The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1863-04-15
PATRIOTIC LETTER FROM A PAT
RIOTTC SOLDIER.
A Nut for COppcrhcads to Crack.

Correspondence of the Pcrrysburg Journal
LAKE rWovIprNcy, La, April g lS65
Ems. JorRSkL' Alter silence Of alurOs, year,
win again ask the privilege Of occupying short
space in your columns may possibly commupi.
cate something 'which-if not Of much interest to
the peace party may be eta,ifying to those who,
in spite or traitors at home arr determined to sup.
port the Government with all the powor that the
God Of NATURE has given great aud free people.
| will give as plain ststemcu; as | can of the
feeling existing, not among the officers alone, but
the rank audtile, who bear the muske,s and do the
sturdy fighting which will bring the ouly honorable
aud enduring peace that can ever be obtained.
Two months ago our political sky was veiled in
gloom by the disscnsions caused by those who pre-
tend to be the true friends of the linton and the
soldiers, but whom the logic Of events has already
proven were the foul ploilers of the latters ruin
and eternal infamy. Aud, judging the future by
the past f they could have been success stu they
would have led the Union 10 like iguoblc end.
But | am glad to say that, by the influence of the
legal mca of the North, the addresses Of officers
and resolutions of soldiers in the field, together
with the glorious victory Of Stone River this gloom
has been dispcllcd, and the star Of hope is rising
in our horizon which must render still more iui-
penetrabe the gloom that hangs over the rcbclhous
South.
The intelligence that the mass of the people at
hulue are in favor of prosecuting the war until the
Government is restored, has perfectly electrified
the army. Although we are assured that be have
numerous ardent friends at home, who feel the
deepest sympathy for our welfare and the welfare
,r, ha, ,,,Ic
WILL FoRGEr, that there are also treason plotters
in your midst, who would in the garb of friendship,
persuade us to desert the isg OF our country and
our comrades in hattle-the former of which we
are bound to defend by our oRths, our honor, by
the injuuctons Of the immortal Washington, and
others whose labors and lives were the price Of the
Republic and the latter, to whom humanity itself
should bind us, with cord stronger than death
Shame on such men cannot find words to OK
press my contempt for those base sccundrcls, who
would persuade us to desert but woe, woe unto
them, when the soldiers go home They will most
sincerely wish they had died in their infancy
have somc pity for dcsertcrs, who have becu in-
duccd to leave the army by Misrepresentation and
promises that they will be screened from punish
ment-which promises are as futile as the wind,
and only calculated to deceive and lead the poor
miScreans into snare II those desertcrs are
not apprehendcd and shot, or otherwise severely
punished, they can never be MEN. They must be
cowardly sneaks all their lives deserving the con-
tempt of all honorable men. Aud who is to blame
the father who has persuaded the son to desert or
the son who has dcsertedY Nor IL the father any
less to blame if he did not tell him to desert but
indirectly induced him to do SO by writing discour-
aging letters.
The traitors tell us they want peace, and must
hare 1t, but they have told us on what terms
We have meyer yet heard that the South would ac-
ccpt peace upon any terms, except those of their
own choosing (Which is for us to acknowledge
their independence and the right of secession.
This would be the duis " of this Republic, with
the cowardly acknowledgement that our soldiers
are not brave enough to contend with the chiv-
alric" sons Of the South
Our motto is: GIvEU PERPETU AL W AR RATHER
THAN DlsHoNoRABLE PEAoE"-and we can never
consider anything honorable to US that is honorable
to the South They have committed the highest
crime of which man or people be guilty and
how can we make u treaty with them that will ac-
knowledge that they have been engaged in laud-
Government which tl.ey were swo,n to defend, with
out nt the same time admitting we have done wrong
in endeayoring to defend it9
If the South should ever succeed through the
treachery and cowardcc Of traitors in the North,
the soldiers, although they have fought bravry and
mantully, will have to bear the disgrace
These very traitors, by whose cowardice alone
the South can ever conquer would point the finger
of scorn at us, and call us towards, whipped by
half our lumber, 10 thase at homc think we will
ever submit to this? If SO, tell you, you are de-
ceived-ather than submit to this we will fight
till the last man is killed.
Our Fathers of 70" fought eight years to
obtain our independence and shall we give up its
defense after two, three, eight years strug
gle? No-neUcr, Hera! W. arc not such base
cotca,t(s. Yours truly, W. A, WARD