The Goodhue volunteer. [volume] (Red Wing, Goodhue County, Minn.) 1861-1864, 1862-04-30
REBEL CAUSE AS SEEN BY THEM.
SELVES.

From the following extracts of a
letter written by wounded rebel to
a lady in Philadelphia, it will be seen
that the rebels themselves consider
their cause as hopclessly lost, yet
are willing to shed little more blood
before they yield
" Lately we found it expedient to
retire before the advancing federal
forces, in order to strengthen Rich
mond. In skirmish received a
wound in the side, which is very pain
tol, and possibly may prove fatal. I
was carried away by my comrades,
and brought with them all the way to
Richmond. All was done for my re.
lief that circumstances would permit,
yet suffered terribly during the jour.
ney, but before ! reached this place
unconsclousness relieved my agony
l am far better now, though you will
see how tremulous is the hand that
pens these lines. If l have sinned
am suffering. Can you forgive?
"Since l have lain here,
surrounded by suffering and death, |
have thought mnch of the causes of all
this sorrow and desola,ion; and I am
convinced that we of the South had
better have borne far greater wrongs
than we endured, or feared, than to
have brought such ruin on our coun-
try. In the North they tell us COM
paratlve prosperity reigns; but in Vir-
g'nia whole villages lie in ashes; homes
are dcsolated, sons, husbands, and
fathers lie in untimely graves; poverty
invaoes homes where hitherto his pres.
ence was undreamed Of; servants,
loved and trusted, prove faithless. Ali
the ties of life are severed. and, dis.
owned and unrecognizcd by her sister
nations, the Confederacy struggles
bravely, but l fear vainly, for her ex-
intcncc, before a foe whose power she
cannot measure.
(" We might possibly overcome the
immense army already brought against
us, for though inferior in point Of mum.
bers, men fight desperately in situa-
tions like ours; but were these repcll.
ed, who knows what countless hosts
would spring to arms from the TEEN.
ing population Of the North ? I fear
our cause is hopeless, and this feeling
d'sp1rits our army, and palsies them or
the battle field. Some are willing to
surrender and make the best terms
they can, while others swear to fgh,
until death. Our official councils arr
divided. Some would stand bravel>
and conquer or die; others insist or
caution and this extreme prudenc.
keeps us retreating until we are
ashamed. But trust me, our army viii
yet make desperate stand, and prove
despite our late reverses, that we arr
not towards.
Gas for me CT may not leav,
this place alive; tor though I am s<
much better than I have been, th'
doctor tells me that danger is no, ye
passed, and that if I persist in exert
ing myself as am now>doing, in writ
ing this long letter, fever may super
vene aud result fatally. Let it come
| have no wish to live to see the Seu,1
subdued, and through future years t
be scorned as traitor. I'll recove
the moment can WELD my sword
will return to my post, aud at lea.
die like ! man. I do not say this i
boassing or defiance, for I really regre
that I ever participated in rebellion
but have done it, and cannot rstrae
with honor. Therefore if our c.us
Imust fall, l hope to fall with it. 49,
"The time Is short. The feder.
Iarmy is moving rapidly uroa Us. Th
final struggle cannot be far distant
1t may be the last time L can ask II
will you no, send FEW lines ? not ,
the Confederate soldier, or Re6ek
you will call me 50, nor even to til
former friend but to = sick and 50
/ tering man who longs to know yo
hare sous sympathy for him still"