, 1863-02-09
WHAT Hs'!EEs DEMOCRATS
THINK.
letter From Col. Wiltshire ofthc 2Bth
| Ill. Volunteers, to n. Belcllcr.

The following is au extract from letter
dated Humbolt, Tesu., Jan. :o,9th, 1SGS writ
ten TO his old Democratic friend, n. Belcher
Of Port Byran, ILL.,, by IF. II. Wiltshire, now
Major of the lo6th III. volunteers. Major
Wiltshire is one Of the most active and fnf1u-
ential Democrats III that part Of the State
After writing about matters pertaining to the
regiment, he thus addresses his friend Bc1cl1-
cr. Let those " fire. in the-rear' Copperhcads.
who arc howling about di=afIcction in the
army, "peace conventions" san armisticc"
&C.. read and ponder:
Bclcller, what is the matter with the
Democrats at home: II would seem that
l.a!tiotism Las been sunk in the partisan, and
that the ascendency Of the Democracy in lIi-
nuis is about to blast the bright hope that
flushed the check Of eyery brave soldier from
| Cur noble State. The Illinois soldiers WHO
proudly boastcd Of the glorious victories won
| bv them III many hard fought battlefield,
:.ld whose care.worn faces had become ra1i-
| ant # it'll tie hope, and their hearts buoyant
| with 1ile confidence that our arms would
| achieve & final and complete victory over this
| wicked rebellion, now fccl-I won't say dis
| couraecd, but ndduez.d at the course taken
| BY n,tny Of the lraling, and whom We once
| thought, loyal aud patriotic Democrats Of our
State. They feel tllat the lives and success Of
our soldiers are nselessly jcorazdized by the
constant opposition to our success coming
from The North; the uneeas:u:; denunciation
Of the Administration ard our Generals; and
the " ire in the rear 80 much talked of by
jeff Davis i Co., and which would seem,
from, the bombast Of some Of those rebel syln-
pattIzer6 and newspapers, is approximating a
reality. But u word with the soldiers dis
| persts all such fears--for tell you, friend
| bc1cLer, that the soldiers arc 4 unit in favor
oftlc Union. and determined to sustain II,
let traitors North do what they like. All NC
ask cf you at home is, to take care Of those
Northern traitors for short time, while we
| give their friends Ill at Vickshufg.
Ii is united feeling, that We, Who arc en-.
have the most unshakcn confidence in unr.
selves, our Generals and in the honesty, integ
rtts and patriotism Of tho President, and arc
determined to sustain him in putting down,
and forever crushing out this rebellion, and
rvbe1liLus pcrso wherever found. We alsc
feel that tile day il not far distant when Just
rctritution will fall with crushing weight up
On tic heads Of these who are opposing us al
home, and who are daily aidiog the rebels
And their cause, BY their real sympathy fo1
them, and their pretended sympathy for us
Nc soldiers don't all expect TO be killed dur
Ing tile War; some Of us expect to return te
ne have lost 1t by leaving our homes ond oul
| families, to fight the battles Of our country
| Us tic members Of that august body {the Hi
uois Lcgislstu1e) would seem to Indicate b.
tLcir opposition to the soldiers voting. vi
saw, shame On such pretended patriotism
| shame on you, INF Democratic friends thu
| you should deny to the poor soldier, who ha
| Voluntarily taken his life i'll his hand and gon
fo.tA to sustain our common country, th'