The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-01-28
Soldiers Letters.

sentiments of large majority OF the ar
my. That sentiment il contained in the
following extract from letter published
in the Providence Post:
You say that our recent disaster was
only piece of bad luck, and that our
to meet the enemy under better
will soon be gratifed. l
can tell you there is no such impatisnce
here as you speak of. This whole army |
is sick of this miserably managed war.
Not one manin fifty wants ever to see the
enemy anywhere.
aYou say that after the first Of January
we shall be fighting for an object worthy
of Christians. / may as we'll tell you that
[ do not think so. With good Generals,
and the old Union for a motto, I could
fight pretty WE'LL but / do not want to
fight for negroes. What is more, won't,
if can honorably avoid it. We are only
making them miserable, and God has not
been with us since we commenced med
ding with them. They are poor chips,
but Fifty times poorer with Us than with
their owners. You will say my opinions
have changed; SO they have. So would
yours, if you had served even as lengsas
Ihave. There are no Abolitionists here.
They change as fast as they come in sight
of the real thing; and if you don't change,
and our rulers don't change, the country
will be ruined. You might as we'll fight
to establish the Jews in Jerusalem, as to
subdue the South, while youfght in such
"a spirit. This work, will tell you, is
too big for the sword; and the more of the
negro you put into the programme, the
more obstacles will beset your path. This
is the feeling Of all here. Even, who
thanked God so fervently atour last little
prayer meeting, that he was to be allow
ed to fight for liberty, is disgusted and
wants to get home. He says he has seen
enough, and will never vote another Re
publican ticket. All You are acquainted
with are of the same mind. You will
say we are false to our duty, but we think
we know best about that. At any rate,
we mean to take the responsibility.
The foregoing was written in reply to
letter just after the battle at Fredericks-
burg, and written by soldier who was a
Republican before he went into the army.
We quote again:
81 often in reading the papers, see arti-
eles something like the following: The
army is in good spirits, and eager for an
advance; the army could not be in better
condition than they are at present; they
only wait for an order to advance on the
enemy; they are sanguine of success,
&c, &c. Now, sir, allow me to say that
the man who writes such articles for the
papers knews no more about the condition
of the army than you do who are sitting
quietly at home. | noticed several such
articles in the papers shortly after the
battle of Antietam, and know that they
either told willful lie, or knew nothing
about us; for, sir, at that time hardly a
man in this regiment had change Of
clothing. Every thing was lost. We had
81 but fifteen overcoats in the whole regi-
ment, and it was common thing to see
man barefooted. And then doing the
severe duty We had done for the last five
weeks! Out in all kinds of weather, with
out any kind of shelter, not even an over
coat or blanket. One-third of our regi-
ment had become sick-not so as to be
laid up, but weak and totally unfit fol-
any kind of duty. Still the papers would
lcroak for an advance. And the above
condition was not only ours, but of every
other that had been through that long
! fatiguing Eve weeks march. The CORES
pondent who writes as have quotee
above, may be resident of Washington
IF so, there is some excuse for him; fol
what troops he sees are polished up ant
fed up to all that is allowed.
aBut if any man wants a true state
i ment of the condition of the troops lie
him come out here This is the place
where he can see soldering as it is. In
great many instances we would be dis
grace to county peor-house. 1t is M
uneommon thing to see a man with hi
feet out of his shoes or the seat out Of hi
pantaloons; yet s'the army never was il
better spirits, and are seager for fight
j I tell you this .eagerness for fight i
4 PLAYED out. The American army are al
army who think and read for themselves
They include some of the first young mel
of the country, and can not be made t
believe the moon is made out of gree
!, cheese. When we enlisted it was don
unQcr the Impulse VI Ihe moMoue' VI
Sumter had been attacked; our gloriou
old flag had been fired upon and insulte
by people who should have been FIRST t
protect it; Washington, our capital, wa
in danger We looking only to the pres
ent, rushed to our country's call to sup
port the laws and the Constitution. Blu
is that what We are fighting for now? NJ
sir! If we are, why was General Mc
Clellan removed? the only man that tn
troops had full confidence in. If he wa
not removed for political purposes, VIII
was it done before the State elections too
place? That is question would like
have the War Department answer, b,
(which they never will to our satisfaction
i There are many reasons thatI could gi,
for the great falling off of patriotism
the army, but time and space will not az
!. NIT it.
s p@ The rebels are rejoicing over Il
Q Lincoln Abolition Proclamation. I'll
. Richmond Enquirer Of the 7th says:
II 4. g.. oo,.a of .lor,