Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-02-12
Army Correspondence.
18TH REGIMENT, IN CAMP, }
Ill Oh 1910

EDITOR HERALD Stormy weather in
camp-rain, snow and mud roads almost
impossible army movements totally mpeded
the new campaign broken of, just at its COM
mencement the very elements against us -
shadows of dissensions in the North beginning
to darken the horizon our rulers and states
men in Washington continuing vacillating
and hesitating policy leading men at home
in the different states animated with partizan
zeal and blind party prejudices, rather than
with that lofty and fervent patriotism which
can alone rescue us from anarchy and ruin
an army of more than half million IF men
rapidly wasting away with disease and mac
ITCHY whittier is the war tending When
and how will it end 2
During the past fortnight of almost contin-
ual rain or snow, with here and there aday of
sunshine succeeded by night of storm, there
has been abundant time to think over ind dis
cuss all these dark and discouraging pases of
the war;
Little knots of men gathered together in
their tents, seeking ways and meansto while
away the dreary hours, naturally ak over
their situation and the prospects of he cause
in which they are engaged Earnef discus
sions are engaged in ; sound sober ense falls
from the lips of these young men of be nation.
1t would be well perhaps if more heed were
given to the views of this half milin OF men,
unmoved by the clash of party strie at home.
| and expressing only the opinions erived from
| sober thought of the sswhy and wherefore"
| they left home and friends ;-opiions founded
upon the motives which actuate patriot, and
from duty point Of view.
We hear it said that the army is dis
couraged :, that they sconsidr the struggle
hopeless and useless" and dsire "the war to
to cease" 1t is not so. Thy are not dis
couraged with the war. "he cause" is as sa-
cred to them, and they are ready to tight
| for it as when the first gu of Sumter pro-
claimed to them that the tine hae arrived to
do battle for their birthrigt-their God-given
liberty. The soldier stI sees, above the
chickering's of party strife nd the trammels
party power, the holy caue for which he is
fighting. He believes in i He makes it his
faith. He is confident of he result. He un-
derstands clearly the issn. He is not fight
ing for any particular part for any partleu-
lar institutions 4; for any prticular ideas bnt
for the one great and noble idea of liberty it
self.
But this dragging in of plltlcs and political
measures this ambition Of selfaggrandize-
ment which actuates so may and this luke
warmness of many in tie cause, throws
shadow OF encouragement over the whole ar
my. To thus degrade our noble cause, is it
not enough to discourage patriots heart
Let those at home do Their duty. Let them
cease their strife for personal ACKNOWLEDGMENT,
and devote their energies p the prosecution of,
the war, and all will be we'll. The soldiers
will do their part. Let those at home do theirs,
and we shall hear no more of 'demoralized
and discouraged army" The war may then
continue for years, but the right will triumph
at last, The principle of liberty cannot be
conquered. Weare fighting for that, and we
shall be successful, even though the nation
perish.
Vermont has hitherto done her duty nobly.
Her soldiers have done theirs. Let her con-
tinue to act nobly in future, and she may rest
assured that they will not falter in their
work.
trusted to have been able ere this TO write
YOU Of our advance still farther towards the
front but the weather has ruined the cam
paign. We are situated as when | last wrote
you, with the exception of having changed
camping ground for a better one in the woods.
We shall in all likelihood remain here some
weeks. The roads are in too bad condition
for an onward movement. The changeable
and damp weather is telling badly upon the
health of the regiment. The health of our
company remains good. All are in good spr
its, and are anxiously awaiting the return Of
sunshine. This morning it showed, but to
NIGHT the wind has changed, and is quite
cold. trust there is pleasant weather before
aR'