Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1862-07-18
From the 4oth Regiment.
Correspondence Of the journal.
In Catop. s miles fron Huntsvillc Ala

munication rom this portion Of the army. Tho
friends Mt homo, / hnvc no doubt, feed deeply IN
terestcd in whatever transpres with u.s. The
memorable seige of Cornth, found us assduous-
~ at work in the reduction Of that place which
yielded TO us unexpectedly; and we entered the
place the next morning not as we expected we
should the preceding night through fire and
smoke, but with banners flying, drums playing,
and moi rebel to oppose our progress. Tho
great army of the West gathered together, sep
arated from that point part going West, part
South, aud the remainder under Buell., we did
not know where. Think it is the first time in
our history Of soldering that we could form no
idea Of our destination Some had formed the
mistaken idea that we were on our way TO the
river to embark in the boats for home. But the
developments of time have shown US that home
exists to our minds like something sacred which
we may talk of, dream Of write of and let the
imagination draw happy pictures Of its pleasures,
but not pOllute it with our step not contaminate
with our breath, or tread upon its sacredness.-
we are gradually reconciling our minds to
three years stay and If we get home sooner we
will not be Aiscontented.
Huntsville has formed terininust TO our march,
distance Of l2j miles from Corinth. Northern
Alabama with It's soil, its prodGcis and inhabi-
Nic SuDlcci ol converse WIN eN-
cry soldier, and comparisons have been formed
with home, rejecting rather uncreditably on AL
bama What differences exist in the intelli-
gcnce ot the people, as tillers of the soil as
friends of cducation, as architects. as mechanics
is ascribed to slavery. The scenery and soil is
admirable, rather hilly; but sbundantly supple
cd with good water. Endless acres of corn was
spread out to our view, showing that gigantic
efforts were being made to produce means of
subsistence for their great army. To passing
observer il would seem that they are succeeding,
but, on questioning the people, Iascerain that
the average production of corn 10 the acre is
about ten bushels that Of wheat four. In the
earlier stages of these crops, they look as prom-
ising as in the North; but their SUMMERS being
very dry, causes drouth Cotton seems to be the
only crop adapted to soil and climate, and which
Is being raised by most of the planters, though
in smaller qumtitesthan hefSitofore The war,
as far as pecuniary interests and abundance is
concerned has proved rather derugatory to the
rebels Commodities of absolute necessities
have to be done away with. In talking with an
intelligent citizen of Juka, watering place, 80
miles cast of Corinth, he sad that, "if we pene-
trate their country farther, only hold our pres
ent lines of operation, that eventually they must
succuInb, and yield allegiance to the govern
ment."
In forming an opinion of the society &C., a
stranger naturally looks to the educational adj
vantages possessed. the intellectually ofthe peo-
pie and the state of morality Not TO condemn
or form unjust view, we cannot wonder in tho
remarks which may follow There is hardly an y
person of intelligence who has not read of the
people the South ofthcir hospitality, and theil
fosfcred Institution slavery PerhaDs i'm the
course Of his readings his mind has secuted the
fact that the mass of the South are illiterate-
But let him come and view it for himself let
him mingle in their society and he will find that
he Is not mistaken. In towns where they have
superior advantages, superior intelligence exists
An example would prove what have been writ
ing. An individual owning some land was ask
cd, Had you an election here last fall?" al be-
lieye So "Who were the candidates?" "Da-
Wis aud Douglas, l believe" "Who was elect
cdr 81 don't know, but ] think Davis was"
"What kind of person is Davisl' "Well l
suppose, as good as the generality of people,
"Have you heard ofany battles?" IL don't think
l have You have pretty good land here?"
"Well, yes" "Raise petty good corn2" ayes
petty good" "How much to the aere2" "Ten
bushels, about" elbow much wheat?" "About
four bushels" The interrogation left him, fully
satisfied as to his knowledge. A bright little
fellow of or 10 years of age was asked what
State he lived in? A question which most any
boy of five, ought to have answered His reply
was al don't know" Yet these Southerners are
as apti making a bargain, and hold money with
as tight a fist any veritable Yankee They
say that this free government il an aristocracy,
the mass controlled by few The state of the
negro Is actually degraded, bearing the nearest
approach to the beast as any naturalist could
wish, who was trying to discover the connecting
link between the lowest order of the human spe-
cies and the highest of the animals Don't un-
dcrstand me TO say they are naturally so low
But the relation they sustain to the lords of Gre
alton has made them az; a Just exhibition of the
philanthropic spirit which argues that by bring
ing them from their native country ameliorates
their condition, carries that spirit no farther than
subservicnt to the interests of their pockefs-
The dark, ebony faces of Afric's sons and daugh-
tiers stood before every house. looking with Won
der and surprise upon "de army" The women.
dressed in a fashion which think has not yet
found its way into Godey's fashion plates. I
don tknOw whether it's coffee sack with two
holes for the useful appendages, the arms, or
dress made expressly for them; any how, it ex-
tends no farther than the knee, The children
were clothed or might say partly covered with
less clothing than the women. | don't know
but what it might be a summer suit, though |
forgot to ask.
The climate is as endurable as that at home;
weather as we experience, no hotter than that at
home; completely, thus far, setting aside the no.
tion that white man cannot stand the heat as
well as a negro This war is fast clearing up the
clouds which have been hanging over slavery,
and appearing TO all of US as it is in its deformi-
ties. have always felt that slavery was a curse,
yet while it confined itself to the States where it
was an institution of that State, have never be-
lieved in interfering with it. But years fight
ing against the enemies of my country; in help
ing to put down this cursed rebellion, makes me
exult to think they have caused the death llnell
of their institution to be rung. Rejoice, We free
dom loving people Let all rejoice, to think the
ball has bounded back to them. There are to-
day more opposers to slavery than ever before.
Our glorious Union must be saved if it causes
slavery to cease to exist
Buell's army is laying comparatively Inactive
and quiet Our camp is beautifully situated in
the woods, and we anxiously waiting orders TO
move The evenings are so pleasant that we in
variably sleep out Ofdoors, glad 10 get rid of the
tent. We have nothing but guard duty to do,
so time hangs heavy ON our hands; not even let
ters from home; the mails coming about once in
a fortnight. There is one thing | came near for
getting to mention; that is the immense NUM-
Der of backberries, which has aided to give a
little pleasure, as parties of ten or twenty from
each company daily go on a blackberry expedi-
tion under pass signed by the General. We
have had blackberries TO our hearts content
Lieut.. Tyler has been appointed Reg't Quar-
termaster, until Lieut.. Spayth is able to resume
his place
July 4th.-The Seth anniversary of our Inde-
pendence found us soldiers in arms, in camp
making no demonstrations of merry character;
though surrounded by the munitions of war, the
roaring of cannon and musketfy disturbs not
the stiffness. Nothing TO remind us, but the
knowledge Of the day, that it was being eelebra-
ted by those at home.
P. S. Since commencing TO write we recev-
ed orders 10 march, and have accomplished eight
miles. We start again tomorrow morning at