Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1863-02-03

them to take discharge if offered, telling
them that they can enlist again when they
get well. But this answer comes at last:
Now let me tell you just how feel; /
plainly see that | am failing, but l would
rather die than 90 back home, because in
few weeks our good water and bracing
air would bring ms health; if that should
be the case. know some who would say
hat feigned sickness to get home; and
for my part | would sooner stay here and
die by inches, as they say, than hear that
limited even once" IT'S hard, yet such has
been the case many times. Now my
friends, should any one be sent back to
you, do not torture them in that way, nor
spe.'k so cf tSVse who have returned; for
men are not let off here as long as there is
prospect of their being of any service; and
all who do this are cruel, ungrateful mrr-
derers; hard, yet a just, name to give
you. You often wonder why your soldier
father, husband or brother is so careful not
to write home and tell you when he is sick.
Did you ever speak in scornful mGnuer
of those who have returned, or of their ill
health? Let me tell you that this is the
reason be speaks not of it, that IS why he
does not tell You just how he is. You
think "Why / would not speak lightly OF
it for anything" Just SO, but you may
tell some one who will do so; see? You
must use more judgment; just think /! Why
a man may live at home and enjoy pretty
good health, and yet not be able to live a
soldiers life single month. They are as
different. the habits OF the two, as day and
night! AT home we have good, whole
some food; have it regularly; have good
beds; can retire when we choose; rise when
we please; warm ourselves without sitting
in Current Of air where we viii be likely
to take cold; change our clothing if we gef
wet; stop if tired DC. But soldier must
eat what be can get; drink muddy water
oft times; either eat or drink at any time
when he gets chance; sleep ON thS vet
cold ground and that when he is off duty
or not at all; jump up at the tap Of the
drum whether he has slept all night, one
hour or only few minutes; stand by
fire in the wind or rain, and, not being able
to carry more than one suit of clothes, to-
gether with his other fixtures, if he is out
in the ram, land it has been known TO rain
even down this way,) he must wear thosa
clothes while they are drying; and if il
rains several days they do not dry very fast.
He can stop only when he gets the COM
mand, if he does his duty in the ranks;
and must start when ordered, and so on we
might continue to note the difference.
1t seems to me that when a man has
sacrificed himself as servant Of his coun-
try and friends, he has done quite enough
to make them grateful, if that can be done;
and surely, enough 50 that no one onght
to feel like asking him 10 do more; yet, Of
ten, we hear people speak of such persons af-
ter this manner: ale got sick because he
feared the bullets" "Yes, be came home
because he did not like to hear bullets hum"
"Tis' said that he drank vinegar to weaken
him, and believe it, for heis well enough
now, and be has not been home long"
"His rheumatism lasted just long enough
to get discharge" And all this because
his poor frame and frail constitution will
not permit him to make greater sacrifices,
to endure more foi the sake of those who
are so very thoughtless as to speak thus Of
him or so selfish as to ask him 10 continue
on suffering for them, even after they have
considered the matter. Ayel and that too
by those who are at home, aud in peace
aud quietude enjoying all the blessings and
comforts oflife, while the poor soldier is
deprived Of them all. Friends we have
all done so more or less, but let us do so
no more, and ask God TO forgive us, for
it is a great sin; it murders many. Let
us do what we can 10 relieve tbs soldier,
and nothing 10 Cypress him.
Henry c. Jackson of our company is
sinking every day yet he viii not take
discharge for fear Of what will be said by
those who should be his friends Iris
ought not to he. Henry has tried bard 20,
be soldier but is not ale. Another,
Thos. Magmigin. These are the lowest,
vet not the only ones. | hear that Lieut..
Bracket Of the goth Regt is sick, and no
prospect of bis getting well, yet he refuses
to take discharge. Now my citizen
friends, if this man thinks he is not going
to get well, il is the fear Of what you will
say, that keeps him there.
Before friend Bracket left home, il was
plain TO all observing persons who were
acquainted with him that he had not the
constitution to endure the hafdships of our
long marches.
| hope that all will say nought about
feigned sickness on his part; and that bis
friends who correspond with him may write
to him and invite him TO return, that he
may recover, and be your neighbor again.
Would that all who are similarly situated
MIGHT be thus treated by hose they love,
for whom they fight, and those who should
be true friends.
January 14th-We are having hard,
cold and dreary storm. Owing to want
of means corresponding provisions, a few
days ago, were short, but now we are bet
Ter supplied, and the boys are in excellent
spirits.
w. III. HoLFoRD.
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