The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-01-22

The following letter, from one ofthe gallant
sons Of our State, who bears the scars of battle
upon his own person, appeared in the New
York Times of Friday last:
HEADQUARTERS ID DIV, % CORPS,
Near Falmouth, Va, Jan. /, 1853.
To the Editor Of the Neu York Times.
The critical state OF our Government, just at
this juncture, has induced me to risk being
misinterpreted, and set before you some of the
feelings and thoughts of an officer in the field,
who yearns for the welfare of his country.
Sometimes 1 hear, "there Is apathy at home
amongst large class !" then, that the disloy-
al are gaining over to themselves this apathet-
ic class; that "very many even rejoice at our
failures;" that thousands are crying for
peace peace at all events" What does all
this mean? What does it portend? have left
my precious family and offered myself to my
country; gone to the threatened points, breast
ed the storm, and thrown every obstruction l
could in the way OF the enemy, and am still
facing him; but what boots it If there is no
support from home; if there is nothing but in
difference or open opposition there? Why
struggle on and wet this soil with our blood
If there is no love Of country among our peo-
pie? Let the enemy come IN like whirlwind.
Let the cities of Philadelphia and New York
be turned over to pillage. Let all the horrors
OF desolatiug war sweep over the thickly pop
ulated districts of the Western and Middle
States, then perhaps, by-and-by, our good peo-
pie will wake up to sense of their sinful sell
fishness and folly. Peacei There is no peace
God will not give us peace till we conquer it.
We may change the theatre Of the war, but
we can nave no peace, short of the destructioa
ofour country.
From infancy I have been taught to love my
country and to love freedom. At times have
been able to apologize for Slavery, but have
always felt that it was blot upon us. Now
must sacrifice my country to save Slavery
The rebels might have enjoyed their darling
institution awhile longer, but they would no.
have 1t so; they might still, perhaps, preservd
transitory remnant by promptly Welding Il
law and returning to allegiance, but this they
will not do. Let us out with it; we have NJ,
alternative; we must destroy slavery root ant
branch; we must do 1t in order to "subjuqatei
the persistent enemy of republican govern
ment. God grant us the strength and stamin,
to meet the issue boldly. If we do rot he vii
bring us to 1t by Christening and scourging
This Is a hard duty-a terrible, solemn duty
but 1t is duty.
an not prepared to see this governmer
destroyed; not willing to give my childre
anarchy and shame for an Inheritance; n,
ready for a patched up peace that will caus
the land to be again drenched in blood in
few short years. Neither am l satisfied at th
prospect OF border that five hundred thou ,
and troops could not more than half man. No.
we will bear our own burdens and not b. .
queath them to our children. While have !,
corporal's guard to lead / will lead then
against the enemy of my country.
Mr.. Editor, you are a writer. This is yor :
business. Work, work-destroy this fatal Al /,
athy--conyince the faint-hearted of their hope
less folly, and root out the insidious, poisonou
plants of disloyalty that are growing up in IT,
shape OF partisan opposition to the Govern
ment- Yours truly,
o. 0. HOWARD, Brig. Gen. Vols.