Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1862-11-04
Letter from Capt Calls Commanding the 7ih Esgt
CAMP OF THE 7th RECT. WIS. VOLS,
Near Sharpsburg. Md, Oct. I4th, 1862. s

FRIEND Covert After having passed
through many varied scenes and some des-
perate struggles, in which many of my fell
low soldiers have participated for the last
time, | feel sad and tremble when con
template our future prospects of peace; |
have imagined more than once since | have
been 10 the service that could almost see
the beginning of the end of the rebellion !;
but late resolutions demonstrated by move
ments Of the enemy as well as the chaotic
state OF the public mind, both in military
and private circles, make the light Of hope
flicker and die within me. When | look
back to the position we occupied one year
ago and the unaniEity OF purpose then
manifested by a united North, and review
the high hopes then entertained by the sol
der as well as the civilian of a speedy res
toration Of peace in or shattered republic,
and compare that hope and the surround
ing circumstances and prospects on which
it was predicted with present and future
prosperity, and the distracted condition to
which the public mind has arrived, shud-
der at the conclusion that forces itself up
on my mind.
1t seems to me that the whole powers Of
heaven and hell had combined to make the
total destruction Of our government the
eliminating point to which the present
state Of things would indicate a speedy ar
rival. We see political teaches sticking
and hanging on to the policy adopted by
the administration after nature and sober
deliberation, until they have sucked the
last drop Of virtue therefrom; thus leaving
the whole thing to appear ike blank
and total failure when viewed in the meta
morphosed shape that these political trick
ster would have the honest yeomanry of
the country see them, BY this means as well
as other political trickery aud they are fast
detracting from the unanimity so indis-
pensabie in this struggle. | tell you sir
the North mu become as a unit, lay
aside and forget all old party feelings
and political differences, and make the put
ting down Of this rebellion the uncom-
promising object Of united effort; this
done in good faith, tnen will the seven
headed monster "Secesh," become alarm
ga and ashamed Of his li!e6us proportions
and seek place to hide himself from the
gaze Of an injured and indignant people.
Then will the sweat and insigorating wa
tiers Of peace flow into every riyulet from
the Pacific to the Atlantic, and from the
North Pole to the Torrid Zone; political
pipe layers must be wiped out, the people
must unite in supporting the admiuistra-
ton aud those acting under it; if not, this
rebellion has 40 end; the press must learn
that the soldier in the field is suffering al
most uncomfortable priyations, looks to the
press of their country for the cheering
voice Of consolation and 4 due appreciation
of their honest and uniting efforts to put
down this rebellion; and they must always
see the political l:ckerings and public de-
nunciations of the administration and The
Generals under whom we have to fight is
having on the army; the soldier must be
inspired with confidence in the administra
ton, in bis generals, in the business Of the
war and the course he himself is pursu.
ing or he faints aud falls by the wayside,
becomes discouraged, looscs bis energy
and is worthless to the service.
OLD Abe stands well in the army, and
the longer he stands the frner and sound
er he gets. ] was told by rebel officer
last night, that the disafected state OF
things in the North as indicated by the
press had been worth more to them than
two hundred thousand fighting men in the
field: and | believe it is true; for VIII lie
we at the North are discussing the merits
and dement's Of the President, his late
proclamations and the Generals under his
command ana trying every conceivable
way to tie the hands of the one, and dis
courage the practicability OF the other,
Jackson, Lee and Stuart are with impunity
making their raids into Maryland and
Pennsylvania aud running rampant through
the Border States, stealing horses, destroy
inc public and private property; and what
may seem most strange to you that they
get away without being bagged; the rea-
sons are quite obvious TO men in the field +;
only think once and calculate the distance
around our Border, ard then sSe how
many men It will take to guard the lines
with safety; take that number from The
efficient force in the field and see how many
men YOU have left to do the fighting; you
expect us to have sufficient guard at
every point to renderit impregnable and
at the same time expect US to have re-
serve suffic ent to repel an attack OF the
whole rebel army you must know too that
our own country is FIJI of sympsthlzerss'
who are always ready to give the rebels
due and timely notice Of our weak points
and Of all contemplated movements OF our
forces: if YOU at the North don't know
this it is high time that you did. | tel
YOU sir. that our own country IS divided
to such an extent that no General on earth
can bring this war to a successful issue IN
ten years unless the North becomes q unit.
and forgets everything but the salvation q
our country; you cannot su.gugate the
South by discussing the merits and dener-
It's of Gen. Mcclellan, and the policy Of
the administration you must put Jour
shoulder to the wheel as one man, and
then the South will feel our strength, aud
nj until then. Pardon me II l have SAID