Winchester journal. [volume] (Winchester, Indiana) 1862-1863, 1863-02-27
LETTER FROM THE ARaY.

SI' dilu iiOlh WHICH We dTe per-
mitted to take extracts, we find
the following remarks of a veter-
an Indiana soldier, concerning
things at home and the 'situa-
ton" generally:I
have seen a
good many letters from Indiana
of late, stating from the number
and boldness of Rebel ,sympathi
zerS in that state-in fact all the
North western StateS-things be-
gin to wear rather a serious as
pect, in regard to the finale OF
the war; that another draft
which will soon become necessa-
ry if the Rebellion Is not speedl-
ly clushed-would be resisted by
a goodly number.
As far as | am able to learn,
President Lincoln's Emancipa-
ton Proclamation does not agree
very we'll with the majority OF
our soldiers, especially among
the more ignorant and prejudicea
class. 4 great many are also
becoming tired of the prol0nga-
ton OF the war, and seek this as
an excuse for Its ending. Ditto
also the movement now in
progress for the arming of the
negroes.
They either do not, or will not,
look at the right and justnesS OF
the movement, and that the
surest and speediest method oil
bringing the war to an end Is
by the Governments bringing
every available weapon to bear
against the rebels. Here is their
mullsh prejudice standing in the
way: lit may be all wrong to
enslave the nlggers; | didn't come
out to fight tor the nlggers; this
is the white mans war, aud II we
havnt got enoagh white men in
the North to whip the South
why | say let them 20 out OF the
Union" etc, ETC., al IN niiaHum.
They don't see how the South
are using these negroes against
our slde--at home working their
masters farms, thus enabling the
Rebel Government to bring tens
OF thousands more troops into
the field than they otherwise
could, to oppose our armies
And if they dared trust their
slaves with arms, | DO not be-
leve that they would hesitate
one moment in bringing them in
to the field to fight against US
Bat 1t is useless to talk about
this matter, of which, YOU know
the pros and cons much better
than /. We can only hope and
pray that right principles will
prevail in the end.
Congress ought to take imme-
diate steps for the calling out OF
10000 more men. Place them
in camps of instruction, and
have them well drilled and ready
to fill up the places Of those soon
to be discharged, or lost by bat
tie and disease. And don't be
guilty of our previous folly OF en-
listing or drafting them for 3
months, or . months, or the like
but place them in lor . years or
for the war. Don't consolidate
old Regiments, bat I'll them up
with drafted men. Don't allow
our commissioned officers to re-
sign by the hundred every day,
but reduce them to the ranks ii
they lai! to perform their duties
+ IN e proper spirit and manner.-
Hang some hundreds OF deserters;
+ for a man who will desert his
Country in this her hour OF need
deserves no better fate. Let ouI
Generals endeavor to inspire that
old fl st spirit Of the army and ev-
cry one be made to feel that their
only hope OF a return to fireslde
and home depends on the success
of our arms. Learn a lesson
from the traitor government, and
suppress with an iron haad all
home traitors and breadeIs OF
dlscord; Tor becoming bolder and
more numerous day by day, they
Will som become too powerIu.
TO be put down, bringing upon
the country an ignomiaious peace
and crushing out the high hopes
OF freedom in this Republic.
Every thing in the army seems
to be loose. Every body seems
to be working Tor his own par
ticular promotion aad advance