The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1863-04-01
From the 5sth Pennsylvania

From the 5Stb Pennsylvania.
FMR. EDIToR-I forward you letter
which | think you will be pleased to pub
lish, or an extract from it, the writer,
Sergeant Hadley, was for many years a
resident of Oswayo. He entered the
army from NJ Kean county where his
father, DR.. Hadley now resides. Sergt.
NJ. j. Hadley's brother, Henry Hadley
was the soldier who killed the notorious
Col Ashby. Potter and u Kean coun-
ties have furnished very many good
soldiers. Yours respectfully,
II. H. MUNsoN.
NEWBERN, n. c., Feb %, 1868.
You will see by our Reeimental Re-
port that our Regiment has had some
hot work since | left your town. One Of
nv recruits was wounded aud IS not on
duty at this time There has been great
gaps made in our ranks since last spring /;
hundreds have been sent to tlelr last
loug homes, and discharged on account
of disease contracted III those sinking
swamps. As for myself | have been on
every march and in every engagement
our Regiment has had, and have met
with no casualty whatever.
We were at Blackwater, Zoni, Wind
sor, and Falls Church. At Zoni we had
shell and round shot about as fast as we
could take care of them. At BIackwater
we had rife balls and cold steel. lwould
give something if you could have heardthe
shout of the 18th Illirois, as they waded
the river, and have seen the long row of
naked steel as they charged on the enc
mics rife pits. | can hardly SIT stu as
think Of that charge. We are now
eight miles on the advance and have
work enough to do. Scarce day passes
without some casualty. A few days
since poor fellow was brought in badly
wounded. the surgeons went at him with
saw and knife however, he will get we'll
it they let him alone.
+ We have cruel blood thirsty foes here,
but we have found that our worst enemies
are not in rebellion, but in the free North.
At home the secesh Democratic party
rules, or at least will soon come into pow
er, and expect to fatten upon our national
troubles gang Of thugs and ghouIs VIII"
long to destroy aud feast upon the vltas
of our distracted country. For twenty
years they have plotted, planned and in
trigued for their own personal agrandize-
ment. and would to day, sell their country
for less money than Judas got.
If by recognizing the Confederacy we
could get rid Of the whole brood of pumps
aud fawning sycophats, could drive them
all to the embraces of their Confederat'
friends in God forsaken Rebeldow, we
might hope there was something better
for us, in the dreamy future; but after
the war shall have passed away, and peace
smiles again upon US, we still have those
most damnable Of all traitors in our midst
to breed disunion, to countenance treason,
ever ready to sell themselves to corrupt
political parties, to mob, to bargain, to
plunder and destroy If their instgators
or ruin has been their cry.
No my friend it is not from the South
that we have the most to fear, but rather
from the North. Oh If we only had
our enemies all together we could crush
this shareholders rebellion 10 three
months; but such is not the case, our en-
emies are not confined to any one point.
Enemies in Congress, enemies III every
State Legislature in the Union, enemies
in canp and in e. cry department plotting
the ruin of our common country. u
What avais all our hard fought and
dearly gained victories, so long as our peo-
pie elect traitors TO make and execute the
laws. We are ready aud anxious to meet
our enemies aud if i. is required close in
a death struggle for our country and the
cause of human Freedom. But for God
and our country's sake, let US be free
from the chsius forged by cur own State
Legislators. OIhope in Gods name this
war will continue until every traitor,
North and South. "shall GU down dim and
dishonored aud ill shameful tomb" lfI
it be required let my life blood flow out on
the sterile plains of the South, and let the
hand that guides this pen. moulder and
consume away and become food for worms,
but let me know or at least hope my coun.
try Is free from her enemies who now cause
her to "resl as drunken man."
w. J. HApLEY