Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-02-04
e aftaman'a s 9lnnrnal.
ARMY CORRESPONDENCE


The following letter was sent to us with O
request to publish it.
. FALMOUTH, Va, December &c. 1862.
DEAR WIFE AS have not heard from you
for some time, / concluded L would drop you
| few lines to let you know that ! am yet a
mong the living. Thank God for the privi-
lege. Well, this is business town, and has
been very lively Tor the past few days, as
some of the suffers have got article, com
monty called whisky, on sale; and some of
| the boys have been imbibing too freely con
sequently, they feel like having esgay and
! happy time. Our Regiment is doing Pro-
! yost duty now, and We have to arrest all that
| get '.brick'' in their caps. None of our men
! are in the 'smix." l have become regular
! temperance lecturer. L have not been 'srich''
/ for long, long time. Our Captain that was
was here to day for his brother, our Orderly
| Sergeant, who killed in the late battle.
He can not get his remains, as he was buried
on the other side of the river. He is going
home to o-morrow.
don't know any war news, and, not to give
! you a short answer, don't care a cent which
way they move. or if they move at all. have
run my chance a good many times, and can
do it again; and ill until my time comes. II
ii must be that [ loose my life in this war for
the restoration of our glorious Union, am
perfectly willing for l can loose it IN no bet
ter cause, or more lasting benefit TO posterity.
The loss of my life is but drop in the
bucket.
Wm. D. is telling campfire ssyarns.'' He
is in good spirits, and all the boys are coming
up to their usual degree of humor, glowing
spirits, and good feeling. L don't see how it
comes, that our convalescents never come
back after they get entirely well. Our COM
pany would not look so slim, if we could get
our men back when they are fit for duty
those that are sent to the hospital, and the
paroled prisoners, who have long since been
regularly exchanged. But none OF them come.
The first thing we hear of them, they are at
home. You must have a home guard of
'sconyalesees" and 'sparoles'' in town. 1 will
lay this by for this evening, as it is getting
late and after roll call. I'll wait until morn
ing and, may he, will get your letter, for
we had no mail to-day.
Good morning.-Well, received your let
ter as predicted, and do tell you was glad
to hear from you. Little do you know what
thrill of JOY a soldier feels at receiving and
reading letter from hom. How joyfully
he eats his s'cast-iron'' biscuit, and masticates
his pork, when he has read his letter and
found, to his hearts content, that the dear
ones at home are all well.
| am of your opinion. | think we have done
our best fighting, and our share. They ought
to let Us go now. But, guess, We will have
TO see the matter through. / have been in
thirteen battles, but have come out safe--saye
slight touch at Antietam, and three hits at
this last one. ! sometimes think | may yet
get home alive, and hope may, for am not
tired OF living yet--even in these warlike days.
gave you all the news of the late battle in
my previous letter.
shall not enter into political discussion,
for no good can come of it. But, do think
that the democrats brought on this war,
and now both parties are TO blame for the con-
tinuance of it. / never was Republican. nor
have changed any since the war-neither
can put any trust in as corrupt a party as
the old Democratic party. You wonder why
they have carried the late elections? Easily
answered. Because they are all at home-a
larger portion at least-than any other party
Look around you in your own town, and what
is the result? +? Where are your SIS, F's, Mos
KS, rs, Us, Ms, and host of others And
how stands the ratio Echo answers IargeIg
BIeckiar4dgers. And what are they doing?
f:Croaking'' and smiling at our late defeat
All the Democratic party is rotten-rotten to
the core. Of course, don't say every DEM
ocrat, is false to the government; but, tell
you, the Breckinridge wing are all SO. Good
night Mr.. Politics
Our regiment is reduced to FIVE companies
We don't feel much like doing duty as Reg
5ment. Our appearance on dress parade is
slim and sad affair. [ thought my time had
come at Fredericksburg. Oh that is day
long to be remembered. No pen can put it
on paper. When [ saw my comrades fall on
all sides OF me, it made me feel queer. But
the next moment our feelings were changed, |
and we were rushing forward with the cold |
steel, thinking of nothing but the destruction
of the enemy. But, 1 must close. Ny res
poets to all. Yours truly, ***
A CLOSE CoNNEcTIoN.-A Persian merchant |
of some unjust sentence of the
lower courts, was told by the Judge to go to
the cadi s,Rnt tho cadi 20 xo,r -.