Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1862-01-16
CAMP CLAY,
LEXINGTON. Ky, Jan 3, 1862.


LEXINGTON. Ky, Jan B, 1862.
BROTHER JIM:-Dear me, here is 1861 years
roll in and out again almost unnoticed. Weeks
seem days, months weeks, and years months to
our rejecting senses. Short seems the time
when New Years witnessed me happy stu
dent, filed. with ambitious aspirations, and
proud of frightening prospects; little dream
ing that beyond the translucent sky was gath
eriRg political storm, soon to burst ''blind and
blackening" upon our happy country; and to
blight, ruin. nay, eer,,ally destroy not only indi
Yidual prospects, but national welfare, prosper
ity, and honor even, are mingled in the general
chaos. Last New Years We had a country,
though threatened, yet undiyided-now. moth
ing but the geet-sounding name remains
Menaced on the one side by the power of Eng
land, despised and even scorned by the rebels
at home, our old "Ship of-State," like a bal
loon without its ballast rests only to be carried
whthersoever the wind may please to blow.
We have an army of f We hundred thousand
men, eager 10 do their country's bidding, better
armed and equipped than the world ever before
saw. We have Congress renowned for the
wisdom and justice of its laws: we have coun-
try, the acknowledged superior of all govern
mental fabrics. Yet our army is dormant, wit
Messing only and fastening the rapidity Of eur
our country's ruin. Our Congress is Inactive
lulled to sleep as it were by some demon spirit
calmly it rests while the nations ruin is be-
ing completed. Would that some kind spirit
would "let slip the dogs of war; and that the
echo of the death-dealing cannon might not
die away until the two wings of our grand ar
my would unite upon the shores of the Gulf
If we must have war, let it be war: if peace,
peace. Let the nation no longer feign hostili-
ties, but show to the world that it is able to
sustain itself in the face of the rebellion. Had
the nation pursued this policy since it has re-
covered from the shock of tho Bull Run defeat,
she would not have been compelled to dishonor
herself by bowing. submissive TO the dictates of
the English crown. But England is deprived
of another pretext, and perhaps it is we'll; if
she must mix into the fight, let her have no pre-
text for so doing and then clearly the right will
be on our side, and fright makes might" But
since England sagain satisfied, do hope the
war will be prosecuted with yigor; that this in :
famous rebellion may be ended before we get
into further trouble, and then there will be no
danger from England cor any other man.
We see little more of the effects or reality Of
war than you do at home. Although we had a
nice little excitement the other night,-yet "no-
body was hurt" We took one prisoner, killed
none, and none were left to retreat. The facts
are these: A party went out about fifteen
miles after man of whom we-received notice
was aiding, the rebellion; they took him, brought
him to camp, and kept him all night under the
strictest guard. The indignation of his friends
was so great that they attempted to retake hin
with writ of habeas corpus; and when Col. De
CoURoEY refused to deliver him up, they tried
to serve the writ on him; whereupon the Col
ordered the companies which were with him to
"form square" and he, within this square with
loaded pieces and fixed bayonets, grinned &
provoking sneer at them, and ordered his men
to shoot do,rn the frst man srho presented the wrt
You may bet it wasn't presented. The nex
morning we all turned out about four O'Clock
and escorted him to the cars, to send him te
Louisville. ought to state, however, that We
knew nothing of our purpose when We started
and went fully expecting a nauss; and many,
dare say, hoping for it. Our men are brave
cool and determined. That was our first fight
The health of our men is not yet very good
we have about one hundred in the hospital
among whom are FRANK WILSON, n. GoRsucH
S. SNYDER. DC. We are daily expecting to hea
of a fight at Bowling Green; and if there shoult
be one, we will advance; if not, and our sicI
get no better We may remain all winter.
l secuted over HENRY CLAY's farm the othel
day; his widow is still living. also saw th,
residence of J. B. CLAY, who is under bonds o
| $4,000 for his good behavior toward the Union
WhatresidencesI 1 never saw any before. Many
dazzle with splendor, some are attractive with
| their retired beauty; yet all are disgraced with
slave hut; yet many of these slaves are intel
| ligent and polite. Talk of bettering their con
dition by emancipation; they are better off to.
day than great many whites of the North
| Ours is company for the present. we have
| been cheated out OF co. A by some chicanery OIL
other. In my next l will give you descrip
tion of southern habits, camp life, dc,
Yours S. H. CORN.