The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-04-02


| We have picked up host of rebel letters
received by those in camp from their friends
at home, most of these breathe an inyeterate
! hatred of the Yankees. One is struck by the
delicate requests of the ladies of the "Sunny
South" who, whilst expressing the hope that
the loved ones may conquer the North with
out risking their valuable lives III battle, yet
with the most winning words ask that should
they fight they may obtain the head of a
Yankee for the especial edi6cation of those
damsels whose very words breathe such a
spirit of kindness and good will towards the
human famiy-virtues supposed to predomi-
nate in the female breast. Only think what
nice trophy would be the head Of Yankee
in lady,s boudoir There is however another
noticeable feature charactcrizIng these rebel
epistles, and that is the apparent want Of hope
in the final success Of their cause. Amidst
all their braggadocio there is gloom too ap-
parent to be mistaken. 1t shows upon its
face certain want of confidence in the JUS
tice of their cause, and distrust of the ability
of their leaders. Ipropose to give you quo
tation or two written by one young buck TO
another Young buck, both in the army of the
o-callcd Confederate States of America.
The letter from which quote was written in
SASN
1t is fair sample of rebel literary productions
saving that botn chirography and photography
are vastly superior to most of the letters
which have come under our observation. |
quote: "Major Baskerville told me yesterday
/ that we stood good chance now to 60 to
Boin (thc photography is the writer'si Green,
and oh horror, how my hair curled not that
fear meeting the Northern foe, but would
shun the peercing winds OF Northern winter.
! No jeff, to lie here in idleness and my friends
! in the Battle field contending with An unprln-
cipled and invading foe for the rights and
privileges of the only free and na0 ependent ma
ton on earth is more than | can stand. =
Another from the same writer: 81 would like
to 90 back to old Pickensville, but | have
told them all farewell, and am determined
they shall never behold my face again till
have a settlement with DR.. Abe."-We have
no comments to make on these extracts, they
speak for themselves. | would simply say
this one is far more hopeful of their cause
than are most of them. One written by a lady
to her affianced, expresses fear that after all
their trials the Yankees will succeed in con-
quering them finally, as she hears they are
advancing on all sides But this subject is At
best a tiresome one. and | will now write
something of ourselves.
Our time is occupied in drilling, scouting,
guarding, falling out, falling in, DC. Friday,
after passing a stormy day in our quarters,
our Regiment WAS ordered to prepare imme
diateIy for march. and in a few mInutes-to
use a nautical eXpressiOn-'we were under
way" We marched on quick time to Broad
Run, distance OF FIVE or six miles, arriving
little after dark. We threw out pickets and
placed detachments in position, with view
to cutting off and capturing a company OF
cavalry said to be under command of Col.
and a Major. This cavalry is called the
Prince William Cavalry, being born and bred
in this prince William County,. 1t had been
reported that this cavalry fed their horses at
the point at which we had stationed ourselves
with view to their capture. After waiting
a suitable length of time and no enemy ap
pearing, we "about faced" and returned to
camp, having seen nothing alarming unless it
might have been a 'Jack-o lantern" which
hoated about over the swamps, reminding one
of the Rebels, who you can find just AS well
where they are, as here they are not. The
fact is, since our entrance INTO the army we
have been vouchsafed sight at the bona tide
rebels, only after their capture, and even this
but in isolated cases.
But of our march home | must tell you -
We thought we had marched before, but on
this night we learned some new "kinks" truly
interesting. TIE nioht being very dark we
had some fun. Fording small stream nearly
all of us got our feet severely wet, whilst
few succeeded in getting thorough ducking.
At first we followed the Railroad track but
as we neared our encampment we had TO
leave this and pass through a belt of woods
encircling our camping ground. Here CANT
the tug of war. Mud water and brush, it
was difficult to tell which of the three pre-
dominated At last, however, we came out
by ones, twos and fours, and nearly all came
in Your correspondent had only one or two
casualties, bruising tree severely and dam
ageing a small creek. One or two others re-
ceyed severe falls bruiSing them severely but
not dangerously. Deliver US from all future
trips, under like circumstances, to Broad Run.
We like it not. There are various conflicting
rumors as regards our future destination. The
thing is now extremely uncertain, but will be
determined in day or two. We will then
inform you at the earliest opportunity. r.