Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1863-04-01
The warren Constitution" and
Soldiers Letters.
UowL.yD Obio Mar,L an 40

rs AN"LANDs CutO, Aditn 81. Us.
EdtonS Chronicle: | have been lookin,
over the columns of the Constitution, anc
observed several letters said to be from
soldiers, but / think there must be SOM
mistake IN the matter, for some of thess
letters differ 80 far from a true soldier.
views, that | cannot exactly credit them
wish particularly 10 refer to "A letter
published in the Constitution of March oath
and signed %. Brobst." He says he i,
hard times while in the service thai
there was more danger of starving tC
death than of dying by rebel bullets
He is satisfied about this war, and | will
add that | doubt not the true soldiers are
satisfied with his services in the army.
presume 30. B." was a /" bounty man
was bought for a few dollars to join the
army, and like many others, perhaps,
made a big show while the money lasted,
but when that was gone, he was played
out" The patriotism of many such sol,
diers, while they have money, is about
Xxx, but when the money is drank up,
as l presume it was in this case, their pat,
riotism is gone.
He speaks of forced marches, but that
is nothing new for such soldiers as him,
if there is any chance to get away. If
there were any "gray-backs" about, |
presume this is the kind of forced march
es he has reference to, judging from his
letter. No doubt there was more danger
of his starving to death than of being
killed by rebel bullets, for while he was
skulking about the woods to get as far as
possible from bullets, he could draw no
" hard tack" And where the army
marches, forage is quite scarce, and it
would be a natural consequence for a fell
low to get hungry under these circum-
stances.
If he had been the clear grit, and stood
to his post like a man, 1 know he would
not talk as he does. He says that all the
Illinois troops are coming home as fast as
they can, &c. If they are all such sol
diers as he is, the sooner the Government
lets them go the better lit will save ex-
pense. They say they will not fight for
the niger. No one is asking them to
fight for niggers. They are towards, and
they know it, and think q poor excuse is
better than none.
80. B." speaks of the 18th Illinois
regiment all leaving at one time, and 60
ing home faster than they left. l pre-
they were wanting to get home to
get three or four hundred dollars each to
take some drafted mans place. | think
they understand playing of pretty well.
Like 20. b." they prefer playing off on
half ~rations, than standing by the flag on
full rations. This is one great difficulty
in our army. There are too many such
patriots. A few such will dishearten
many brave men.
20. B." speaks of being in battles, and
of the horrors thereof, &c. IT'S true
it is hard to see so many men slaugh-
tered, but the slain are msn-they were
at their posts they were not more in
danger of starvation than of being struck
by rebel bullets. / presume 20. B." was
al abolitionist he says he never knew
one in the army but would run when
called On to fight.
He adds that any one can satisfy him
self by calling on Colonel Smith, OF any
Of the Captains of the l02d Illinois regi-
ment- would prefer calling on some
regiment that has seen some service in
the field. do not say %. B." was not
a battle, but | don't think he would
-alk SO much about starving if he had
been on hand to draw his rations.
.hink he was playin off,-he talks like
one Of that stripe of cats. am a soldier
and have been ia the army as
ong as 20. B." if not longer, and can
how marks of rebel bullets, and | have
cen some tough times, but never was in
more danger of starvation than of rebel
Ask any soldier that has seen
cal, earnest service, and see if he ever
Tas. mot any"
don't like to see such epistles as 20.
5" printed. How does such talk sound
o a true American patriot? He will say,
Well, now. / did not think this war was
onducted in that but o. B.!
laims to be a soldier, and | don't think q
older would write thus without some
oundation." Thus you see it is only cal ,
to make disturbance here in the
forth.
Now my advice to all such men as 20. !
=" is to write no more such falsehoods. .
t they can t stand the FIRE of the gray l
aeks," and get away with their lives, let I
so be understood, and not tell such '
illful falsehoods as are printed in the |
of the Constellation of March oath. !
think the editor did not know of any /
trash being published in his paper, !,
he would have prohibited its appear :
ice. Yours truly, :
l.. Ii. c. >
The Internal Clergy. .