The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1862-05-22
From the Cambria Regiment.
SIR JoHN's Run, Va, Bot. & Ohio RR.,
Nav Z 1862

'0AAN 0o1iN nun; ' A, DStt q ONO hh., o.
May 7, 1862.
Correspondence of The Alleghanian.
We had thought that ere this time the
54th regiment would be before the bat
teries at Yorktown, but still we are here.
Gen. Shields was making application to
have US transferred to his command. and
we felt certain that it would have some
good effect. But late advices say that
Gen. Shields has been made Major Cen
eral, and We suppose that he has forgotten
US in the press Of official business. Still,
We hope for the best
Judging from the tone of the letters
some OF our men receive from home, moth
ing short of the blood Of the 54th will
satisfy portion Of the citizens of Cambria
county. Most o. these letters, however,
come from 'Estout, able-bodied Young
men, who prefer staying snugly at home
to running the risk of getting into an Gu
gagement where bullets might whistle
around them. Some of these chaps were
very fond of saying, before the war broke
out, that III case Of hostilItics between the
North and South, they were ready to go
in but when the issue presented itself,
they were not quite SO ready. They now
amuse themselves by writing letters to
their friends in the army, wondering why
they don't get into a fight !
Now, these things are decidedly tanta-
lizing to soldiers who are willing to fight,
but have had, as yet, no opportunity Of
fered them. We have all taken a solemn
oath to obey the orders Of the officers pla-
ced over US, and if they see fit to put US
yvhara y-a caDpot cbod 90, Il, - l.lool
neither have our own split, We cannot help
it. Those persons who write such letters
not only make for themselves enemies
here, but also show their utter ignorance
of military affairs. A soldier may, and
often does, make for himself reputation
and not fight a single battle. Wars last
for years sometimes, with but few battles
being fought 1t is not the design Of our
government 10 Kill and have killed as
many men as possible, but, rather, to save
the effusion of blood.
Again An army Is pushed forward
into the enemy's country. Their rear
must be protected, and their line cf COM
munieatlon kept open, so as to enable
them to draw supplies. Somebody must
guard the roads, and who shall it be p
This question is determined by the Com
mander-ih- Chief, and those who are or
dcred to do it must obey. Now, we have
been placed here to guard the Bait &;
Ohio RR., along with New York, Maine,
and Massachusetts, troops, under the COM
mand of an officer of the Regular army
Government must keep open the lines Of
communication, and for the time being
we have been assigned TO that duty
Whose fault is it! Col Campbell's?
The mems We answer, No . and the
letter book OF the Regiment, in my posses
sion, viii show it. Suppose we are kept
upon this duty until the war ends, will it
be our fault!' Certainly not. There is
not man in the regiment, that l know
of, who desires 70 remain here.
But again: These gentlemen who are
so very anxious FOR US to get into u fight,
and who pen Insulting letters TO our men,
should reflect aad remember that they
once boasted that they were 'Eready to
shoulder a musket," but that when tho
time came, they showed the white feath-
er and did not shoulder a musket' or
anything else. /, for myself, have no
desire to lose either my lite or any of nay
limbs. yet | believe ! am far more willing
to run the risk Of doing either, than these
fancy ''stay home letter-writers
Time alone will solve olr fate-wheth-
er the 54th will ever get into battle or
not. We are sworn TO obey orders, and
| believe we have carried out every order
given US SO FAR, snd mean to do so until
the war ends. do know, however, that
the receipt of IN order directing US to re-
port to General Shieldi, or any other Gen
ersl. viii BE hsileA With leEaht. We