Delaware State journal and statesman., 1863-01-16
For tho Delaware slaiu journal aud stalrsman,
From the Fourth Delaware Regiment.
CAMP uLplN,
Giocester Poat, ncor lorAtown. w.
January, 10, 1868.


January Is, 1868.
MR. Eplron,
Dear Sr.-The 1th Regiment bella
ware intantry of which hnve the honor ul heing
Chaplain IA now tnnamped in very plensunt aud
healthy place called ulocesicr Point ON the
"sacred soil" 1t was here that | rioiued It on
the I'll inst. and WAS knIly received hy all the
officers aud prigalcs. found them ia a better
condition than expected considering the manner
il which they have been dealt vita siuGe they
left Wilmington The most they complain OF il
the unjusl lrralmeht they hasc received from
some ut their own rilizrhs aud prOtessed friends
who promised lhrm bounty OF sou and have
tailed ns yet to fulfill Their promise. Such cuu-
duct as has been manifested by those who for
fear of heing drafted promised volunteers the
small sum auoye named aud afterwards refused
10 make good their most solemn pledges to the
poor soldier who has left home with all It's COIN
forts and pleasant assuciations to assist in pro
teciing the peisons aud property Of those who
have acted 50 lneanly towards them, deserves the
contempt OF every loyal citizen. We learn that
in other States, small towns and yillages have
raised more for the benefit uf the soldiers aud
their families than all the cties and towns in
Delaware.
We hive also been Informed that some of the
families of our brave and patriotic men have been
turned out Of house and home by their tyrunni-
cal aud merciless landlords, mud others refused
TO rent their houses TO soldiers wives unless they
pay in advance. All We can say is, that such
uleu are not Mt to live, uni should be treated ns
traitors. May God have mercy On their mean,
slingy souls.
Amid all the bad treatment on the part of our
own sex towards the SOLDIERS of the fourth Della
ware, have the pie sure OF aebnowied ,ing the
receipt Of II package OF mittens as a present from
the ladies of Wilmington Got bless them
Could they not do somelhiog toward. maAing
good the broken Vows 0t the sterner sex IN the
way OF raising the bounty money due the Iegi-
lheht? We ure sure tAey could il they ouly
would. We are, also, greatly in need Of reading
matter Please send along, ladies', all the old
papers ami magazines you can spare aud they
wlli he greatly received and highly appreciated
We have been called upon for Gprman literature
by some who cannot read Eaghsh. Don't iurgrt.
dear friends that soldiers must have ood for
their minds as well as their somachs or they will
soon become impaired uu1 decentralization will
be the consequence,
1t will. doubtless, be gratifying to many Of our
friends at home to know that we have succeeded
IN organizing Regimental church composed Of
almost all the different denominations in our
regiment. We have preaching every Sabbath
morning at lO O'Clock. Last evening we held
an experience meeting in the Charlaiu's tent
which was characterized by much divine power
over forty have already given their names to our
temporary church among whom are four Cap
tains, two Leutenants aud our dearly beloved
Adjutant. We have several prayer meetings
during The week which are largely attended, nud
are growing in interest. Thus you will see that
we are not only soldiers for our common eountry
but "solders Of the cruss." This morning n snd
accident occurred in our camp. private named
john Fowler was shot by another named
Ephraim Jefferson who was OH guurd ut the time
Fowler IA comlany with two others were going
TO the spring Tor wnier, whea 0n passing Jtiler-
sou he raised his musket in sport and exclaimed
''Fll shoot you" when Immediately it went of
and caused a mortal wound. Mr. Fowler is still
living but it is feared cannot long survive. His
wound was dressed, aud every medical attention
paid to him by our worthy Surgeon Dr. Ilopkius.
un'l he is now in our own comfortable hospital
We have at present about twenty five on the
siek list, most OF whom nre recovering. Leut |
iardey is quite low with typhoid fever, but We |
hope he will yet recover. Our Iegifaent hns beeu
received by Brigndier General Bushead and staf |
who pronounce It to be the best drilled aud most |
soldierly looking regiment ia his brigade. Our
field officers have school almost every evening
during the week in which this line officers are
carefully taught the science Of war. | think |
may be safe in saying ii the regiment is ever
called upon to go forth to battle that it will give
II better account Of itself than | can While We
hope for Ihs hest We ARE trying to prepare for
the worst, Az it is getting late and my fire il
going out will close for tue present
Yours very respectfully,
W. II. FRIES, Chaplain.