Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1863-11-12
tFtom the Wayne County Democrat
From the lOSth Iscg gincnt--Thc
DeuOcratic soldiers not Per-
mtttcd to Vote
FoLiX IsfANp. Sorr,i CARoLiNA 4
Editor Wayne County Democrat

I. N October IL, is63
Editor WAYNE County Democrat
DEAn SIn: Having an opportunity to
write you, | will tell you how the cleo
tion went off hero on the sea coast of
South Carolina.
We've had very hot times about poll
tics. Being soldiers, old enough to know
right from wrong, we thought we could
vote without having stupid and ignorant
stump speakers Of the so called Union
party to instruct us. But we found we
were quite wrong. About two weeks be-
fore the election an Abolition agent show
cd his love for the soldiers by bringing
them loads Of tickets, circulars and
books. He abored faithfully for Brough.
When he began to speak to the boys,
they welcomed him by crying "Give
him gum Give him cartridge
box" "Put him in the guard house,"
"Put him out" 1--WE are for Vallan-
digham." lie was finally compelled to
leave us. Next Captain Lutz tried what
he could do with us, by threatening that
evety one Of his company who would
vote for Vallandigbam he would punish.
But that wouldn't do. Then orr officers
threatened, shat they would resign if we
would vote for Vallandigham. We said
that they could do so, and welcomely.-
That ended that trial Next they tried
to frighten us by saying. that they would
put us in front of battle if we wouldn't
vote for Brough. We answered "rhat
is where we arc always are, and want to
be. We are not towards Oar conduct
heretofore speaks for us. At Chancel.
lorSville, We were in front at Gettys
burg, we were in the front, and the mex
place you hear of us we will be in tn,
front" SO, that did not take. Mex
they told us, that if we voted for Vail
andigham we would break our oaths.--
But we knew better than that. SO, a
last, they preached up the doctrine of re
bellion--said that they would rebe
against the choice Of the people, if Vail
andigham should he elected. Tha
strengthened us, for it showed us tina
they are really worse than the rebels, an,
we thought we could fight rebels on tht
soil Of Ohio just as bravely as we do oil
South Carolina soil.
After finding out that they could no
accomplish their designs, by persuasion
or intimidation, they resolved that the,
f would not permit us to vote. And tha
they did accomplish. The vote Of tn
regiment will show this. We were OF
duty to build fort on Ciowa Island
A camp guard, some detached men AM
the officers were left in camp Tie,
opened secret poll at the Commissary
and got all the Brough men to vote tina
were present. lu the evening it leaket
out, and some Dem ocrats went to vote
Two or three got their votes in, but IL
soon as the abolitionists saw that tht
Democrats had found ont the secret an,
were coming to vo.e, they closed tn
polls, before tho time provided by law. =
We were fairly cheated out of our vote
/ by our own officers.
1t would be no more than Justice if tn
vote Of our regiment be rejected for it i
a great fraud. We hope you will see t
it. We are willing to obey the law, w
respect the Constitution, and Withhold,
not justice from any man. SO do we dc
mend it from the other side.
close with the request, that you pub
lish this. would like the Union men O
Wayne and other counties to know wha
kind of leaders they have.
j. w. p,