Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1862-02-12
GoLDsBoRo,. n. q. Feb : 1oec

GoLDsBoRo', n. g., Feb. Z, 1862.
MR. EDITOR Being confined to NV tent
by the cold rain and piercing winds, I sup
pose could not engage myself better than
by writing to you. There are now about
forty of my fellow soldiers readers of the
Esprit OF the Age; and they are anxious
our friends, and the friends OF your paper
may hear from US through this medium.
We are still on the Fair Grounds. and
when we will leave, or where go, is unknown
to me. The weather being so inclement for
many days past, we are rendered no little
uncomfortable, and nothing save the love Of
our southern homes would prompt us 10 bear
the burthen of soldiers.
But, Mr.. Editor, there are other things
beside rain that often abuse soldiers. The
use of Intoxicating drinks. In your last is
sue | noticed a communication, from your
correspondent, DERRicx, which / think alto
gether worth reading. he spoke of the evils
resulting from the use of ardent spirits among
soldiers, saying "that it sends to the guard
house, priyates and to ranks officers. ), This
] know to be so, and my own eyes have seen
even severer p~unishments than these inflicted.
think would be safe in saying, that in
nine cases out OF ten, whiskey is the cause
of the punishments inflicted on soldiers
OOdh0 IthO OihO SEAl oC lClbOfGu ITDEl Our req
iment, the guard house would be worthless.
What, Mr.. Editor, can whiskey distillers
build their hopes upon in the world to come ?
There is one Of the servants of Satan. in
cleveland county, about twelve miles north
of Shelby, who has ensnared the feet of
many and plunged into the dungeon Of des-
pair scores of immortal spirits. This distill-
er said " ifwhiskey was taxed one dollar per
~yallon, he would raise his price to three dol
lars, and profit by the law Now what can
such men promise themselves, when they ex-
change the smoke of the Still house, for that
place of which it is written, the smoke of
their torment ascendeth foreverl"
have often Intercepted distillers and rum
sellers on this subject, and they only reply,
1--WE make and sell, but force no one to drink
it." The laws of reason teach US there is
nothing accomplished only by a succession
of instrumentalities and this being truth,
the man who makes the first whiskey a
drunkard drinks, is just as guilty as the
man who furnishes the whiskey that ends
his life. Now, suppose ] am called into the
forest to cut down some giant oaks, | strike
the first lick, and to all appearance the. oak
seems unhurt. But | repeat my strokes
until the lofty branches begin to tremble.-
] continue TO ply my axe until the mighty
ITcc, L1uL IldS Du ucnd1Cc u LuG NV lEIlS
storms of ages, totters and reels like a drunk
en- man and then falls to the earth. Now
which of the many strokes felled the tree
1t is quite obvious that each one was neces
sary to the final result.
Now take a man, spotless in his character
one who has stood unscathed by the detrac
lions of his enemies, and like the brave oal
defed them all, and induce i'm to take on,
drink of ardent spirits; and let others Civ,
him of the accursed drink again and again
until he fills a ~drunkard's grave, is not tn
one who caused him to take the FIRST drinl
equally as guilty as those whe gave hin
the last2 q
Mr.. Editor, since / have been in camp
and that is only five months, | have seel
yourg men prcstrated in drunkenness, VIII
at home lived virtuously, and to all human
appearance seemed as much aVersc to drunk
enness as men could be. Now, If the youn
and thoughtless boys of our armies becom
drunkards, in the day of Judgment sha
pity some Of the rum sellers about Gotds6oro
Notwithstanding VIC live in a free country,
think it would be nothing but right for on
military authorizes to close the doors OF a
whiskey shops IL our country, and especial
near our camps. IF this could be, it wonl
save furnishing brave soldiers, and great
diminish the trouble of our officers.
Since my last, we have bad another deaf
in our regiment: Jno. Welmon, private
Capt. A. 6. Waters Company. Our frlen
and fellow soldier was a lovely associate, u
right in all his doings. He left his hon
and a lovely young wife to meet our con
NOR foe. TO him we ascribe the honor
a true patriot, and judging from his la
words, while we are to-day trembling VII
cold around our smoking fires, he IS oaskiI
in the sunlight Of eternal day. he diea u
list Of Feb. 1862.
Yours, &c. M. y DAvlo'
saith Reg. n. q. Vols.