The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1863-09-18
NEAR GERMANTowN, Va,
Saturday, Aug, 90, '63.


FRIEND MEYERS:
To prevent ennui and while away por-
tion of this long and hot afternoon, permit me
to trouble you with a few stray lines. We see
that newspapers generally have no deficiency in
army correspondents, and that you are frequent
ly regaled with long accounts OF hard fought
haihes incidents of the camp and the march,
dissertations on politics, anu even Jhesoldiers
rations are not forgotten, but should they fall
short of the quantity prescribed by the regula-
tions, or little nonsense or fun occur it is her.
aided by some one to their friends, through the
newspapers of the North. Since so many re-
sort to this method, l suppose it must be fine
mode to ''kill time" when it hangs heavily on
ones hands, at least, to-day, | feel disposed to
try how the plan operates, and learn whether
everything is always lovely ''when the goose
hangs high" Since the coming of the summer
we have visited our native State, and witnessed
what many did not expect to behold during this
war, battle field in Pennsylvania. The bat
tie Of Gettysburg win long be remembered by
the citizens Of the Keystone State. Many
bright eyed YOUTH murmuring the name of
mother, as we'll as gray-hared veteran, died
there to repel the invader from our soil, and
many loved one from some distant home
lay cold and dead ere our starry banner hoated
in triumph DER that bloody field. OF Lees de-
feat and retreat across the Potomac, you have
had many accounts. After treading the soil OF
Pennsylvania and her loyal sister State, s'BIy
Maryland" for more than month, we learned
that our leave of absence had suddenly expired,
and were transported once more to the Old
Dominion. Following in the footsteps of our
kind friends Mr.. Lee and his chivalrous follow
ers, occasionally treading their heels the army
halted beneath the shade of the numerous for
| ests along the Rappahannock, for the purpose.
among others, Of giving all rest, which most
OF us have enjoyed to our hearts content, or as
well as the oppressive heat and the unprincipled
flies and other insects would allow u.s. Near
or about one month has past away since our
halt, and we still find ourselves here, enjoying
the shade and expecting, as we have, all the
while, marching orders. OF course it is an i'm
possibility to say when the army will resume
| active operations. Yesterday small detach-
ment Of that part of this Regiment now here,
was detailed to escort about $50 substitutes and
conscripts, from Gen. Mcade's Headquarters, q
distance of six or seven miles, to the Fifth Army
Corps, for which they were intended. II they
were fair specimen Of all the substitutes sent
from the north, | never wish to have very ex-
tensive dealings with any of them, for more
graceless batch of scamps it has never been my
fortune to witness OF course there were ey-
ceptions among them. One of their number,
an old son of the Emerald Isle after being re-
LEVIED of his knapsack, canteen, &c, by his
comrades, allowed that ''thc army were all
thieves and faith I'll soon be getting out of it
again." When conscripts or substitutes arrive
here, they are still kept under guard, and es-
corted by cavalry to their different destinations
Some are to be pited while Others are undesorv-
ing OF sympathy. Their situation is often, and
very wrongly, made a subject of ridicule and
mrth, and upon parting with their volunteer
escort ON the Rail Road, 1 have heard them
give the escort the pleasing salutation of eco
to hell" &c. 1t creates an unfriendly feeling
between the drafted soldiers and the volunteers,
and he that can make the miseries of his fellow
creatures subject for mirth or ridicule, is un-
deserving of the name of human being. Heaven
preserve me from ever being a conscript, for it
is far better, believe, to bear the proud title
of free volunteer. do not believe in draft.