Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-04-10
NJ. I. ANDERSON
Letter from the G5th Regiment.
CAMP NEAR NA,HviLLE, TENX.,i
MrLlL % l-ED


March q, 1852.
Mr. JOINS SrFFIER- Esteemed FrieHd ! re.
cciyeI your kind favor Of the 18th inst, aud was
much rejoiced to hear ltom you You can hard.
Is imagine what effect good news from home pro-
duces upon the mind of weary soldier lie for
gets for u moment, at least, that rebellion and
discorI rcigns in our once happy and prosperous
land that we are plunged in the awful vortex o f
civil war, a war that has no parallel either in
ancient or modern times.
O, fatal fanaticism, thou art the destroyer Of
our peace and happiness. The almighty Niger,
ever concerned III both our political and religious
affairs, is in the wooI,pile. SamJo has his dirty
black paws in this rebellion, and will tell YOU
It's my candid opinion that if they are no, with,
drawn soon our Union army will never accomplish
that for which it was designed. Such men as
Summers, Greedy, Phillips & Co.. w,h their abo-
li!iou doctrines must be throttled. the cause Of
the Union is ruined. You are aware that was
at one time Il supporter of their doctrines. but
now, sir, | am convinced that their principles are
fanatic, and will ultimately rnin our country if
they are pcrseve.ed in. ! sincerely believe that
the abolitiouist both in and out of Congress are
determined to break up our Government tor the
sole purpsoe Of cmancipating the negro. The
Abolitonists and Secessioais are both, in my opin
ion, striving for the same results. The former
hold that ii slavery survives, the Union cannot
endure the latter argue that if the Union con-
tinues, slavery is lost. Abolition is dssolutou-
dissolution is seccssion-one is the other. They
occupy the same ground precisely. do not wish
to be understood, however, to say, that all Repub-
| hcons are Abolitiouists. On the contrary, am
well satisfied that there are many honest and
loyal men acting with that party who would sac
ridce everything, even their lives, TO save tn
Union and Constitution; but majority of tn
Republican party, am convinced, are traitors a
heart as much as the rebels we are fighting. Ne
, who have for their motto, 1.-The negro first an
tho Union afterwards" )" do not love their country
and it is my earnest wish that they may receive
their just deserts, if not on earth, that they ma
descend to pandmouium covered with the curse
OF every patriot in America. But let US pra
that the Ruler of nations will preserve our Gov
ernment, with the Union and the Constitution, re
garlless of it, enemies North and South.
The manner in which we use con.rabands i.
Tennessee is, when they come within our lines
we arrest and take them before the proper author
ty, and if they prove to be fugtiycs, they are pu
in confinement, and delivered up when called toI
by their masters. believe this to be right, am
shall take every Sambo that chances to stragglC
past my post volunteered my services to de
fend the Constitution and tie laws, and not t.
make under ground railroads, nor any other kim
of roads except constitutional oaos and ! Van
item well macadam2ed.
will cudcayor to give brief account of ou
march from our camp near Bowling Green, Ky,
to Nashville, Tenn, We broke up camp on thr
9TH of March, about O'Clock in the morning
Three regiments, the Gath and Goth Chic and BIS
Ind, constituted our division. We all started O
our way rejoicing, for we knew that We wer
bound for the Land of Dixie, and as our regimen
tai band struck up the sou.strrirg strains {
"IIail Columbia" it filed me so full Of patriot
ism that, had it not been for the huge lcathe
strap that cncirclcd me, might have busted 10
my country. AT any rate we all started in hist
spirits, for there prospect at least OF ha'in
some work to 90. About II o'clock we arrive
at Big Baron River which runs near Bowling
Green Here We were detained for coIsidcra
BILE length of time IN consequence Of the bridge
b ing all destroyed. We were compelled to eros
the river ON a very imperfect poutoon bridge, bu
: all a.ry ed on the opposite bank in safety, troI
this side Of the river We had fine view of Buck
I ncr's Qualifications, There was a breastwork NJ
, on almost every hill within mile and half {
+ town. The destruction Of property could not hav
S been more complete than it was at this place
= Farms are destroyed, the trees all cut of, raj
t burnt, and in fact ruin aud devastation meets yo
5 at every step. noticed while marching throug
, the town splendid brick dwellings almost demo
5 ishod, paings which enclosed beautiful yards de
stroyed, and shrubbery and lawns ruined W
reached Franklin, the county seat OF Simpson Cc
. on the 7th. Here business was al suspended, Al
n the place looks as though the destroying demo
/. had also paid it a social visit The citizens sa
C tha. the atmosphere has become more pure, ar
that they can breathe with more case All I'M
, is wanted now is tie presence Of Union troop