the territories,
they will quit tine thing a. once. 1t is
this territorial question that is keep;n.
the ball rolling, and |, with ali the true
men OF the country, hope it can be settled
satisfactorily and honorably on on r part,
and that soon; but any other than an
honorable settlement we do not want 1t
may take time and money, We, but be-
lieve we can overcome them in The long
run. We have an immense army in the
field now, and more to come; but ! hope
those that are behind may never be need
ed 1t has been thought by some Of the
Of the North that this war
would end the democrats but q ell you
there could be nothing institute that
would make the democratic party grow as
it has since this war has commenced, as
instance the late elections, if the reports
that reach US are true
Well, l suppose you viii pass this over
without any further thought; but If you
see fit you can give it to your readers for
what il is worth WN Z. BATTER.
Corp. Go. c. ssh Regt- III Vol.