Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1863-04-10

A private in writing home from the
camp Of ono Of the Iowa regiments that
were raised last Summer, furnishes the
following very graphic opinion Of shoul
der strap. aud other matters. OF course
he don't care to have his name known,
else he might feel tho power of those
same straps in no very pleasant way
You want to know the sentiments Of
the rank and file on this war and how it
is conducted. | can inform you that the
word aboitionist is struck out Of the vo-
cabulary o. soldier. Some rank ones
from Dewitt can be easily insulted now
by calling them abolitionists. Musty
crackers, y very inferior quality Of coffee,
rusty meat, with occasionally getting in
the vicinity Of secesh bullets, has long
since cured them Of that prevalent disease
called aboitionism.
As to the emancipation proclamation,
that has ruined the Union cacsc in the
army more than ninety per cent. Some
three weeks ago there was rumor afioat
in camp that we would all have to take
an oath of allegiance to Abe Lincoln
Nearly every man in the regiment would
lay down his arms-wOpld bear to be
court martialed, forfeit his pay, and be
sent home in Disgrace before he wonld
endorse that proclamation ion-commisSi0n
ed officers excepted.
Our regiment is fair sample Of the
whole army down here, as near as can
learn from hcarsay.
On the other hand, the officers are for
upholding the proclamation, and will be,
as long as they are making big thing
out Of it. 1t is very seldom that one OF
the shoulder strapped aristocrscy will
condescend 10 talk to q private. But
when we all lived At home, up there in
America, the private could move in as re-
spectacle society as the officer. There
are, however, very few exceptions to
this rule. The fact of the matter IS, the
private soldier has to endure all The hard
ships of the march, to lie down in the
mud, probably when he is tired out, to
feed on unwholesomc food, and run the
risk OF losing the number Of his mess on
the battle field. When he adds these
four items together, with the proclama-
ton thrown in, the sum total amounts to
niggerism, sboltiouism, etc., which he
is already heartily sick Of.
Then, again, the officers have, might
say, unlimited control over the men,
which tho majority of them take advan-
tage Of at every chance rs giving
them few extra nights on picket, few
extra camp guards, ordering them out on
drill, when they are hardly able to crawl
from the ravages Of the chronic diar-
rohra, which is very prevalent in these
parts.
As to your sanitary societies, stores,
etc they are alsoysthertor the officers
accommodation. Very few sick privates
ever derive anything from them, whilst
they languish in the hospital for a month
or six weeks before death comes 10 give
them their final discharge. Yet, in
many cases, if they got some OF these
same stores they might recover, and
again be fit for duty. But the officers
generally monopolize them all to them
sslves, and grow fat.
And now, taking the whole thing into
and from my own person
d experience, SO far as regards the com
uissioned officers, and their patriotism is
.ohen loue Of cOwatry stands
at one degree a6ove the freezing point,
love Of gssenbocks stands at 90 IN Ms
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