Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1863-03-20

Letter from the 72d Ohio Regiment.
WHIrE STATION, Tenn, February 25, 1863.
Ere this, most readers Of the journal have
probably read an account Of the action of the
soldery Of the different States, stationed at Cor
inth, Jackson, Helena, Murfresboro, DC, in ref
eren ce to southern sympathy ameng northern
politicians and also as regards those who OPP
pose the war Isuppose II any one has cause
OF. complaint it is the soldier, regards suffer
ing and hardship. While the soldier tolls on
without measure, it would look more manly and
decent for those scrambling politicians TO shut
close their mouths. / suppose moreover the
soldiers have the fairest opportunity to Judge
whether the policy of the Administration be
good Of bad No complaint on that score has
come from the army. Yet these battling delna-
agogues, who prefer political place and power,
TO country. denounce the course Of the Admin
istration as wrong and impractcable. This is
only the now term Of the old cry for "conclia-
ton May be these croakcrs have forgotten how
Buell. @conciliated" Northern Alabama, when,
as he marched his army through the State in
the hot months of last summer he refused to let
them take water from the wells to quench their
killing thirst. How he spent months, idly spent
by the army, industriously visiting his wrath
upon his own Jealous officers, to prove to rebels
he did not intend to hurt them. The people
cannot forget the complaints sent home by gal
liant soldiers, how they were not allowed TO take
an onion, chicken, or anything, no matter how
necessary and all thiswhile in the midst of their
deadly enemies. The old cry was Cancellation"
That soon died. Generals learned, or were for
ced by their troops to make tcdr d, earnest. The
President finally, phlegmatic and cold as he
was to all ideas of earnestness in carryin on the
war, came to realize that the enemy must be hit
hard blows in his tender places The army is
with the President in this. They have shown
the whole world they are with him by formal
declarations.
The same old wrangling factionists of the
North,--some of them say they are Democrats
getting ashamed of the stale old term "concil-
iation," have transformed it into new phrase
And recently they have suffered frghtful at
tack of "negro on the brain" Poor fellowsi
They could endorse almost anything, rather than
this attack of the negro. 1t was hard for them
to have to submit to any thing like earnest work
against rebels; they were distressed that rebels
TRAITORS, should be slain by white blood and
free. But, alas when it came to the killing of
the country foes through the instrumentality of
negroes they could no longer endure. Oh it is
such horrible thing to have rebel killed by a
negro One word to the gentlemen of the Com
federate persuasion. You talk Of seeding with
Illinois, Indiana, DC Now Just bear in mind,
that "Old Abe" is getting great numbers of me-
groes away from the South, and, as that is the
next meancr work beside fighting the southern
rebels, he may send them to subdue you. But
have question here it is; Which is best, a
disloyal white, or a loyal black? which safest2
While sitting in Restaurant at Corinth, the
war and the war policy became the topic ofcon-
versation. An army blood-sucker,-in other
words one of that class of men who follow the
army to defraud hard working honest soldiers
out of their money by imposing on them the
poorest articles for the highest prices,-was
present. and was descanting very vehemently
against the negro and against the policy of arm
K ing him. He knew the negro wouldn't fight,
and he knew, too, that white soldiers would not
be willing to have them in the army. And he
was very bitter on the President for receiving
them into the military service. 'ea ~
! firing of this blood-sucker's gasconading, l
venturcdto to say to him. "Sir, you arenot SOL
1 dier, and am. You ,c;O not become soldier;
rather than become one you would give round
/ sum TO negro to go in your stead. You say
they will not fight-neitltcr wi0 you. But histo.
Try plainly contradicts you, sir, and says they
uM fight. You assert white soldiers will moi
| fight with them which deny. Common sense
i will say that white men had sooner negroes
4 should be thrust into the deadly jaws Of battle
than they. Suppose division set upon and
nearly overpowered by superior force of the
rebels. They are about TO suffer defeat, disgrace
perhaps capture; do you suppose they would be
so foolish, senseless as TO object to the timely
aid of negro brigade, which should defeat the
enemy, restore victory to their flag and leave
} them vctors rather than conquered? Now, sir
think all soldiers will tell you they had mucf
rather rebels should shoot at negroes than a
them; and | advise you, sir, as long as you vii
: to do her great service by ceasing your lout
talk and permitting all those to serve her VIII
l0iH do it. tr .-.,i.,- ..t...
Which same speech would make to all peo
pie of like ilI, There is no sense in the clamo
about negro; il is purely partizanism. Argu
ment amounts to nothing with men who ar
bound to be perverse. Sol dismiss them witt
but one suggestion, viz; If the bill for armini
. . negroes fails to pass, would it not be well Z
make provision for drafting some of those whit
men who stay at homef tl-.
Some people write to their friends or kin her
in the army very improper letters. The writer
complain of the war not as wrong, but as oppres
: sive, and their wish there was possible wa
for brother son, A. B., to get out of the army
Some will go so far as to wish their friends ma
be captured that they can be parolled and com
7 home. Itwould seem as though one has littl
sense of honor who would wish TO see their rela
tiyes at home through the dishonorable mediui
of surrender and parole. me-sickness is tn
: great evil Of the army. 1t kills more than bu
let's, Aud the surest way to create home-sici
q ness is to write such foolish, blue discouragip
J, letters Let friends write cheerfully to the so
diers They viii do them thereby valuab
Il service. f,... I....t f,,,r,,-a ,.r r.,,.f g.
s February 26-Eyer since the occupation
Memphis by Union forces there has been a pc
: tiferous gang of guerrllas on the Arkansas shor
g opposite, who have lost no opportunity to deco
: boats ashore and plumber them, and commit e.
g cry conceivable sort of outrage. They were r
: ceiving their bread and butter direct from Men
phis, yet sought to destroy and pillsge the Sel
boats which brought forward supplies ThG
were warned to desist, but would not. A fe
days since they captured and burned the Stear
boat Hercules. This brought them the lol
merited doom. A force crossed over to the Ii
a tie town of Hopfeld on the Arkansas bank al
is after due notice proceeded to lay the place
ls ashes. Every building along the shore for
I long distance, the entire town, and neighbU
s. hood were laid in smoking gruins. All that I
mains of Hopfeld, is seen in lonely chimne
s aud nakedwalls Many of the guerillas. th'
Of connivers and informers lived there, and h
e, been often warned Of what awaited them if tn
Of continued their depradations. M
= Matters are remarkably quiet in this regi
ar and seem likely to remain so for some time.
BIT The continued rain and consequent mud see
n TO have laid an embargo in guerrilla operation
at But guerrillaing is the most unproitable bu
"a ness in the world aud / should not be surprii
~ If it we're Abandoned hereabouts Aaf e
e. Health remains more than ueually good.
,n think there are twelve cases in hospital, an
off few complaining at quarters. Assistant s.
. y geon Kaull has obtained short leave Of absen
r. and Surgeon Rice il alone In charge Of unedi