Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1863-03-13

- . ..... RPS.
II rEBarARr 22d, 1863.
At meeting Of companies B, z and D, Of the 3lst Res
iment Iowa Infantry Volunteers was ordered to foi
ward the following for publication in the Cedar Fall
GAZETTE. ...-........
ERASMUS WILSON, Secreeuy
A man should first serve his God, after
wards his family, and then his country
He should serve his God first. because he j.
the author and preserver Of his being, ant
the giver Of everything which he enjoys. A
man should discharge those duties which he
owes TO his family before serving his coun,
try-becausc his family is nearer and dearer
to him than all others, and dependent upon
him for the necessaries oflife. Government
and laws have been necessary in all ages for
the protection of society. In some countries
the laws are not good, because they are op-
pressive. But we all like the laws and in
situations Of our country because they give
the greatest personal liberty, with sufficient
personal protection. Under such govern
ment men are prosperous and happy-the
wants of their families are easily supplied,
and they can educate their children and
point them to bright future. To a grea.
extent it was love of self and family which
has always caused us to be so proud of =" the
land Of the Free" And when We are attack
cd by an enemy, and our government is
threatened, we ore all alarmed and the com.
mon cry is, Strike for your firesdes and
your homes" The histories of other coun-
tries, in all ages, have warned us that the
union Of these States must be preserved
Our government has profted by that warn
ing and resolved that those institutions which
have enabled us to be so prosperous and hap
py shall not be destroyed. The war trun-
pet has sounded, and men have hurriedly
supplied their families with the necessities
of life to last them until pay day, and by
hundreds Of thousands have marched to meet
the enemy, and endure that suffering which
civilians never can appreciate. Extreme
cold or hot without proper protection; vio-
lent fatigue; poor, and sometimes insufficient,
fare without variety many and dangerous
diseases caused by exposure, and perhaps
death, for want Of care and proper treatment !;
health permanently injured; wounds or
death in battle, and constant uneasincss in
regard to the health and comfort of his fam
lily, is only part of the catalogue Of suffer
ings which soldiers are obliged to endure.
Mcssrs. Moore, ST. John, Bishop, Shop
herds Sergeant, Jordon, Wolr Potts, Hack
ct, Gardner, Hayden and Beckwith, of the
Board Of Supervisors:of Black Hawk county:
The above, and what follows, is respectfully
intended for your consideration by compa-
MED B, c and Of the 3lst Iowa Infantry
Volunteers. We have left our homes and
sacrificed ourselves to danger and suffering
to sustain that government which you un-
doubleday value very highly. TO support
those institutions upon which your future
prosperity depends, and secure the happi-
ness Of your wives and Children, as well as
that of your own. In every respect the
cause in which we have enlisted is as much
yours as ours. And had VIC not rallied at
our country's call, some of you would now
be conscrpts. Government has promised to
pay US only $l3 90 per month, and part Of
that we are obliged to use for procuring
things We cannot do without. Payday has
long since passed and we have not received
our wages. Some Of our families have been
suffering for the neccssarics of life, and some
of our children have cried for bread. How
have you paid us for running your share o.
the risks. and paying your share of that deb
which every man owes to his country in
times like these? If soldier or his wife
shall possess only three hundred dollars
worth Of unsuitable real estate, you have re-
solved that family shall receive nothing from
the county. Ifa soldiers wife does not owr
anything, you agree to give her one dollar
per week-provided that she shall produces
the certificate Of creditable surgeon ant
one Of " Your Honorable Body" that she i.
(sick) unable to labor. But as poverty il
one of the necessary qualifications for relief
she could not ride, and If the surgeon ant
Supervisor should reside in opposite corners
of the township, she would be obliged t.
walk to obtain the necessary certificate, ant
walking ten or twelve miles would be suff
cient proof that she could labor. And again
if soldier is sufficiently poor, you agree Il
give five Of his children, each fifty cents pc
week, providing that their mother shall wall
as before iperhaps ten or twelve miles) to
surgeon and supervisor and prove that she il
sick and a pauper. And, as you are humans
men, you have undoubtedly made arrange
ments with the devil, or some other friend
for care of the soldiers sixth child. 1t i
evident from the manner in which you woul'
treat suffering women and children, that yo'
have forgotten the golden rule. We strong
ly suspect that you are knights of tn
Golden Circle" that you sympathize wit
those Southern aristocrats who have pro
nouncea YOU low bred, and who have sal
that you, your children. and your fello,
| oif;,,nc of rho North aro tho nfT.,r;pp of I'll