Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-05-05

throws MS influence IN the way W hIHuei e"ON'N
be summarily dealt with. No doubt the burdens
of war press heavily, but look at our enemies and
profit by the spirit of determination they display.
1t would seem as i the conscription act had made
towards of many and they were afraid, their own
precious blood would be spilled. 1t isn't fair
play. We have borne the brunt Of the war so
far, and by and by, as our terms expire, and 9th
e!s are wanted to take our places, 1t would be the
manly thing in them to go, and not talk Of throw
ing away all we have done and giving up the
county now. Drafting is only drawing cuts to
see who shall 60 to war, and no man OF honor
will shrink from running his chance. Those who
complain Of the war the most are generally those
who have suffered the least. Those who have
spent the most and suffered most are almost IN
variaby the drmea patriots. Ask the widows
and orphans throughout the land, whom the war
has bereayed, il they want the blessed heritage
for which their fathers and husbands tough. and
died lost forever and there can be but ono answer
Never.
There are but very few men in this regiment
that desire peace on any terms short Of entire sub
mission on the part Of the enemy. There may
be some, there always is in every regiment some
who care but little whether the North or South
whips SO long as they can have jolly, easy lime.
A few days hard marching with short allowances
Of hard tack and meat, is very apttc convert such
soldiers into violent copperheads. But they are
not the rule, they are exceptions, and there is
hardly enough Of them to make decent excep-
lion. wish these peace politicians could come
into the old Second Regiment Just for the exper-
iment, and pick out their worshippers, and have
on the other hand the unconditional Union men
select cut those who will stand by them at what
ever haz,rd, and let the moral and intellectual ca
paciles. and all that 60 to make up man, Of
each, be put into balance and see which way the
scale would tip. 1t would be as between pile
Of iroh and a wedge Of gold. II the ppeIheids
would not be athamed Of this party here, then
there could hardly be fonnd anything outside Of
the internal regions that would shame them.
do not say that it is absolutely impossible for a
man strictly conscienlous to desire peace through
dAunion and compromise. Paul consented to
the martyrdom Of Stephen, and afterwards claimed
tc have lived in all good conscience to that
day. SO man may consent to see our Govern
ment martyred and il be don't know any better,
charity may reluctantly admit perhaps, that lie
is sincere and honest but if man is endowed
with conscentiousaess bravery and wisdom alto
gether be will hardly fail to feel a personal
sacrifice or personal risk. Turn this regiment
loose and know the boys would hardly brook
/ to hear the treas)nable talk about peace that is
sometimes echoed from home. They would con-
slider that it tarnished their honor and robbed
them ol the praise and glory that would IusIl!
belong to them as buneiactors Of the country. /
Is as much as our patience can bear to hear thu
secesh tha, live about here continually twit us o
our inability to conquer the rebels, and the folly
of our irving to DO so. But we expect this o
thpm We don't expect friends at home will I'M
tate them, however. 1t is really remarkable how
exactly similar the arguments Of the rebels here
and the rebels at home are. The points most
prominent in both are always abolition or " mig.
GER" Lincolp.s tyranny "" State rights etc.
blaming the North and sxcusng the South. Il
our friends at home Join hands with the citizen
rebels here and advocate their cause, they will ex-
pect to receive the same regard from the soldiers
that we give these and that is just what We are
obi ged to give them and no more.
All the way uf the Peninsula, these citizen reb'
els, male and female, told US Of our certain defeat
and probable destruction. We laughed them to
scorn, and marched proudly and confidently on,
By lack of Management on the part Of our lead.
ers, and through no fault Of ours, as these leaders
are willing to testify, their prophesies proved true
and we were obliged TO accept their bitter taunts
and skedaddle for our lives. A vast change ther
came over the feelings and spirits Of the boys
( From being bold and confident, proudly conscious
Of our strength and proves, we were humbleC
in great measure, and seriously distrasted ou
ability to cope with the enemy, We respected
our enemies more and ourselves less. Demoral
intion was the certain consequence. deseItlon
rreouent. But defeats are not the only means L
deroraze our army. Preach to them the JUS
, ,i,e of the rebel course, dwell largely on thel
, grievances, speak Of the injustice and corruption
of our own Government, and if soldiers will be
reve you, you have done more to demoraire tn
army than the enemy could by thorough victor
of their arms. The numerous desertions whie
hos so marred the reputation Of this army, wer
!, caused as much by copperhead ideas-l don
$ know wha, else to call ,hem-as by any reverse
Y they had suffered. They thought ii usele. I
G struggle any longer. The South mus, in the en-
e succeed, and after all, they were not so much
: blame for seeding. The North we're the OF
e p,essors, and their government was very corrup
, In short, the sentiments Of almost every one th'
n deserted would almost exactly square with tho'
c Of Fernando Wood as expressed in some OF Il
/. recent political meetings in Connecticut II II
r honorable gentleman himself was in the army,
g don't believe but that he would try every meaI
k to get out of it, though do not doubt but TIL
c he is as courageous as lion.
e There has been great change for the be
!, ter, in the minds of the men Of thi, reg
Il ment during the last few months respecting tb
e war, and no doubt the whole army are improve
i in the same way. Awhile ago il vi. no uncou
1t mon thing TO hear men answer TO their name