The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-02-20
A Soldiers Opinion.
CAMP SECOND NEW HAMPSHIRE REG,
Near Falmouth, Va, Jan. 80. (

CAMP SECOND NEW HAMPSHIRE Reg,
Near Falmouth, Va, Jan. 80.
Is the army of the Potomac demoralized.
if so. by whom? We, of course, share in
the encouragement of the country, that the
war has Lot progressed faster toward sue
cesstul termination: we have been worn by
toll and hardships, by privations that have
often seemed TO US useless; but where have
We been led. but We have obeyed even at a
sacrifice of life more terrible than any army
of the old world ever suffered There is
much grumbling in camp, and no doubt the
home letters of our soldiers are any thing
but cheerful and contented. Desertion. too,
has become common, a crime, the biackeSt Of
ali for a true soldier TO contemplate. And
why is this? This army is in truth a read
ing army, and for more than year, they
have been literally fed on the New York
Herald. Daily has that subtitle sheet indulg-
ed in slurs in regard to the I" niger" II
has, while pretending TO uphold the govern
ment. told the soldiers that the administra-
ton cared mere for the negro than the sol
der" Dying by inches, with the hardshi2s
of a Peninsular campaign. the soldiers saw
the negro employed, lin the only Capacity
that the old slave prtjadice would admi: of
as walters for officers, or teamsters, and so
riding while soldiers YEARLY walked, or flee
ing in the wake of ocr retreating army. on
horses stolen from their masters, seeking
freedom. With the maxims of the Herald
and oiher kindred sheets ringing in theii
ears: in their WEAKNESS not considering the
accidents of the situation. is il strange that
our soldiers fall TO cursing the "nigger."
hating the "nigger." abusing the niger I'LL
der all possible circumstances Is it strange.
that when portion of our press tell US that
we are fighting for pack of niggers,~ that
many are found to believe it, and are diseon-
tented? When soldiers are told from home
and at home that they are not smart for stay
ing in the service: and those who desert are
called smart for SO doing, and no penalty is
inflicted for such crime, is it not wonderful
only that our army is not scattered tn the
four winds ere this? If You are looking for
virtue and honor, you Will still find them in
the ranks of this army, not among the cow
ards and traitors who, instead of serving
their country in the field, prefer staying
at home to backbite and condemn the alb
sent.
Honest and loyal men of the North, to
your keeping We have left our homes. See
to it that when We return we may not find
las did the Roman armies of ODD the gates
of our own cities closed against US. BROOKS,
Of the New York Express. openly tells the
democracy of New York that this favora-
bic time for them 10 get control of the Off
ces of the country. What does that mean
except that the honest men are now absent
in the army and thus disfranchised? Would
any other than dishonest men take adyan-
tage Of such absence? cannot believe that
many of the men Of the North are sunk so
low, call themselves by what name they will.
am no negro-wOrshipper. This is no ne
gro war. Are We so much afraid that the
negro shall accidentally get some benefit
from the struggle, that we are willing to for
get the dearest interests of our own race, and
I sacrifice honor, manhood, and all we have
done and suffered in the contest for the sake
of an ighoble peace that will not last while il
is making?
Obedient to lifelong preiudices, govern
ment has hesitated about letting the black
man assist US in the war, and hence have SOL
diers found occasion TO say that the "negro
was thought more of than white man.
That they will make good soldiers | do not
know, for have not seen them tried but if
they can and will fight for freedom. let th-m.
The opposition Press tell US that free ne-
groes will swarm the North )" thai " the poor
/ laborlng men will have no chance for EN-
ment.s | ask, has the poor mans condition
at home been made worse or better by the
confux of foreign emigration? The answer is,
better, deci.ledly. And when negro the Of
/ his own free choice seeks the North, then viii
the white bear and Exquimaux become south
ern emigrants. We know that freedom at the
South will open homes for millions of the
straring poor of Europe, who will flock to
our shores and earn plentiful living instead
OF becoming almost yearly dependents On
our charity for bread. Willnot our so-cailed
democratic brethren believe the testimony of
that Saul Of Tarsus, Benjamin F. Butler,
who, going ont breathing threa.enings and
slaughter against emancipationists, has been
met in the way and converted; or have they,