Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-03-06
ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.
Erom the 10Th I,cpimcni.


j. A. EstLL, EsQ.-Though have never
had the pleasure Of an extended pcrs onal ac-
quantance with you ] regard you friend,
especially political friend. | AIN neither an
orator or newspaper correspondent. 1t hav-
ing been but few years since since crossed
the "Briny Ocean," do not consider myself
capable Of writing for an American paper. | |
was therefore surprised to find in your col.
umns private letter had written to friend. .
Some of my fellow soldiers who are Rcpubli-
cans have taken umbrage at what had inno-
Gently written, and charge me with being a
"Seccsh," that had charged the government q,
with treason and the army with cowardicc.
When | came this country, at the age OF II
years, | did not understand the language ,much
less the politics Of the country. During tho
Presidential campaign OF 1860 | read the pa
pers and listened to the speeches of both par
ties and concluded to connect myself with the
Democracy, and | hope / may live to be a
worthy member of the Democratic party, ever
deserving of, and receiving, the name Of
'Union- -schreacher' and 'Union-saver' which
were sneeringly applied to us less than two
years ago by Republicans.
The letter written to Mr.. Harris was pri.
vate, friendly letter, not designed for pubica-
ton; but there was nothing in it that | have
any disposition to recall.
Some charge me with being opposed the
cause for which am enlisted to fight. / en-
listed to fight for the preservation Of the Union
as it was, for the permenancy Of the Constitu-
tion as it is, for the enforcement of the laws
throughout the entire country, to maintain
the legally constituted authority of the gov.
ernment whether administered by Republicans
or Democrats, and finally to preserve the fame,
name and flag Of our country from the ruthless
hand Of traitors in arms and Aboitionsts in
civil life and to hand them down untarnshed
to coming generations, and il this be treason
in the eyes Of my Republican friends, then,
am | a traitor, and they may make the most of
it, glored in being called a"Union saver"
and have no objection TO being classed with
President Lincoln, Secretary Stanton, Gencr-
ais Mcclellan, Buell. ITallock, Butler, and
Others as traitor, since they are fighting for
just what am Our Republican friends must
abandon the notion that a man can't be a
patriot and Democrat.
Had my heart not been in the cause in which
l am engaged l would not have left a COM
Portable home and good situatlo on to expose
myself to the trials, privations and dangers Of
camp life.
l never charged our army with being cow
ards. What l said about the spuuk of Zolli,
Golfer repeatedly heard said by Union officers
at Somerset, Ky.
Some Of them say charged President Lin
4 con with being an Abolitonist. The papers
are against them on this proposition. 1t was
L such leaders Of the Republican party as Wade,
1 Cameron, Sumner, Hale, &c, that l referred
y to.
/ did hope my Republican friends would
t not take home to themselve what said OF the
Abolitionists but those who take it to heart
should institute sel-examination, and see
= whether they are really in the "straight and
G narrow path.'
+ Our Regiment is in good health and .hc
boys are in fine spirits. They are very anx
A ious to try our rifles on the rebels. The boys
from ''itte Holmes" are all prospecting we'll
It Truly Yours,
p. CHARLES ZINK.
, We can assure our friend that the cry OF
@ "traitor," "seccssionist," &c raised against
i Democrats last summer are all ''playcd out"
c The Abolitionists are the enemies while the
Democrats are the true friends Mr.. Lincoln's
war policy. And the President has acknowl
edged this by removing Cameron and appoint
ing Mr. Stanton as Secretary Of War. Things
are reversed here since tho 10th Regiment
= left this county. Now the Democrats, witt
= what conservative Republicans there are, dc
the talking; the adhcrants of Cameron, Sum
compelled to sing mum.