Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1863-02-21
Army Correspondence.
"Army Of the Potomac."
CAMP NEAR BELLE PLAINS, VA. (
Friday, February 9th, 1863, }

Friday, February 9th, 1868,
Col. JOIN G. FREEZE -
Dear Sir I'll
take this opportunity of addressing you
few lines, in the hope that good health is
your present portion, and believing that
to ask if you are in good spirits, is to
doubt your concern in the mighty Rcvo.
luton that threatens to completely over
throw our present form of Government
can but fervently pray that GOD
may so dispose the minds Of our National |
and State Legislatures, that some means
may be adopted whereby peace and res
toration of our Union can be effected.
l speak the words of sobernoss and
truth, when tell you, that nineteen
twenteths Of our Division are opposed to
the further prosecution of this war. They
are almost unanimous in the declaration,
that this war is waged for the abolition of
slavery. and not for the restoration OF the
! Union, on the basis Of the present Constr
tuion. They believe that, whatever may
+ have been the President's policy at the
coumcuc ement of this rebellion, he has of
late become the main instrument of ram
pant AboIitionism. That his emancipa-
ton proclamation makes US the Agents
of megr, freedom, when our object was
solely to restore The lars, as our fathers
IL fnn1 n
that su bicct A large majority of whom
openly denouuce the whole scheme. They
further believe that it is useless to carry
on this war for the purpose Of re union,
with the present known policy of the Ad-
minlstration, published to US all. If a
war of ubjugation is to be adopted, it
] will require but little calculation to tell
: him how many of our vast army will be
. living al the next Presidential inaugura
ton.
TLs t-u.L 10, DIR, that constantly hoar
= my comrades exclaim, "To hell with the
Y war II am g ling home !" For them the
{ history of the Army of the Potomac has
= Ueen one of blunders. The thousands Of
I Union men that sleep their last sleep il
!, Virginia, will never be told, for it is one
/. vast graveyard, Our last battle was the
II grand finale of our achievements.
1t is melancholy to one who believe:
" that even yet, a reconciliation between
,e the North and South is not impossible il
he proper hands, to witness the sad effects o.
lc this war From Alexandria TO the Rap
l. pahannock river is to be seen thousand
-. of mcn huddled together i'll canvass ant
Ill miserable muslin tents, ,pecishinI ifom tn
effects of the clements, or strolling aroun
10 the camps afflicted with all manner of dis
. eases. Taa hospitals are filled and tn
r. inmates are treated in manner rovolun
to the dictates of common humanity.
1t. 1t is astonishing to witness the grea
" change that has taken place in the mind
OF our men in reference to parties an
their present policy. Our former oppo
no nents now believe that there is 10 prospeC
at Of peace outside of the Democratic party
as that they and they alone, have the pow
Is or of dispelling the gloom, and the mig
his weight of sorrow pressing on us as natio
n aud as heads of families. In short,-ou
nut men have beco ne demoralized, and car
e- but little on what terms peace may |
made,
on
he have, as a responsible being, endeaV
on ored in these few lines to portray the fee
sh ings and prospects of my companions il
arms.
The election Of Hon. CHARLES r. BucI
ALEw, to the United States Senate ere;
"a ted joy and gladness in the hearts of tt
P,un>yvauia Troops, We look to hi
for aid and a>sitancc, in these dark an
troube.ome days, and confidently loo
ed forward to the coming month of March,
rs hear his eoqucnce in behalf of our suffe
- ing country. He will be tower
ood strength in the right place.
Respectfully, yours &c.
One Of the First army CORPS.