The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1863-02-04
Letter From Col A. w. wiliInms.
amp MARIA BLAIR, ID Qss 20IH AlcE.
Vols, Opposite Fredricssoa-s, Va.
January 44rh, lsss. !

Ut EsIEEMED FzIEND-1 our favor o. the lctR q
IT,. is before NE. AID I beg 10 assure you .
LAT tie kneEleige OF your kind renenl0r4ncs-
q a.. as acceptable. a. the articles when re
,eived vii be. l shall send 70 Washington To-
hem. FIRST opportunity acceptable, and whether
Intended to- internal or external application. ~.
be speedily ascertained, and administered with
ile solemnities
We a-e stuck fast Il the mud and have lied
= diversion IN vain. The military history 81 ne
world .ill hardly give examples ssfhciea- 70
prove og exceptions, the rule, " Thai a N.n'er
casnpaiga never proves successful 70 The otsa-
sve party" Neither caa ~ ever be successful
10 This var. Eithoat a perfect union o se-.ti .
msat and e70rt. a. t1s- which s. ssna.y marks F.
tAas Of the South. Il Se fail Tor N4st o. taAt I.
a-isr. u what avail wi have been all our slt-
ferines ami slcrifcess Il that union and deter
ma lon cannot be Lad. then We must be igno
blv AID A-tiagiy Inundated. and the quicker &c
drop the conflict. the better for Us aud the world
everything works agains. u, onls because We re
DO. united IL sentiment and action sleee'sia
or not. the campaign of Is sill cost IS one
hundred thousand lives.
Disease vil contribute as much. and more, 20
this result. than the enamv's bullets. The enc
ny w.. suffer less from this cause 1aaa We, as
ber sgatiug population the poor vhites,l are
used TO nothing better al home than they receive
vith greater regularity n their army; " hog
AID hosoiny. They have lev cultivated iAl'e
wants They dgat. because they believe ine
N0rtu would subj gate them, suovert their SO
ciai position. b, removing be barrier which nov
uakss them superior to the slave, AID desolate
their homes Tleir ignorance makes them no,
worse for fighting, bat better for receiving and
cultivating preildces and passion. These are
led and directed by the leading classes with
greater incentives to vindictive, energetic, aud
lasting opposition. who, in their turn are sup
ported and encouraged to hold out in their
murder aud treason, oy the divisions Of the
North. want Of spirit and ability Of our OH
Gers. even more than by the powerful assistance
of traitors in The border States OF the mora sup
port of European powers. Having in view the
military position Of the country, it must be ap
parent that our superior wealth and population
is more than neutralized by the number Of po-
sitions and extent of our offensive lines. Our
soldiers need much Of the sympathy OF their
fellow citizens az hems, aud deserve tangible ev
iaence by way Of assistance fer their families
more Thousands Of our soldiers families ar,
allowed to suffer for the want of the soldiers
paw While every Hill top of this accursed rebe
domain, il being covered with the feless bus
bands, fathers, sons and brothers Of these families
aud these are of all others, the most valuable o
cur population, the true men OF the country
sell neutrality-suspicious.. The fact ls We mus
change our intention to submit 70 nothing bu
the unqualified subjugation and submission 0
traitors or change our plans and the most essen
tal, the spirit of the North. Should Sc no
rely more upon a trial OF r,sourees' as upOI
that point We undoubtedly excel; il would b.
less vindictive and bloody Should We dash GU
bravest troops upon the enemy, only, when NJ
has chosen and prepared place to receive them
Have we valuable blood 10 spill that way
Should We have more than Two armies, that o
the Mississippi and Virginia: Should they 10
be reinforced by at least, six hundred thousaE'
drafted men. mot volunteers % As 10 insur
aloodl.ss victories. l-hould that not ha Oh
Iect go save lie All suffering whether again mi
ted or separately by overpowering numbers
rendering resistance more than hazardous Il no
useless2 Should not these men be led by thos
whom they have confidence in. as they have ha
in Maj Gen Mcclellan then with an eficien
blockade the rebels must soon be exhausted -
The only other course, is 70 hazard var of ex
termination, BY total destruction and desolat.on
wherever We 20, so thai re-pessesson by th
enemy would be useless, hs We cannot act sattl
away from oar boat and railway communicates
AID cannot by them reach iheir vital inland posts
if We each them al all Il must be by the pre-
carious mode OF living o. the enemy-wome,
and children must be taken from burning home
aad sent North as hostages 10 prevent the muir
der OF prisoners, the severest retaliatory meas
ures would be necessary. Even this course
With united North, regardless OF its cos. "a
blood and treasure. must in the end. succeed
VIII the end Justify these means2 Avictory OF
our side would dispeil our gloom aad ilersas
that Of the enemy. and doubt not that sucl
rictory ne can gain IN the neTt tight But
reason will finally. IL the affairs Of man. ssser
} her superiority over the sword, if We must rea
son after exhaustion, why not before this equal,
to both sides better result is reazed9 In th
result Of this conflict, the end Of which rests Il
the ascertain future, Michigan has the least a
stake Yet marx in contrast the message Of be
: Governor. With that of others; compare th
conduct OF her regiments with those Of OTHERS
and ne equsly honorable distinction exists -
! We're al Ike Michigan, there would be ground
to hope z speedy termination Of this war A.
>, she should make 10 further sacrifices urtl a.
, are united az nome. The sad condition OF GU
country requires Divine assistance and the un
s~erviuE support Of n wise united and patriot
J people. DO not presume TO find faux with an
policy Of our government, however unreasonable
it may seem 70 nv poor judgment. This pole,
has the constant care Of gray haired patriots.
thousand fold greater abilities. but simply L
add nv voice 70 testimony which should aroas
ard unite the North, who must to be successful
submit to the same sacrifices the South are en-
during.
The heslth ef ny command IS improving
They have quietly. unostentatiously passe,
through hardships aud suferings rarely endure,
by veterans. The unavoidable but vicious svs
I tar, If rafsfn- and afroa--,r- o-- -~oo,z rbo-