The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1863-04-15
Army Correspondence.

=
it since i,s Organization -As at Bull Rur No.
lat Yorkto.n, and Williamsburg, and ~As
wounded a. the battle Of Fair O4kA
On picket on bank Of the Rsppshannoek,
Above Falmouth, March, p. J
DKAR NORMAL vas very glad Ekis morn
ing, 10 zee your kind letters, bearing date Mar.
18Th and 18th / did not get them Unit after
had started tor the picket Inc ~ith the Req
nent, so / could not sBsser them before lett
camp Picket duty consists in forming line OF
sentinels, posted Eitnin speaking distance, clear
around the whole srmy, With different reg NETS
The OBJECT OF This is to guard against any sur
prise by the enemy, also to arrest all persons
trying 10 leave the army without proper author
ity. am soS within sixty rods OF the rebel
lines, or rebeldom, sitting oshind bill, JusG as
sale and secure as YOU'D be we're al boDe, or
at least feel 30. few moIents ago ! Was
do~n TO tae waters edge, looking across, about
a stones .hrow. There | could see the rebels
FISHING, reading the news OF the dsy, playing
o4l, pitching qaoits, &c &c. We on this side
vi the river, they on that, both enjoying our
selves the best We ean under the circumstances.
Perhaps to>morrO~ We NAV be srsayed In NOR
al combat, the one against the osher aDd for
-h4t: yes, for what! Simply because the o.
ig4rchy CT Ine SOu.S ~oald not consent 20 i've
uBder the rule vi q mzB, as President wnO Sas
elected oy the voice OF the people, Foolish,
foolish men But what's the use 10 talk. Tue
time Tor debate has long since past AID goue
Nov our only alternative is 10 oef, and our best
pan is TO act ~i,h 'igor and energy. Tell YOU
that am il fzvcr OF prosecuting the With
ell possible sigor. 1t Ne get ole army killed
Of, let toe Chief Executive order a draft, and
force out another army. We have got men
enough 10 lose 100, OOO lives every year, if uee
essAry. until there IS not a regiment Of rebels
lett il the seeded States. l say, put them
dosn il the quickest possible time
viii tell you what il IL, l would ike to be al
home, that IS in Michigan, TO force just such
men Mr.. Buck, (Ho, | won't say Mr., that Is
to force just such men him into the army.
SkoOt would he, II rad him to deal With
be would not shoot but one man no indeed, he
would not, aud | should prefer you 10 tell bin
90 for me, the 6rst time you see him. Ask
Father to tell him 50 on my account, and charge
it to me Individually
March 2sth, 1868.
Il is very rainy day in short, the rain Gst
psurs down, it doesn't sprinkle, and | am as
wet to the skin as though had lain in the river
two hours. The reason Of it IT, have been %
duty, and had no chance to get out Of the wet.
But still am happy and as consented as pos
sibly can be under the existing circumstances
away from home and friends as am.
You say that if stay must. you hope will
bear it a man and patriot should" will
try to- my mother, and thank you sincerely for
your good and kind advice. I received diary
from Father. come three or fosr dsys ago. for
which am very much obliged. NJ od one
mailed to you a day or two before | got the
new one. hope it will reach hsme in safety.
The mail has come-nothiDg for me In the
mail was few copies of the Lansing RepuJi
can. was fortunate enough to get hold OF g
copy. In it is part of q speech which is said to
come from (the paper says Hon. G. W. PECK,
which l call very traitOroHs, and for which
would ike to take his very life Yes, would
shoot him for that speech sooner than / would
a traitor in arms against me; and it would be
Of infinitely more benefit 10 the country and tC
the community at home and at large, we're be
killed just for that one sentence than the killing
OF ten-yes, ten times ten rebels in arms agains
the Government
Just such men-(no, devils incarnafs , have
been the means of prolonging this conflict, snc
it is nov getting to be matter Of some doubt
especially in the army, that if such speeches
aud carryngs-on at the North are not put stop
tO-it is matter Of doubt, l say, whether w
ever con luer the rebels or Rot. We shall b
at last compelled to give up the contest in de
spsir, and give them their freedom" as it i.
called, if such things are not stopped for one
enemy in the rear is worse than ten il the front
Il is not tight. As shall have to go on duty
in few moments, perhaps l shall write some
more to morrow.
Camp Pitcher, Virginia, !
March 80, 1868.
You will see BY the heading Of this that
have got back to camp. Yes, We got here about
noon. Il has been a very pleasant day, indeed
| may say that it bss been as fine day as it i,
possible to think Of enjoying. It does rot seen
as though fierce ,eGr was right in our very midst
as though | was here for no other purpose thar
10 shoot and kill nv fellow msn I; but is s sterr
fact, not to be denied
l have written good long letter to VOC thii
time. In il have said some things which yoc
may think ought not to have written, out DC
lot think so. Desperate cases, ike these mems
require desperate remedies, you know. and be
sides this cannot tolerate TRKAsoS in aDy form
If it is ever nv LOT to get back there, people
must be very careful What they say, in ny hear
ing, regarding the President and the Command
ing Generals for / will hear nothing detrimen
tai to their far escutcheons-nat a word
Il is nearly IL. P. NJ, and l sns rather tires
from ny march to-day, so please allo~ me Il
bid you all kind good night DEL
From the 9th Mich. Cavalry
The following letter TO the late editor Of th
paper, has been kindly handed Us for pubca