Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1862-08-20
From the Nashville (Tcnn.) Union.
low to Demoralize an Army.

nation. Actuated by the nopiest and
most selfsacrifcing spirit, the physician
and lawyer leave their Office, the farmer
his lovely home, the tradesman quits his
shop, the mechanic his bench, and the
laborer his daily collaborating home,
wives, children, friends, business, and the
sweet repose of civil life with its vine
and fig tree, to try the hard fare and Sc
we're exposure OF soldiers life-the fore
Ell march, the driftcd snow purpled with
gore, the burning heat of summer and
choosing clouds Of dust, the drenching
rain, the hospital, the dreadful shock Of
battle. All this the patriot soldier faces,
and If his heart quails, it is but for q mo-
ment, for the love of country inspires him
with more than mortal courage, and the
voice which speaks within his breast, IS
not uttered by earthly lips; and thus
SIN 5, lie of s,ireug pillows roar
The torrid march, the deadly shore
he marches on--on, repeating as he goes
For that fair Freedom welcome all The past,
For thee my country, welcome cen the last"
lie reaches the territory of the enemy;
he has no love for war as a profession
and longs to conquer peace that he may
return 70 the delights of his former life,
which no motive save that of patriotism
could ever have impelled him to forsake.
Weeks, months, may pass away and
there is no battle-no advance is made.
He is in the midst of population, many
of whom sympathize so heartily with his
armel enemy ard many more of whom
are actually aiding that enemy. lie is
beset with spies, who dog his footsteps
everywhere y distinguished rebel gen
eral has fine plantation and many ser
wants near the camp; bat he is ordered
not to modest them and, for fear he might
transgress orders, he is sent, with some
others, to protect the plantation and the
negroes.
The next day he is detailed to guard Il
rebels orchard; the next day to protect
rebels cornfeld from the depredations Of
some soldier who wants the luxury of 4
r0asting-ear and on successive DAYS he
is sent to protect the cotton gin OF a rebel
General, to guard the wheat pens Of 4 reb-
cl Colonel to guard the corncribs Of reb-
Ell Captain, and to keep his fellow soldiers
away from the spring of rebel Commits
sary. When he has discharged these du-
ties, his officer sends him along with a Vi
client rebel who has just returned from the
+l,.e+ 1r L..
has escaped to the Federal camp TO aid in
arresting the fugitive lie and his mess
mates, broken down by the drudsery Of
the day, have eaten their plain, hard fare,
which hunger made savory, and now sit
before their tents in the pleasant moon
light, Summing up the events Of the day.
As they smoke their pipes he hears one
of his comrades say, "Wen, don't you
think that old rebel ii, whose son
shotsone of our pickets few weeks ago,
got permit to bring some goods through
our lines p Another speaks up: Yes,
and our general wrote a pass to-day for
that old she rebel, Mrs B 10 20 and
visit Il Another paIe-faced boy
says; They made me stand guard for
three days, because ] gathered some ap-
Piles IN a rebels orchard" - The takers
hushed up for a moment, for the dashing
commander Of the post comes sweeping
past them accompanied by a gay belle Of
the neighborhood, who is noted for her
rebel proclivities. The cavaliers pass and
the conversation Is renewed, but is soon
broken by sadder interruption. Four
comrades come bearing in a fellow soldier
who was shot through the head while he
was standing on guard at the corn field to
keep soldiers from stealing rebel roasting
ears Better loyal soldier be assassina-
ted than an ear Of the traitors corn be
stolen
and presently a messenger gaIlops in
the news that a company Of guerillas
have captured the officer who lately rode
by the group, while he was taking tea
with the fair secessionist at her farm house
mile distant Would it be deemed strange
if these soldiers were to say I've had
better return to our homes than come a.
way from IT families TO protect the prop
erty Of tie very men whom We wish to
fight We came 10 fight rs soldiers. and
our officer has turned Us into a police to
watch over the corn cribs orchards and
hen roosts of traitors. Our officers frolic
with the rebel planters, and compel Us to
dig bitches and repair roads, when there
are thousands Of slaves belonging to trail
tors at our very doors. who are more than
willing to leave their masters, who use
them 10 raise corn for the rebel army. and
come and work for Us We enlisted as
soldiers, and tho Government has made Us
drudges'
The ardor and energy of the best troof,s
in the world would melt away in such cir
eumstances as these. Not in one county.
nor in one state only. have these things
occurred We hear loud and long remon-
strances coming from all sections of our
army
Death Of a prominent Canadian.
Sir Alan Napier MacNab, the we'll