Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-04-02

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A. S. HALL,
Maj. 9th Ohio Regiment.
From the 9th o. v. Cavalry.
CAMP CHASE, March %, go.
Eds. UTonicle-Will you permit the use
of your columns for a moments chat with
the friends of the 9th we are yet in Camp
Chase. After cold and wet weather it is
now warm and the buds swell for blossom
and the feathered songsters come again
with their ever sweet and joyful carroll
These pleasing changes bring to the
mind of the solder, the spring SCIENCES of
home. 1t is sugar season at home now,
and in memory we review many a pleasant
scene in far different camps" from this.
All! those old black kettles that held so
much of sweetness, u mouths water
now for a "dip" once more. But the sol
der belongs to his country, and must of
necessity forego the sweet enjoyments OF
home.
But what of the 9th There has been
some changes of late. Capt. BARRIERS in
dependent company has been attached to
US, which makes good the absence ofCapt.
Stanhope, who was detailed to fill or re-
cruit the End in Kansas. And strange as
it may appear, we are again fattered with
a possibility of being equipped at this late
hour and sent to the field, perhaps to New
Mexico, or New Zealand. But our faith
is rather shaky, when they talk about
horses and sabres to us. We have been
fooled too much-but if necessary, let
them come, and then hurrah for q long
ride, and q crack at sccesh. But we do
plead not to be left idle much longer
at the expense of the Government, and
serious damage to us. Many of our men
are at home on sick furloughs, preferring
that to going into Hospital, (where we
have three men, where they have good
skill and kind treatment. l mentioned
in my last an attempt to recruit from
this regiment for infantry, or other arms
of the service. But a veto has been put
upon this-We are to go as CagaLcy or not
at all. There are three other regiments
(50th, Goth and T4th,) here now, prepar-
ing for the field and guarding the secesh
prisoners-of which we have some sixteen
hundred-mostly officers. We could spin
a long yarn of what they say, how they
feel, &C., would space allow. A few words
must suffice. The privates generally ex-
press themselves as satisfied with fighting
and are anxious to return home, where
many of them would have been now, as
they claim, had not force or deception
been used to draw them out. All are not
so of course some claim to be fighting for
their property, ~(slaves) believing Lincoln
intended totake them all away from them,
and it is hard to convince them of their
error. Others are good Union men, and
still delight to see the old flag waving ov-
er them, and would fight for it more. A
few think the South can't be whipped in
years of war, and hat one is still good for
three at least. THE late news looks like
it, Among the officers there are many
smart, fine appearing men of course. But
even they differ very much also in views
and feelings. A few are equity and unso-
ciable; not free to talk with us "mud-sill."
They don't like the late war news. 9th
ers are frank and easy, and confess our
superior strength and valor, and cry
enough, we give it up, we are beaten
Some declare it has all turned as they as
sured their friends it would. That the
South could never succeed. These are
good Union men, and are ready to take
the oath. They openly fight their broth
er officers. One old chaplain told me that
he thought the war would last for years,
perhaps, for they could raise their own
and bacon, and wear such clothes as
could get. All however confess to
great suffering for clothing the past win
ter. l asked the Rev. gent how they
would maintain a force in the field after
We had possession of coast, rivers and
railroads, as we soon will have. He re-
piled there sas a right smart chance for
trouble he had not thought of. Others
the South has not began to fight yet.
Be that as it may, it must be confessed
they have began to run. They all agree
n thing, a desire to go home; and
We wish the Government would let them
90, for it costs about $3.50 per day to
guard and feed them and their contra
band servants, which our Government so
transports and feeds for them. 1t
5 cheaper las Gen. Scott says to let them
90 and whip them again, than to keep
md guard them.
The 9th Cavalry has not received any
pay yet. We don't know when we viii.
I. Q. B.